Bathtub Reglazing in New York City
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Mold in Bathroom
Mold appears as a gray, greenish, or black plaque. Over time, it grows, becoming soft and fluffy to the touch. Mold spores are poorly attached to the surface on which they grow, so the smallest particles can quickly fly through the air. They are not harmless and can cause asthma and allergic reactions.
Cleanliness of the bathroom is one of the most important conditions for a cozy atmosphere in it, as well as the beauty of its interior and hygiene.
Sometimes it happens that residents spend a lot of time cleaning the bathrooms, but all their efforts are ineffective due to the presence of mold.
The bathroom has all the necessary conditions for its development, and once it appears, it will constantly irritate the residents, until radical measures are taken.
Most often, mold and mildew appear at the joint between the bathroom and the wall, in the corners, or at the tile joints. These places are favorable for fungal spores and are difficult to clean and wash.
The mold that once appeared on a porous surface is highly likely to reappear there, because it is completely impossible to clean it out of the small pores, and it grows after a while.
Causes of Mold Formation
The first and main reason for the appearance of mold in the bathroom is humidity. There is no escaping water in this room, but at the construction stage or during major repairs, it is important to consider all the nuances that will prevent it from drying. It is useless to combat fungus in the bathroom if the source of constant dampness is not eliminated.
Another significant factor in the appearance of mold in the bathroom is the lack of lighting. As a rule, in these rooms, windows are absent or very small, and artificial lighting is turned off immediately after using the bathroom.
Lack of ventilation is another cause of fungus development. A closed, enclosed, dark, and humid bathroom space becomes an ideal environment for mold to appear. It is not immediately detectable, but you can tell that it has appeared by its characteristic musty smell.
How to Prevent the Appearance of Mold
To avoid the development of mold in the bathroom, you need to ensure that all surfaces are dry and make sure that moisture does not leak out of somewhere. Pipes and plumbing must be intact, the bathtub must be equipped with a curtain or doors that prevent water from splashing, and its side adjacent to the wall must be securely covered with a special baseboard or plinth.
A well-thought-out heating system is very important for maintaining a normal humidity level. If condensation occurs on the walls, no method of combating mold will give positive results until the cause of its appearance is eliminated.
It is very important to provide good ventilation for the bathroom even at the construction stage. If you do not have one, the room should be regularly ventilated.
It is also important to clean with special materials made for bathrooms, which have substances in their composition that destroy bacteria and fungal spores.
During repairs in the bathroom, it is necessary to use antifungal formulations, as well as choose water-repellent materials, avoiding hygroscopic ones.
Often, mold appears in the tile joints. Being imperceptible, it grows, penetrating the pores of the material. If you cannot eliminate the fungus by cleaning and special tools, you will have to replace the tile seams.
To do this, you need to completely knock down the grout using a trowel or other suitable tool.
After removing the material, the seams should be completely dried, and then apply a fungicide. After the composition dries, you can apply a new grout, do not forget to treat it from above with a special solution that will keep the joints clean and new for a long time.
How to Protect a Bathtub From Mold
Black mold often appears on the side of the bathtub at the point where it joins the wall. It can also affect damaged areas of the enamel while remaining invisible to the eye.
Depressions, cracks, and detachments that retain moisture and dirt are ideal places for micro-organisms to develop. The best way to protect a bath from this is to resurface it so that it is perfectly smooth and uniform.
Pour-on application method using liquid acrylic is ideal for this. The material not only creates a new surface with perfect external characteristics but also prevents the development of bacteria and fungal spores. Acrylic has no pores, its texture is smooth and has water-repellent properties, which prevents the appearance of mold.
Simultaneously with the resurfacing of the tub, the craftsman is advised to make a self-leveling acrylic corner. This is the most problematic place where black mold appears most often. Treatment of the joint with liquid acrylic will eliminate the accumulation of moisture and the development of fungal spores.
How to Get Rid of Mold in the Bathroom
To combat mold, there is a considerable choice of both professional and folk remedies available to everyone at home. Among home remedies, bleach or other chlorine-containing substances diluted with water are most often used.
Acetic acid or soda diluted with vinegar is also effective. A less aggressive but strong natural antiseptic is tea tree oil. It will not cope with neglected mold, but with minor lesions, and as a preventive measure, it may well be used.
Whatever tool you choose to treat the bathtub from fungus, you need to take into account the volatility of its spores. During the work, all residents need to leave, close the rooms, and remove things from the bathrooms as much as possible.
The person who will handle the treatment must protect their respiratory tract and hands not only from caustic chemicals but also from mold spores that are dangerous to human health.
If you find fungus in the bathroom contact the «New York Tubs» company specialists. They will be able to identify and eliminate the cause of its appearance, if necessary, replace faulty plumbing, improve the heating and ventilation system, restore or resurface the bathtub, carry out cosmetic repairs and treat the surfaces with the necessary tools. Our technicians thoroughly approach the problem, leaving no chance for mold to reappear.
