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Planning A Bathroom Remodel to Prevent Mildew

September 14, 2009

Nothing could be more frustrating than completing a bathroom remodel and, days later, finding spots of mildew creeping across your new walls or ceiling. Fortunately, you can prevent mildew by planning for it before your bathroom rennovation.

How to Prevent Mildew

Humidity and food cause mildew to grow. Keep surfaces clean after a bathroom remodel, and you should not find food-related mildew. Humidity should be controlled through careful advance planning. Here's how:

Ventilate:

• Include a window in the bathroom. Showering with the window open will allow air to flow through the bathroom and prevent persistent dampness.
• Install an exhaust fan. The fan should circulate air without chilling you on a winter day as an open window might! Because exhaust fans must expel bathroom air outside, rather than into an attic or crawlspace, assess the difficulty of installing one in your home before deciding whether to do it yourself or to contact bathroom remodeling contractors.

Dehumidify:

• Install air-conditioning. Air-conditioning cools the air by removing moisture from it. Bathroom remodeling contractors can install central air-conditioning, or you can install window units yourself--provided you include a window in your new bathroom!
• Place a dehumidifier in the bathroom. It will remove the moisture from the air without requiring permanent installation or blockage of your window.

Prevent water buildup:

• Make sure sink and shower surfaces around the drain are properly angled so water does not pool up. Similarly, make sure drainage pipes are installed correctly to prevent backups. These are tasks you may feel comfortable doing yourself, or you may prefer to get a bathroom remodeling quote from a contractor.

Plan in advance for a mildew-free new bathroom and enjoy your bathroom renovation thoroughly!

About the author: Lara Fox has worked as a staff and freelance editor and writer for the past ten years. She is also a lover of all things creative, including home design and remodeling. She holds a B.A. in anthropology and an M.A. in education.