Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Remedy depends on extent of moisture damage
QUESTION: Please advise us on the following problem. Our ceramic tiles above the bathtub have been leaking and we are going to have to remove them and replace the wallboard. There is mould behind the tiles because there are black areas in the basement ceiling and main floor floorboards where the pipes come through.
What disinfectant should we use to kill the mould after we open up the wallboard? Is bleach safe to use and in what proportion to water? What precautions should we take when removing the wallboard?
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Elizabeth & Stephen Bahr
ANSWER: Moisture damage in bathroom walls is one of the main things I check for when inspecting the interiors of homes because of the high cost of repairs associated with this very common defect. This issue can be quite insidious as evidence of a major problem may be hidden from view to the average homeowner.
I am consistently telling my clients during pre-purchase home inspections to repair or replace the silicone caulking around tubs and showers and maintain grout in tile walls. While these may seem like minor repairs and hardly worth the effort to identify, they can be instrumental in preventing the issue you are facing.
Ceramic tiles are an excellent product for preventing moisture damage to the area above your tub, but they are only as effective as the condition of these two items. Mortar between the tiles will last for many years but once it becomes eroded or deteriorated, it can allow moisture to infiltrate the backing behind the tiles.
Even more important, silicone caulking at the joint between the tub and tile and in corners has a very limited life expectancy and should be removed and replaced every one or two years. If either of these two areas are neglected it may not be long before moisture damage behind the tile leads to major repairs to the entire shower area.
One reason this is such a common issue is the backing material used behind the tiles. Often, this is not moisture-resistant enough to last a long time in the wet environment of your bathroom. Many homes have simple plaster or gypsum drywall behind these areas that will easily absorb moisture from the shower. Even moisture-resistant drywall will have a limited life expectancy in this application.
More modern homes, or older bathrooms upgraded by knowledgeable contractors, should have more moisture-resistant backing for tiles. Cement-based sheathing or protective plastic membranes are often employed behind tiles to keep the substrate solid even if some moisture does penetrate the tile surface. After you remove the damaged material in your shower, ensure you are employing one of these better products to prevent a reoccurrence of your current situation.
Now that I've offered my advice on how to proceed with the new surface after replacement of your old shower area, I should answer your question. The repairs or treatment of the moisture damaged, mouldy or rotten material behind the tiles depends largely on the extent of the damage.
If you remove the tiles and wall covering behind them and find only stains on the studs, there may be little you need to do before redoing the bathroom. If you find large stains or blackened or soft sections to the wood framing then you will have to do more significant remediation.
The way to simply test the framing is to take a sharp tool such as a scratch awl or screwdriver and firmly push it on the surface of the wood. If the tool does not easily penetrate the surface, the wood should have minimal damage and maintain its structural integrity. If the sharp surface of the probe easily punctures the wood and sinks in more than a few millimetres, the wood will need to be replaced. There is no treatment that can prevent further deterioration to wood once significant rot has taken hold and only removal will do.
Your concern with mould in this area will likely be concentrated in two areas, the wall covering and the wood framing behind. Since you will have to remove and discard the wall coverings completely to do a proper assessment and repair, there is little issue there. Once this is removed from your home there will be little chance of any mould in this material being a problem after cleanup and repairs are complete.
If the wood is in good condition behind this area and you are still concerned about mould, I would not recommend using any bleach for treatment. Chlorine bleach is a toxic substance and if you mix potentially hazardous types of moulds with it you could create more dangerous toxins that have unknown effects. There are commercially produced liquid fungicides designed for this purpose that could be applied to the surface of the studs, which are available at home centres or other suppliers.
What you should understand is there are naturally occurring moulds everywhere in our environment, indoors and outdoors. Wood rot is a type of mould, but is not one known to cause health concerns to people. Finding a small amount of surface rot in wood framing behind a damaged bathroom wall or in the old floor boards below the tub is not cause for panic.
