Keeping your bathroom mould free can be challenging when you take into account that it’s the space in your home that possibly gets the most moisture. Whether your family prefers hot long baths or quick showers, there’s no doubt a lot of steam in that space on a daily basis.
One of the top ways to ensure that this excessive moisture doesn’t damage your walls or turn into mould is to opt for the bathroom caulking Melbourne homeowners regularly invest in. If you think your bathroom may benefit from being re-caulked, then this post is for you.
Firstly, What is Caulking?
If you’ve never had any caulking redone at your home, you may not be entirely sure what it is. Essentially, caulk is a thick, flexible adhesive that serves as a sealant. This material is typically applied to open joints, vanity seams, and other open areas using a specialised caulking gun. Once applied, the sealant needs to be cured.
Caulking should be applied to the following areas in your bathroom:
- The seam along the top of the bathtub where it joins up to the wall.
- Any spaces between the wall tiles and ceiling.
- The areas where the toilet, shower, and bathtub meet the floor or tiles.
- Spaces and joints around the sinks, taps, and toilet pipes.
- Areas around the showerhead and other water pipes.
- The joints and seams on top of vanities and cupboards that touch the walls and floors.
Caulking is an Essential Method of Fighting Mould
Caulking not only adds a smooth and elegant finish to the gaps around the joints and seams in your bathroom. By adding a layer of caulking to these spaces, air leaks are sealed, and ensure that moisture doesn’t build up there.
Another significant benefit of caulking is that it prevents water from seeping into hidden areas, such as the gaps behind tiles or under bathtubs. Water accumulation in these unseen spaces can lead to serious structural issues like rotting walls and flooring. In some cases, if left unchecked, the damp conditions may even attract unwanted pests, such as termites, which thrive in moist environments. Regular caulking, therefore, serves as a preventive measure, saving you from more extensive and expensive repairs in the future.
Quality caulking products are designed to be waterproof, creating an additional defense against harmful mould and mildew spores from building up around sinks, baths, and in the shower.
Caulking Needs to be Re-Applied
Even when using quality caulking, the sealant typically only lasts between three and five years. It’s important to note that this period can be more or less, depending on different factors unique to your bathroom space. These often include the following:
- Whether or not a waterproof product was used
- Quality of the initial application process
- Whether or not the surface was properly prepared before application
- Existing mould in the bathroom and around joints when the initial product was applied
- How often the area was cleaned and the methods used
- Humidity levels in the space
Know the Signs
While applying caulking in the perfect conditions and then maintaining it can see your caulking last for about five years, it will at some point need to be redone. Since you may not have lived in your home when it was last caulked, you may not know how long ago it was done. Fortunately, there are a few simple signs to look out for that will highlight the need for re-caulking.
1. Caulking is Peeling Off
Quality caulking shouldn’t peel or flake off. However, consistent exposure to water, such as a dripping tap, can cause the sealant to deteriorate faster than expected. In this instance, you should repair the source of the leak before re-caulking. You may also start seeing cracks and gaps forming inside or along the edge of the caulking.
2. Loses the Characteristic White Colour
Most indoor caulking is white and will remain this way for as long as it’s unaffected by mould and mildew growing underneath. Cracks in the caulking will allow mould bacteria to get in which will in turn make the caulk turn a yellowy colour.
3. There’s a Funny Glue Smell
Bathrooms are notorious for a wide range of odours. However, the odour of old, expired, or damaged caulking will smell like old glue. The smell will be most common near the joints, and seams.
Usually, this smell is a result of mould bacteria building up under the caulk. In other instances, it can mean your bathroom needs a deep clean. Clean the caulking area with vinegar and bicarbonate solution and if the odour returns, it should be replaced.
4. Caulk Feels Spongy
Fresh caulk will always be firm to the touch. It will look and feel like sealant. However, older sealants will start getting soft and spongy. When you press down on it, it will feel wobbly and soft. You may even be able to pull the spongy caulk loose.
When this happens, the caulking is no longer keeping water and moisture out and needs to be replaced as soon as possible. Remember to give the area a deep clean to remove any potential mould that may have started growing there.
Final Thoughts
Ensuring that your bathroom is hygienic and mildew-free is considerably easier when you routinely add quality caulking to all gaps and joints. Use our guide of tell-tale signs to help you know when it’s time to re-caulk your bathroom. That way you don’t have to deal with mold down the line!
