Understanding potential sources of bathroom leaks

Bathroom leaks are inevitable if proper measures have not been taken during the time of construction itself. It does not matter how expensive tiles or wall paint you have in your bathroom if you have neglected the aspect of bathroom waterproofing. Bathrooms, by their very nature, are the wettest area in any construction and if the moisture issues are left unaddressed, they can lead to problems like fungi formation, loosening of sanitary fixtures, and even peeling of paint, tiles, and plaster.

To understand how to fix bathroom leaks, it is important to pay heed to the potential sources of bathroom leaks. Let us take a glance at them.

Concealed Pipes

In most cases, the culprit is found in the form of leakage from concealed pipes. If you notice leakage at a particular height and around the bath or sanitary fixture, it is most likely due to the opening or damaging of concealed pipe joints.

Bathroom slab

In case you live in an apartment and you notice some dampness in the ceiling of your bathroom, you need to ask the person/family living right above your flat to get check the leakage and fix it. The reasons from leakage from bathroom slab include:

·         Inadequate adoption of waterproofing system

·         Poor execution of adopted waterproofing system

·         Casual wear and tear

·         Any recent construction work that was poorly executed

Nahani Trap

Nahani trap is another prominent spot from where the leakage might happen. The reason behind it includes poor workmanship. The gap between the tiles and nahani trap should ideally be sealed with polymer-modified mortar. However, many contractors go the easy and cheap route. They seal the gap with normal cement paste which tears away with time and open the gap to allow water seepage which results in damp walls in the bathroom.

Tile Joint Opening

In India, white cement is still a favorite option for most contractors when it comes to filling the gap between tile joints. However, white cement as a grouting material fails to offer sustainable results. After a point, it starts uprooting and when the joints open due to this, water enters through them, leading to peeling of paint, tiles, and even plaster. Experts recommend using special tile grouting powder to get long-term results.

Other than these potential sources of leakages, it is wise to check sanitary fixtures as well as sometimes due to poor or faulty installation, moisture issues happen.