Home Improvement
This corner of the shower seems to be having some mold issues from regular use. Water seems to be collecting in that spot after a shower and doesn't seem to be draining properly. Is there anything I can do for a permanent fix?
I've tried keeping my bath fan on for an hour after the shower and don't want to have to squeegy it after each use.
Those tiles should be slightly sloped towards the drain, I am guessing they aren't or aren't enough so water just sits where it lay.
Squeegee is the cheapest and best option, you should already be using the squeegee on the glass after use anyways, but ain't no body got time for that.
If you are leaving the shower door open when you are trying to dry it out with the exhaust fan; a larger or additional exhaust fan or a dedicated dehumidifier are reasonably easy and cheap options that may do the trick. Personally, I'd rather add another fan than the hassle of a dehumidifier.
Removing and resetting the tiles with a properly done slope and corner is the best option, but you may be in for rebuilding the entire shower because of the risk of compromising the waterproofing during demo if the waterproofing is membrane.
Thanks for the reply. I'm certainly not considering a rebuild of the shower given the expense. I think my fan is strong enough considering that my mirrors do not fog up when I shower (the shower stall glass do not go all the way up so there is a gap for the air to pass through).
It seems like the squeegee is the most pragmatic solution given that it's the cheapest.
Thinking about the stronger/additional exhaust fan or a dehumidifier, it is hard for me to grasp that these devices can increase the rate of evaporation so much to prevent the problem considering the standing water (the droplets on the glass after the shower, and the few inch^2 of area that the water pools)
Crappy solutions would be to occasionally murder the mold or to build up something waterproof in the corner so the water rolls off. Unfortunately there is really only one fix, which is to re-tile that section (possibly the entire bottom) so it slopes properly to the drain.
Thanks for the reply. I'm afraid that murdering the mold is something I have to sign up for now given my present situation.
I was considering adding something waterproof in the corner so the water rolls off like you said, but I am not sure what the best way to do that was and whether or not it could look like a clean fix. I would still like to explore what that fix might look like which would help me understand why it is a crappy solution. What are your thoughts here?
I am not sure what the best way to do that was and whether or not it could look like a clean fix. I would still like to explore what that fix might look like which would help me understand why it is a crappy solution.
It would be something like adding a corner of slanted tile there and grouting it into place. There is no way it will ever look like it was supposed to be there. And if you don't get it sealed 100%, now you have a void which is basically permanently wet inside.
Another option would be to build up some silicone in the area, that is probably going to look even less good, but it will be easier, more likely to seal well, and can be removed. Do note if the tile is bumpy, getting the silicone out of the bumps later might prove difficult, but if the tile is smooth, you can scrape it off pretty easily. After you put it down, you can smooth the silicone out with a wetted finger or smoothing tool.
I would personally be tempted to go the silicone route if a full fix is off the table since mold is evil.
Ah yeah I've used silicone to recaulk the glass when the mold got under it. I might take your suggestion here... I'll end up using a lot just to get the slope. As far as shaping it, I suppose I can use a straightedge to form the slope. Luckily the surface is flat so removing the silicone won't be a problem