The Right Grout Can Eliminate Water Damage Behind Tiles
The water and humidity that builds up in a bathroom area can do considerable damage. It can cause mold and mildew to form which can be a serious health risk to your family.
Mold and mildew can often be caught or early on so it’s treated before it gets out of control, but if it’s forming behind your shower tiles, it can be hard to detect.
Read on to find out how to tell if there is water damage behind your shower tiles and, more importantly, how to prevent it.
Is There Water Damage Behind My Shower Tiles?
Here are some signs that may be telling you there’s water damage behind your tiles.
- Water Build Up: If water is building up in the tub or shower area, it could be a sign there’s water behind your tiles, and if there’s water behind your tiles, there’s probably water damage.
- Strange Smells: Mildew and mold is often accompanied by a dank small. If you are wondering if the smell is coming from behind your tiles, take a look at the grout lines. If they are full of cracks and holes or if they appear not to be flush with your tiles, it could be that they are absorbing water or filled with water that’s doing damage.
- Remove Tiles: If you really want to see whether there is water damage behind your shower tiles, you can remove the tiles. Once you look at the wall behind the tile, it will be pretty easy to determine whether or not damage has occurred.
How Do I Prevent Water Damage Behind My Shower Tiles?
The best way to prevent water damage is to use a high-quality epoxy grout when your tiles are being installed. This will seal up spaces between your tiles to ensure no water gets in to do damage.
If a high-quality grout is not used, it can be fortified with the addition of a sealant. If the grout is very porous, you may have to have it sealed on a regular basis.
In addition, proper maintenance can cut down on water damage. For instance, abrasive cleaners can wear down on grout so that water seeps in so make sure to avoid these in your cleaning routine.
Keeping your bathroom as dry as possible will also prevent water damage. Wipe down walls after showers and ventilate often to keep moisture levels low.
If you find damage behind your tiles, you will probably have to get a professional in to fix the problem. If it’s caught early on, they may be able to replace tiles where the damage has occurred. If damage spreads, they may need to work on the entire area.
Either way, water damage problems must always be dealt with and the sooner the better. If you let them go, they can negatively affect the structure of the entire property.
Now that you know how to keep water damage behind shower tiles under control, what steps will you be taking to keep your home safe?
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