The Importance Of Preventing Leaking In Your Showers

By Tal Potishman

Many homeowners have become increasingly attracted to having wetroom floors and non-enclosed showers in their homes. This growing surge has baffled many industry experts who are wandering why trays and enclosures were even invented in the first place.

Many homeowners face the problem of experiencing leakage in their bathrooms. With the introduction of power showers and shower heads, this problem has only increased. It all comes down to individual preference. Some homeowners simply prefer the style of a wetroom. If you are one of these homeowners. then you should install tanking to prevent water seeping through the floors to the ceilings below. The trays can then be inset to sit level with floor surfaces.

Here is where the conflict between fashion and practicality comes in. If you want a fashionable shower, then shower enclosures should be frameless and there are many stores that offer products that work to minimise frames.

Dangers of leaking

The first precaution for any homeowner is to prevent any form of leakage in the shower. This is so you can protect your other furnishings in the house from getting ruined. Homeowners today often face problems of carpets getting ruined, and having to deal with musty smells around the house. Not to mention the other inconvenience that comes with a leaking bathroom. The cost of repair and installation can prove to be more than bothersome.

Shower enclosures, as fashionable as they can be, do not completely prevent leaks. If you look carefully you will notice a small square at the bottom corner where a hinged edge meets the tray or floor. This is its most vulnerable point and liable to cause trouble for the homeowner.

One option is to use seals. However this option is not the most favourable for the homeowner as they have to usually be flexible so that the doors can move, and water collecting there can actually seem to be sucked out because of its own surface tension. You will also find the same problem with using bath screens. The combination of flexible seals and flat surfaces and the small gaps allow bits of water to get through.

Are silicon sealants a viable option?

It is not highly recommended for homeowners to use silicon sealants. Silicon sealants are not very reliable as they can be highly prone to mould growth and discolouration. In addition, they are also prone to being affected by the shifting weight of shower users, or by slight movements in the building itself, which can cause them to become detached from their anchorage.

Look around carefully

Although many homeowners prefer watertight shower enclosures and it is the fashionable trend for them to be quite spacious, for some, space-saving overbath solutions suit some installations better. Homeowners should be quite cautious when shopping around and should explore a number of different options before making their purchase. For instance, all the suppliers claim that their products are easy to install. However, it is well known that some screens and enclosures are much more user friendly than others. You would be better off going for a product where you will be guaranteed no leaks rather than taking a risk for fashion purposes.

About the Author:

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about combi boiler, central heating, plumber London, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

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