Older Homes Can Have More Potential For Bathroom Water Damage

Any home has the potential to get water damage from a variety of different sources, but some homes and some places in those homes are even more susceptible to it. Take the bathrooms in an older home just for example. Bathrooms are notorious for getting water damage at any rate, but in older homes it is even more problematic. There is washing, bathing, and toilet flushing going on all day everyday in bathrooms where there are big families and this is one thing that makes it more likely. The other things that make it more common in a bathroom is when a home gets older, parts wear out and things leak and things get wet often.

Grout and caulking in the bathroom in imperative to help make sure that water does not seep into areas that need to stay dry. In older homes there might not have been drywall used around the tubs and showers that resit moisture. Once the caulking around the tub or shower breaks down and cracks or peels away, water can get behind the walls. When the grout that holds the tiles together behind to wear and chip away, water can get in that way too. When water gets to the drywall, backer board. Or whatever the builder used behind the tub and shower surrounds, it will begin to develop mold, sometimes even if a better grade of material was used. Any wood that the water wets can begin to rot.

Sinks and toilets have their own set of problems too. When the wax seal that the toilet sits on becomes worn out or damaged in some way, it can allow seeping at base of the bowl where it meets the floor. Sometimes when this is happening, it might not always leave a puddle that can be seen easily if the water drains away slowly. This does not mean that water is not sitting under the edge of the toilet base just out of sight. Eventually this will cause rotting. When the toilet begins to shift or wobbles easily, the bolts holding it to the floor might just be loose or it could be the wood sub-floor underneath is rotting away. It can eventually allow your toilet to fall through the floor. Leaking that can go on from the faucets of the sink or underneath the cabinet can be just as bad. When the cabinet itself is made of wood and water drips onto it long enough, you will get mold and rotting.

Last but not least is the problem with bathroom moisture. When you do not have adequate ventilation in a hot, steamy bathroom, it can cause mold and wood rot as well. It usually takes a little time for rotting to occur, but the mold can set in quickly. After every hot bath or shower, it makes the conditions for mold growth perfect. It has the water it needs, the warmth it needs, and sources of food. It can eat wallpaper, paint, wood, and even the fabric on any curtains or rugs. This problem can be solved for the most part by having and using an exhaust fan. Repairs in bathrooms, especially in older homes, must be kept up with regularly in order to prevent water damage that could easily get serious.