Shower Walls - Problems and Solutions

Article by: Mark Davies

Showers can be a problem area for many householders. Although it will look pristine when new, a shower , Basic Guide to Servicing your Chainsaw cubicle or over bath shower , How To Plant And Care For Geraniums area can start to deteriorate and look shabby after a few years of use. The grout used between ceramic tiles , Seeds and more Seeds...What your Garden Needs can start to discolour, black spots start to appear in the silicone sealant and damp patches may appear around the outside , How to completely rehab your home in 10 days! of the glass , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Quakertown Pa. enclosure.

What are the causes of these problems?

Grout is one of the main culprits. Although the ceramic tiles , Three Choice Arborvitae For Your Landscape are totally waterproof the same cannot be said for all types of grout : especially if it is not correctly applied. One small gap or pinhole can be enough to start letting in moisture, , Botanical Prints for scientific research and collecting and once this occurs mould can take hold and start to spread behind the tiles. , Adding a Fireplace Mantel. The degree to which it spreads will depend on the level of moisture , Home Reno Plans: Value Added Or Value Subtracted? present.

Grout can also be a problem if the shower wall , Decorating a Bedroom using Color Psycology has been built out of plywood. Plywood expands at a different rate to the tiles , Tips for Working on Plaster Walls and this can lead to the grout cracking and letting in moisture. , Home Loans – Would You Buy A Home Without An Inspection?

If grout is used as a sealant between the bottom of the tiles , How Choose The Right Type Of Lawn Mower and the top surface of the rim of the shower , What Bonsai Supplies Will I Need? tray or bath, this can also cause problems. Acrylic baths or shower , A Garden To Attract Hummingbirds trays flex very slightly during use, whereas grout will not tolerate any movement, and so cracks instantly. Wooden , What Bonsai Supplies Will I Need? joists and floorboards will also move slightly under load or due to expansion, which again can lead to grout cracking.

Silicone sealant should remain mould free in a well-ventilated shower , Seeds and more Seeds...What your Garden Needs area. If black spots start to grow , Tips on Dealing with Slugs and Snails in the Garden in the seal it indicates the presence of moisture , Why does Teak wood patio furniture have to be expensive? : usually trapped moisture , Tips for Working on Plaster Walls behind the seal. This could mean that the silicone seal has lost adhesion to one or more surfaces due to high levels of movement or poor preparation prior to its application. It could also be a symptom of grout failure further up the wall, , Seeds and more Seeds...What your Garden Needs rather than any problem with the silicone itself.

Damp patches on the wall , Adding a Fireplace Mantel. or floor , Botanical Prints for scientific research and collecting outside a shower , How to Clone Your Plants with Success cubicle can be attributed to one of the above causes, leaking waste or supply pipes, or occasionally by excessive sealant inside , Organizing Your Email the cubicle, causing water , Garden And Patio Decorations For Great Outdoor Living to well-up in side the frame itself.

So what are the solutions?

The solution will depend on the severity of the problem : and keep in mind that much of the damage may be hidden.

Ensure that the shower , How To Create An Oasis of Serenity With a Backyard Garden Ho tray or bath is securely anchored in place , Measuring Space - How Much Room Do You Really Need? and does not move when someone stands in it. If you have access to the underside check any supply and waste pipes for leaks.

Cut away old sealant with a sharp blade and replace with a high quality sanitary grade silicone sealant containing a fungicide. Try and avoid cheap sealant that has less fungicide and a lower silicone content.

Treat mouldy grout with a surface cleaner, initially, to see how deep rooted the problem is. If the problem returns, then you might need to think about raking out the old grout and applying new.

Alternatively you could do away with grout altogether and install shower wall , Choosing the right furniture panels in place , Tips for Working on Plaster Walls of ceramic wall tiles. , Directions for Planting a White Pine Tree

Each shower wall , Choosing the right furniture panel slots into the next one using a tongue and groove system, eliminating the need for grout. These panels are totally waterproof and can be fitted to any surface : including the existing tiles. , Tips for Working on Plaster Walls

About the Author

Mark Davies is the owner of The Bathroom , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Quakertown Pa. Marquee, a UK based online , Choosing the right furniture store specialising in shower wall , Measuring Space - How Much Room Do You Really Need? panels, bathroom wall , Tips for Working on Plaster s cladding, and the Outasight concealed shower , Organizing Your Email curtain system.

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