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 , Best Gardening Gifts for All Occasions cubicle or over bath shower , Bamboo To The Rescue! area can start to deteriorate and look shabby after a few years of use. The grout used between ceramic tiles , National network to deliver energy retrofit incentives can start to discolour, black spots start to appear in the silicone sealant and damp patches may appear around the outside , Christmas Lights Aren't Just For Christmas Anymore! of the glass , Wicker Oudoor Furniture enclosure.

What are the causes of these problems?

Grout is one of the main culprits. Although the ceramic tiles , Chill Out with a Quality Ceiling Fan 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, , Bonsai Plant Care and once this occurs mould can take hold and start to spread behind the tiles. , Hydroponics Gardening - How to Grow Flowers and Vegetables with Minimal Time and Effort The degree to which it spreads will depend on the level of moisture , Hand and Power Tools present.

Grout can also be a problem if the shower wall , National network to deliver energy retrofit incentives has been built out of plywood. Plywood expands at a different rate to the tiles , The Easiest Homemade Hydroponics System and this can lead to the grout cracking and letting in moisture. , Euonymus Alatus

If grout is used as a sealant between the bottom of the tiles , Planting Roses in Pots and the top surface of the rim of the shower , Recycle For Cash: A second fridge is costly to you and the e tray or bath, this can also cause problems. Acrylic baths or shower , Does Your Chimney Stack Up? trays flex very slightly during use, whereas grout will not tolerate any movement, and so cracks instantly. Wooden , Old Garden Roses -- A Proven Winner For Your Garden 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 , Hydroponics Gardening - How to Grow Flowers and Vegetables with Minimal Time and Effort area. If black spots start to grow , Let’s “Clear the Air” Shall We? in the seal it indicates the presence of moisture , Orchids For The Holidays-How To Choose and Buy Your Orchid Plants : usually trapped moisture , Why The Perennial Plant Survives Through The Winter 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, , Alarm Controls Are The Brain Of Your Security System, Use Yo rather than any problem with the silicone itself.

Damp patches on the wall , Planting Guide For Roses or floor , How To Grow Red Oak Trees Near Horsham, PA outside a shower , Decorating with Table Fountains cubicle can be attributed to one of the above causes, leaking waste or supply pipes, or occasionally by excessive sealant inside , A Tea-Lover's Soul Weed the cubicle, causing water , A Tea-Lover's Soul Weed 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 , Planting Roses in Pots tray or bath is securely anchored in place , How to Change a Rooms Dimension using Wall Pictures 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 , Orchids – Growing Exotic Beauty At Home panels in place , Hand and Power Tools of ceramic wall tiles. , Lawn Mower Blades As The Hard Working Part Of Lawnmowers

Each shower wall , Chill Out with a Quality Ceiling Fan 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. , Let’s “Clear the Air” Shall We?

About the Author

Mark Davies is the owner of The Bathroom , An Alarm Clock Will Help You Start The Day Right Marquee, a UK based online , Bonsai Plant Care store specialising in shower wall , Investment Property - Leveraging Rental Property Equity panels, bathroom wall , Faux Painting Techniques cladding, and the Outasight concealed shower , Double The Storage Space In Your Bedroom Closet curtain system.

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