Mould in bathroom

amyevans · 10-04-2011, 04:55 AM

Okay, the wall around our bath is made up of tiny little tiles. About two cm's squared. The gaps in between them are a breeding ground for mould and no matter what I try (I've used a product specifically designed for mould) it doesn't seem to make a difference.

What's more, all the sealant has mould growing on it, and if I try to clean it, the sealant starts to break away so I stop.

Does anyone have any tips/ideas/miracle products for dealing with this? Besides gutting the whole bathroom and redoing it... that's not an option.

Ron6519 · 10-04-2011, 08:05 AM

Post some photos.
I don't understand, ".all the sealant has mould growing on it." Sealant is colorless. How do you see it?

amyevans · 10-10-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron6519

Post some photos.
I don't understand, ".all the sealant has mould growing on it." Sealant is colorless. How do you see it?

Maybe sealant isn't what I thought it is!

I'm talking about the white stuff that's used to fill in the gaps between the bath and the wall. Except it's not really white anymore! What's this called?

I will see if my phone is up to taking photos of this - I don't have anything else...

Bud Cline · 10-10-2011, 11:18 AM

Quote:

I'm talking about the white stuff that's used to fill in the gaps between the bath and the wall. Except it's not really white anymore! What's this called?

In this country it is called "caulk" but in your country I think you are correct...it is called sealant.

Here...
"sealer/sealant" is used to seal the grout spaces between the tiles.

If you don't eliminate the source of the problem you will never eliminate the appearance of the problem. You are feeding the mold and allowing it to take place. The first thing to do is to get some air moving and keep things dry as much as humanly possible.

A picture would be helpful also and may help with further diagnosis.

amyevans · 10-10-2011, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud Cline

The first thing to do is to get some air moving and keep things dry as much as humanly possible.

A picture would be helpful also and may help with further diagnosis.

The bathroom has no windows

It has an extractor fan but I guess it isn't working that well!

The walls are covered in moisture after a shower...

Am I better to leave the bathroom door closed after using the shower and let the fan do its job or to open the bathroom door and let some steam into the hall?

I've been shutting the bathroom door recently after hearing that leaving it open may lead to mould in the hall (it hasn't as of yet), but now I'm not so sure...

Bud Cline · 10-10-2011, 11:43 AM

If the (exhaust) fan is working properly then keeping the door closed would lower the potential for growing mold in the hallway, but, the exhaust fan would need to be able to draw make up air from somewhere. Maybe a louvre in the bottom of the door would help to promote that process.

The key is the number of [exchanges] in air volume that the exhaust can facilitate in one hour. If an exhaust fan is nothing more than an ornament and a noise source (as a lot of them are) then you haven't accomplished anything.

My first question is: Where does the exhaust fan vent to?

amyevans · 10-27-2011, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud Cline

If the (exhaust) fan is working properly then keeping the door closed would lower the potential for growing mold in the hallway, but, the exhaust fan would need to be able to draw make up air from somewhere. Maybe a louvre in the bottom of the door would help to promote that process.

The key is the number of [exchanges] in air volume that the exhaust can facilitate in one hour. If an exhaust fan is nothing more than an ornament and a noise source (as a lot of them are) then you haven't accomplished anything.

My first question is: Where does the exhaust fan vent to?

I THINK it vents to somewhere outside. But it probably has a long way to take the air which I guess would make it less efficient?

Bud Cline · 10-27-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

But it probably has a long way to take the air which I guess would make it less efficient?

Very observant and true. An exhaust fan not only must be powerful enough to draw air from a given area but it must also have enough power to move the "static air" that is in the duct. The longer the duct I think the more power that is required to keep things moving. Add some moisture to that air and the air becomes heavier and even more difficult to evacuate.

It is for this reason that we are (more and more) recommending a stronger fan placed at a different location so that the increased noise volume resulting from a more efficient fan is not so noticeable and a duct still draws the air from the targeted area.

The necessary air exchanges required is arguable but we use a formula that would produce twelve air exchanges per hour.

hellothere123 · 10-29-2011, 03:20 PM

I'm looking at the same thing, redoing a bathroom and I have simular mold issues.

From what I've heard tiles and a shower don't mix - and while it looks nice, water will EVENTUALLY get behind the tiles and mortar and then you have nothing but a problem.

If your looking for a cheap fix, what about tearing off the tiles and getting rid of the mold and possible drywall...then installing a plastic surround?

Ron6519 · 10-29-2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellothere123

I'm looking at the same thing, redoing a bathroom and I have simular mold issues.

From what I've heard tiles and a shower don't mix - and while it looks nice, water will EVENTUALLY get behind the tiles and mortar and then you have nothing but a problem.

