Caulking Prevents Avoidable Damage Around The Multiple Fixtures

Preventing water damage inside our bathrooms is just as important as directing water away from our homes. Caulking, as part of routine homeowner maintenance, prevents avoidable damage around the multiple fixtures and different building materials located inside a bathroom. To get started all you need to know are the areas inside a bathroom that need to be regularly maintained, how to remove existing caulking, and how to apply a new bead of caulk. What Areas Need to Be Maintained? Gaps occur along joints, the transitions between materials or surfaces. These seemingly minor spaces create opportunities for water to penetrate and cause large problems. The typical areas in a bathroom where caulking needs to be maintained exist in and around tubs, showers, and vanities. Specific locations will vary depending on the fixtures and materials installed in your home. Examples include: Along the seams of a tub/shower surround; Along the wall, where a tub/shower surround terminates; Along the top of a tub, where the tile meets the tub; Along the ceiling, where the tile meets the ceiling; Along the floor, where a tub/shower meets flooring; Along the top of a vanity, where a backsplash meets the vanity top; Along the top of a backsplash or counter, where it meets the wall; and around faucets, shower heads, hot/cold knobs, and spouts. How to Tile a Custom Bathroom Ceramic tile is an ideal choice for walls and floors in any bathroom. It's durable, impervious to water, and comes in an almost limitless selection of colors and styles. Tiling a custom bathroom with your own hands is a rewarding project for an experienced do-it-yourselfer. Join the At Home channel's host, Jeff Wilson, as he offers guidance on installing wall and floor tile in the second installment of Buildipedia's custom bathroom series. Read More... How to Install a Bathroom Lavatory Lavatory, or vanity, sinks are often the focal point of a bathroom. The bathroom sink is the most frequently used fixture in the room and comes in a nearly unlimited number of design options. Despite the wide variety of styles and components available, bathroom sinks all install in much the same way, and the installation of a bathroom sink is a project that just about any do-it-yourselfer can accomplish. Join the At Home channel's host, Jeff Wilson, as he installs a lavatory cabinet, undermount sink, countertop, faucet, and drain to complete our custom bathroom series. Read More... Maintaining these areas is easier and less expensive than making the costly repairs that are necessitated by water damage. On an annual basis you should inspect the areas listed above. If the existing caulk is discolored or has mildew on the surface, it can be cleaned by using commercially available cleaners or general household materials such as bleach, baking soda, distilled vinegar, or peroxide. If the existing caulking is dry, loose, damaged, missing, or stained, it should be removed and replaced. Source: buildipedia.com