The RW Steel team helps support the structure of your home – not just in general, but also each of the specific rooms in different ways. They each have unique needs and damage can occur in completely different ways. Today on the blog, we’re thinking through the design and maintenance of your bathroom and hoping that you learn a thing or two about how to keep it in the best shape possible.
We work with a lot of customers who see water damage or excessive amounts of moisture in their bathroom areas. This is totally normal and can be caused by many different things, including, but not limited to lack of ventilation, the placement of your bathroom in your home’s design and general cleaning habits. On the flip side, bonus points if you remembered to caulk your bathtub, this is one that many forget about and can be both time intensive and expensive on the wallet. 75 per cent of residential water consumption takes place in your bathroom and that adds up very quickly.
When it comes to your shower and tub, you want to immediately check out the backsplash and tiles and determine if any are either missing or damaged. If they are, that’s a quick and easy way to determine if there is internal water damage. It occurs because the grout that holds the tiles together is either damaged or has simply seen better days.
This one should probably go without saying but ensure that you’re not letting standing water – or water that just sits in the tub happen. No matter what is going on with your drain, you can snake it and the water will go where it is supposed to. And finally for showers and tubs, just keep regular maintenance in mind. Replace the caulk on an annual basis, dry the floors whenever you take a bath or a shower and turn on the exhaust fan (that just goes for the bathroom in general).
As far as sinks and cabinets, this is another area that you should check on a regular basis. They’re frequently overlooked if they’re not clogged or noticeably dirty.
In the toilet’s realm, one thing that many don’t check is the seal at the base of your toilet. If you happen to see a ring of moisture, call in the experts because that can have an easy domino effect on not only your toilet but the rest of the bathroom. Your toilet tank and any noise associated is also an easy warning sign. It shouldn’t be running without reason.
All of this to say that when you have moisture or any plumbing needs in any of these capacities, over time it won’t just be a headache, but a catalyst for structural issues within your home. If moisture leaks down into the foundation of your home (warning signs include cracks in the ceiling or sloped floors), you’re looking at a much larger investment – one that the RW Steel team can help you avoid. Give us a call with any questions that you have.