If your looking for a cheap fix, what about tearing off the tiles and getting rid of the mold and possible drywall...then installing a plastic surround?

Mold issues in bathrooms are caused by a few issues. Inadequate ventilation , inadequate cleaning or poor design.
If I wanted plastic walls in a bath, I'd stay at a cheap motel.

Bud Cline · 10-29-2011, 04:30 PM

Quote:

hellothere123: "From what I've heard tiles and a shower don't mix"

I have a seen a lot of absurdities come across this monitor screen of mine and THAT is one of biggest absurdities I have ever heard. NONSENSE!

Quote:

hellothere123: "water will EVENTUALLY get behind the tiles and mortar"

That is basic knowledge with most all tile showers. It has been like that since tile showers began. They all wick some moisture behind the tiles. This is why tiles are made of baked clay and why they are installed with a masonry product. Water doesn't have an ill effect on any of that stuff. Water does however have an adverse effect on a substandard shower wall substrate. This is why there are rules.

Quote:

hellothere123:"If your looking for a cheap fix, what about tearing off the tiles and getting rid of the mold and possible drywall...then installing a plastic surround?"

That suggestion is just plain asinine. The mold is not being caused by the tiles or the tile substrate. The mold is most generally due to lack of ventilation and poor ( or no) maintenance routines.

hellothere123 · 10-30-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron6519

Mold issues in bathrooms are caused by a few issues. Inadequate ventilation , inadequate cleaning or poor design.
If I wanted plastic walls in a bath, I'd stay at a cheap motel.

Its usually acrylic not plastic, and the poster said he didn't want to redo his bathroom...its an alternative

hellothere123 · 10-30-2011, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud Cline

I have a seen a lot of absurdities come across this monitor screen of mine and THAT is one of biggest absurdities I have ever heard. NONSENSE!

That is basic knowledge with most all tile showers. It has been like that since tile showers began. They all wick some moisture behind the tiles. This is why tiles are made of baked clay and why they are installed with a masonry product. Water doesn't have an ill effect on any of that stuff. Water does however have an adverse effect on a substandard shower wall substrate. This is why there are rules.

That suggestion is just plain asinine. The mold is not being caused by the tiles or the tile substrate. The mold is most generally due to lack of ventilation and poor ( or no) maintenance routines.

you have a real bad attitude and have been reported...

I have an old shower, water eventually got behind the tiles and molded the drywall...The cracks inbetween the tiles and I can see the mold...if he was referring to just general mold ontop of tile - it wasn't what I was referring to.

Your comments are way over the top - in the future never respond to anything I post.

**oh'mike** · 10-30-2011, 09:19 PM

Moderator here---Just checking in---

pete0403 · 10-30-2011, 10:47 PM

hellothere123...

You're making Canadians look bad...please stop

10-04-2011, 04:55 AM	#1
amyevans Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: England Posts: 83	Mould in bathroom Okay, the wall around our bath is made up of tiny little tiles. About two cm's squared. The gaps in between them are a breeding ground for mould and no matter what I try (I've used a product specifically designed for mould) it doesn't seem to make a difference. What's more, all the sealant has mould growing on it, and if I try to clean it, the sealant starts to break away so I stop. Does anyone have any tips/ideas/miracle products for dealing with this? Besides gutting the whole bathroom and redoing it... that's not an option.

10-04-2011, 08:05 AM	#2
Ron6519 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 9,519	Mould in bathroom Post some photos. I don't understand, ".all the sealant has mould growing on it." Sealant is colorless. How do you see it? __________________ Ron "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." B. Franklin 1759

10-10-2011, 11:43 AM	#6
Bud Cline Tileguy Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,104	Mould in bathroom If the (exhaust) fan is working properly then keeping the door closed would lower the potential for growing mold in the hallway, but, the exhaust fan would need to be able to draw make up air from somewhere. Maybe a louvre in the bottom of the door would help to promote that process. The key is the number of [exchanges] in air volume that the exhaust can facilitate in one hour. If an exhaust fan is nothing more than an ornament and a noise source (as a lot of them are) then you haven't accomplished anything. My first question is: Where does the exhaust fan vent to?

10-29-2011, 03:20 PM	#9
hellothere123 Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 205	Mould in bathroom I'm looking at the same thing, redoing a bathroom and I have simular mold issues. From what I've heard tiles and a shower don't mix - and while it looks nice, water will EVENTUALLY get behind the tiles and mortar and then you have nothing but a problem. If your looking for a cheap fix, what about tearing off the tiles and getting rid of the mold and possible drywall...then installing a plastic surround?

10-30-2011, 09:19 PM	#14
oh'mike Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kane county,Illinois Posts: 16,752	Mould in bathroom Moderator here---Just checking in--- __________________ New members: Adding your location to your profile helps in many ways.--M--

Mould in bathroom