Suffering from a damp bathroom?

The bathroom is often one of the most humid rooms in a home. In many cases, moisture in the bathroom is not a problem, but an abundance of moisture that cannot leave often brings negative consequences. Do you suffer from an excessively damp bathroom? You are not alone: in Flanders, many bathrooms suffer from moisture problems such as condensation, ventilation problems, rising damp, damp floor, leaks or a musty smell.

Recognizing moisture in the bathroom

A bathroom is an important room in your home. It is the room in which you get ready for the day, shower, go to the toilet or perhaps cut your own hair. In other words, the bathroom is a place where you should like to be and where you would rather not have moisture problems.

An ideal humidity level for a bathroom is between 40% and 60%. Is the value higher than that? Then chances are that sooner or later you will experience moisture spots and problems. You can usually recognize an excessively humid bathroom by the following signs:

• Colored spots on the wall
• Mold spots
• Loose stucco, wallpaper or grouting
• A bad and unpleasant odor
• Drops on the windows and walls

If you notice these issues in your bathroom, it's a good idea to call in a moisture expert.

Consequences of a damp bathroom

If you notice the previous symptoms in your bathroom but do nothing about them, it can lead to all kinds of negative consequences. We list the main ones:

Causes of an excessively damp bathroom and their solutions

There are several causes of moisture in the bathroom, each with its own moisture treatment. It is recommended to hire a moisture expert to determine the exact cause. Once the exact cause is known, a correct solution can also be provided. The most common causes are:

1. Condensation moisture

Condensation moisture is a common cause of a damp bathroom because condensation is often caused by human activities. Consider, for example, the breathing or perspiration of the occupants. Showering or taking a bath can also increase humidity. If you do not ventilate the room adequately, this moisture cannot leave. This results in condensation on the walls and ceiling. Over time, this can lead to damp spots and mold on silicone and joints.

The ideal solution to condensation moisture is to ventilate your bathroom as well as possible. This can be done by taking action yourself, but a mechanical ventilation system can also help.

2. Insufficient heating

A heating device in the bathroom accelerates the evaporation of excess moisture, allowing it to drain easily. If the bathroom is not heated, the moisture remains. Over time, damp spots develop, and it is only a matter of time before the first signs of mold become visible.

3. Rising moisture

Is your bathroom located on the ground floor? Then rising damp can also lead to moisture in the bathroom. This occurs when there is a problem with or lack of the water barrier, causing groundwater moisture to penetrate the bathroom walls.

Rising damp is best handled professionally by having your walls injected. This is when experts drill holes in the damp walls and then inject them with a damp-proofing product.

4. Penetrating moisture

Furthermore, seepage moisture can be at the root of a damp bathroom. This is moisture that enters through the outside of the house due to (heavy) precipitation and seeps through the interior walls.

Permeable moisture in the bathroom is best controlled through facade impregnation, where a transparent but waterproof layer is applied to the facade.

5. Moisture-absorbing materials in the bathroom

Materials such as natural or brick have a strong absorptive capacity. In a humid environment, this can lead to problems:

• Materials that easily absorb moisture become saturated and porous after a while
• In addition, accumulated moisture causes unpleasant odors to spread.

If you still want to choose such materials, it is recommended to treat them with a moisture-resistant coating. However, if you want to make things easy on yourself, it is better to choose modern materials such as plastic and ceramic tiles.

6. Water leaks

Finally, an undetected leak in one of the pipes can result in excessive moisture in the bathroom. Since leaks are often not immediately visible, the moisture problem usually does not manifest itself for several months.

To address this, it is wise to hire an expert or plumber. This professional has specialized equipment for detecting leaks that are not visible to the naked eye. After such leak detection, you will also receive a report and expert advice with the necessary bathroom repair work.