If the material is badly damaged, cut it out and replace it after tearing out the tiled walls. If the wood has a minor amount of surface staining or damage, it should not become a major issue and certainly not a health issue as long as the walls are properly repaired with the right materials and well maintained in the future.
Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and president of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors - Manitoba (www.cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be emailed to the address below. Ari can be reached at (204) 291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca
trainedeye@iname.com
Renovation & Design
Easy tips to get apartment deposit back
QUESTION: I'm moving out in a month from my apartment, and I have a very picky landlord. I would like to give him no reason to hold part of my deposit.
-- There are some PVC vertical blinds that were originally beige, and I spray-painted them yellow, orange, green and blue. What is my best move to bring them back to their original colour?
-- From moving in three years ago, some furniture left black marks on the beige walls; can I easily get rid of them without looking for matched paint?
-- On the hardwood floor there is one limited spot where it is scratched with small white lines, can I improve the look of it? I'm afraid to sand just a small spot like that.
-- Leftover from a Halloween decoration, there is a "tape mark" on the ceiling; can I get rid of it? Thanks a lot for all your fabulous tips. Nathalie, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Let's see if we can get your entire deposit back with the following solutions. Using a spray paint, lightly spray the blinds to cover the previous paint colours. Several thin coats are better than one big fat thick coat of paint. Purchase good quality paint so that it does not run, and is thick enough to cover up the blue hue.
For wall scuff marks, dampen a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and erase all black lines. Or if you happen to have borax on hand, combine half cup borax with two tablespoons of dish soap and scrub wall. Rinse with water.
To cover up scratches on hardwood floors, you can purchase touch-up kits. However, what I would do instead is reach into your cupboard and pull out a jar of smooth peanut butter. Spread peanut butter onto areas. Let sit for one hour and wipe off all excess. Or colour in with matching crayon or permanent marker.
While you are waiting for the peanut butter on the floor to dry, take the jar and smear some on the ceiling to get rid of adhesive tape (or use WD-40). Wipe with dish soap and water. Or heat area with hair dryer and scrape with a plastic putty knife. Happy moving!
QUESTION: How do you clean a brass mailbox? Thanks. Lovie, Winnipeg
ANSWER: You can either clean your mailbox with a product called Brasso, specifically designed for cleaning brass. Or use WD-40, a product that is great for cleaning brass and most people have a can on hand. Scrub with an abrasive cloth. If the mailbox still needs help, colour match spray paint and paint outdoors on a calm day.
Feedback from caring Manitoban:
Dear Reena,
You have some wonderful solutions to household problems. In reply to the lady who had a blue ring around her toilet, I had the same problem when I moved into my home in Russell, Man. My toilets were brand new, and they developed a blue ring, which I could not remove. I simply lived with it for a number of years; but it always bothered me. Finally, one of my friends suggested this solution which works for me; and I have to repeat this procedure every six weeks or so.
I take two long narrow rags, which, when put end to end, will reach around the blue ring on the toilet. First I make the rags wet, then wring them out. Then get rid of the water in the toilet bowl. Now put the rags in place around the blue ring. Then saturate them with Javex. Leave them there for as long as it takes to make the blue ring disappear. For me it's between 20 minutes and a half-hour. Hope this helps Maureen, and anyone else who has this problem.
Fabulous baking soda tips:
Baking soda is a leavening agent used in baked goods like cookies or quick breads but that's not all...
-- This tip was sent to me by a grandmother who found her grandson dumping baking soda all over her bathroom. Forget the expensive cleaners that leave you coughing and gasping for air. Sprinkle baking soda on bathroom sink, counter and in bathtub. Scrub, rinse and smile.
-- Wash your hair with baking soda a few times a month. This leaves hair thoroughly clean and gets rid of product buildup caused by styling products.
-- Flush one cup of baking soda down the toilet once a week to keep the septic tank clear.
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, Man., ROA 0C0.
