We hear it on HGTV during every episode — “Bathrooms sell houses!” A huge walk-in shower or soaker tub staged with luxurious toiletries, candles and a glass of wine is a beautiful vignette. However, bathrooms are the sources of a majority of water damage in a modern home.
One of the responsibilities of owning a home is maintenance; a leaking shower valve can damage walls, plumbing fixtures and structural elements. The trouble is actually that the leaks you cannot see are the most problematic and costly to repair. Shower leaks hidden behind the wall also can do internal damage long before you detect them. When water gets behind the tiles or the surround, it can destroy the grout and loosen the tiles. Eventually it will degrade the drywall and wooden structures and rot the sub-floor.
Splash leaks in tubs with shower doors are usually caused by deterioration of the caulk that surrounds the door frame. Signs include:
These leaks become apparent when paint begins peeling off of the wall around the area where the shower pipe passes. Such shower leaks are usually caused by a malfunctioned plumbing structure behind the wall, especially near your faucets and shower head. In some cases, the leaks may dampen the walls of your bathroom even though the actual leakages are located in other specific areas.
When moisture breaks down drywall, walls become soft and begin to bubble, eventually warping and breaking into smaller pieces. When drywall absorbs water, might swell or even feel soft or spongy. If your shower leaks behind the wall, you will visibly see water stains on the drywall ceiling below the tub drain. The plywood will rot and the floor will start to feel soft in places, eventually collapsing.
If you feel some movement pressing upon the tiles in your bathroom, notice many gaps in your grout or caulk, or cracks that get deeper, then it is time to call Kade Cleaning Systems.
When moisture gets under the hard surfaces, it encourages mold and mildew to form: under the tub, behind the wall, under the shower pan, into the subfloor. Bathroom floors are designed to withstand water –unless a leak develops. If your home was built with a wooden floor truss system, the sub floor is usually made of plywood. When subjected to moisture or hidden leaks, the sub-floor will gradually become softer, maybe even somewhat unstable and spongy. But even more dangerous, mold can flourish in these damp hidden spaces.
A shower leak behind the wall has the potential to cause great damage to your home, especially if it goes undetected for an extended period of time. Even a small leak that drips two to three drops of water per minute can cause great damage if it goes undetected for weeks or months. Many slow shower leaks lead to the weakening of the wood structure behind the wall, not to mention big problems with mold that can be hazardous to your health. Mold remediation can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars and may involve cutting away and replacing large sections of drywall.
Severe leaks can also cause problems with your bathroom flooring if moisture begins pooling up. Furthermore, if your bathroom is located on the second or higher story, the dampness on the ceiling underneath could damage it beyond repair. Kade Cleaning Systems can coordinate the repairs and restoration to your home from water damage. The team will immediately respond to water emergencies like flooded basements and burst pipes. Do not put it off! Call a water damage repair team today!
If this is an emergency, please call (816) 888-9653 for immediate help 24/7.
(816) 888-9653