How to waterproof your bathroom

How to waterproof your bathroom

A lack of waterproofing can also cause dampness, odour and mildew to degrade your bathroom furniture, as uncontrolled moisture and heat in a confined space are known to damage common bathroom materials like wood or drywall. 

When renovating or building your bathroom, do not be tempted to simply tile or paint over plaster, as waterproofing in the initial stages of construction will save on renovation costs in the future and will protect your bathroom and its furniture from early degradation.

Places in your bathroom that will need special waterproofing attention include drainage line openings, areas covering water lines, the joints between tiles, the connection points of bathroom sinks and walls and floors immediately near shower or bath areas.

Additional ways to improve your bathroom waterproofing are to ensure that the slope of the bathroom moves downwards to open drains in showers. This is important because it prevents water from pooling and sitting in areas where it can cause water damage.

Choosing the most waterproof building implements when constructing your bathroom is also a wise decision. Tiling, especially honed tile, is a good option that has the added benefit of being slip-proof. If you choose to tile your bathroom, remember to regularly seal the grout lines in-between individual tiles, as water can seep into grout lines if they lack additional waterproofing.

Finally, selecting a waterproof paint for your bathroom ceiling is an effective way to prevent rising steam and condensation from causing water damage. Use oil-based waterproof paint (as oil is effective in repelling water) and ensure that the bathroom is completely dry and ventilated while the paint is in the drying process. Installing a vent in the bathroom ceiling is another way to make sure that excess water does not collect on the ceiling and walls of the bathroom.