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Signs Your Bathroom WaterProofing Isn’t Up To Standard

29.06.2022

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When building or completing renovations, “waterproofing” and “bathroom” should go hand-in-hand and it’s important to waterproof a bathroom to Australian Standards. A bathroom without quality waterproofing is almost guaranteed to lead to disaster.

When waterproofing doesn’t exist or isn’t working, water can damage the building, not to mention the wet provides the perfect environment for mould and termites to thrive. That’s why it’s crucial that when renovating, or doing a general check of the home, you should check your water proofing status. Here’s what you need to know.

What Needs to be Waterproofed in a Bathroom? 

This may go without saying, but if you’re just conducting your very first bathroom build and are renovating a bathroom that may be from an older home, or even installing a whole new bathroom yourself, you need to know what needs to be waterproofed in a bathroom in Sydney. 

  •       Taps and faucets: It goes without saying that the place where water comes out needs to be waterproofed against the other fixtures of the bathroom. Your faucet will need to be caulked with waterproof caulking in order to ensure that any leaks from your taps do not go into the underlay of the sink (usually a kitchen cabinet can be found beneath the sink).
  •       Bathtubs and shower skirting: Yet again, your bathtub or shower will need to be completely caulked with waterproof caulking to ensure that whatever water does condensate onto your walls, or sprays from your shower doesn’t make its way onto your walls, as this can cause mould and mildew. 
  •       Flooring: If you’re going to do a bathroom renovation in Sydney, then you should definitely spend the money and either buy tile flooring and have it installed by a professional (the grout will need to be professionally done and the tiles properly laid to prevent water seeping through the tiles and causing blowouts of the sub-floor and damage to the timbers of the below floors), or make sure that the flooring you use is vinyl and therefore waterproof in and of itself.
  •       One key area that is often missed for waterproofing assurance is the toilet. When you get your new toilet installed, make sure that all of the fixings are tight – the last thing you want is an unnoticed slow drip that causes flooring issues later on. 

Signs You’ve Got Waterproofing Issues 

There are a few key signs to look for when figuring out if you need to re-waterproof your bathroom during a bathroom renovation

Funny smells – if you’re noticing a funny smell in your bathroom, it might be time to look for mould and mildew build up. This can be caused by poor waterproofing of sink and bathtub areas. This can also be caused by poor plumbing when installing your toilet.

Apparent mould and mildew growth – Sometimes mould and mildew growth is readily visible. If you see any mould and mildew, you should wipe it clean with a bleach cleaning solution, and then if it reappears, be sure to contact a mould and mildew removal specialist.

Floor bulging – If you notice that your floor is starting to bulge in certain areas, such as near the toilet, sink or bathtub, you may have an incomplete water barrier in these areas, and may have made a mistake (or your contractor did) when installing your flooring. This has caused water to seep in under the flooring and caused the flooring to expand. Please note that this is less common with vinyl and tile flooring, so if you’re looking for waterproof options for flooring, those are two of your most reliable.

When is a Bathroom Renovation Necessary? 

While it may not be your first choice due to the expense involved, there may come a time when your bathroom’s lack of waterproofing simply cannot be patched up any more. This will demand you spend some money and perform a bathroom renovation to ensure that waterproofing is installed correctly and up to the standards of various national and local building codes. 

Is My Bathroom Waterproofing Renovation Up to Code? 

One of the key things when conducting any bathroom renovations in Sydney is to ensure that your bathroom renovation will meet the building code guidelines. You may not be able to DIY your bathroom’s waterproofing – that will depend on your locality’s regulations. In New South Wales, waterproofing materials must be installed by a licensed waterproofing technician.

If you’re not sure how to waterproof your bathroom, it is imperative that you spend the money and get a licensed professional to perform the task for you. Keep in mind that in Australia, it’s the law that your waterproofing complies with Australian Standards AS3740 and AS4654.

How Can Crystal Bathrooms Help? 

As professionals in bathroom renovations, we ensure that all of our waterproofing is done in accordance with national and local standards. If you’re looking to renovate your bathroom to ensure it is watertight – let us know and we’ll send in our professionals to assess, quote and then perform the renovations.

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