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.
Related Bathroom Remodeling Articles
-
Create a stunning focal point in your bathroom with one of these vanity options....
-
Grout can be a finicky thing. Properly applied and maintained, it can look great for decades. But make one wrong move during application and the grout can become dry, brittle, and cracked....
-
Adding tile accents to your bathroom can turn a ho-hum space into a work of art! These tips on tile can help you design a bathroom that is sure to wow your guests....
-
When you think of bathroom renovation, you may immediately think of the big projects. It...
-
Green building practices can add a lot to your home...
-
If your bathroom design is looking dated, you...
Check out some of these popular projects in your neighborhood: