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Using the Right Adhesive in Wet Areas

Wet areas of your house need to be protected properly and this includes using the correct adhesives, paints and building materials. If you are doing some DIY renovations or just need to make some repairs in your bathroom, a little understanding of wet areas is crucial. While you may be able to use standard epoxy in some wet areas, you need to know how to seal it as well. Most wet areas, however, require special adhesives, like silicon or tile adhesives.

The main areas of a house where water is a concern are:

ñ  Kitchens

ñ  Bathrooms

ñ  Laundry

ñ  Windows

ñ  Roof Space

All of these areas are subject to moisture build up, so not only should you use the correct adhesive but you also need to make sure there is sufficient ventilation. Without this ventilation, even the strongest of adhesives will begin to deteriorate.

Kitchens

It is not just the kitchen sink that gets exposed to water. You need to ensure that bench tops are sealed properly, too. It is also recommended to make sure your flooring is installed and sealed correctly. Usually an epoxy will be used to secure tiles or other flooring, but this does not necessarily make it waterproof.

Bathrooms

Your entire bathroom needs to be sealed properly and to have proper exhaust fans or other ventilation installed. Not only can excess moisture create mould and mildew in your bathroom, but it can also cause wood rot. When wood rot is left unchecked, it can cause damage that will cost thousands of dollars to repair.

As in your kitchen, you need to make sure bathroom flooring is sealed, and also the ceiling and walls. Secure walls and tiles appropriately and then seal with a specific waterproof paint. This will help keep moisture out of your walls and prevent paint from peeling and bubbling.

Laundry

You should treat your laundry much the same as your bathroom when it comes to moisture and adhesives. To seal up fittings, make sure you use an appropriate silicon product. If you use normal filler materials around taps and the like, then they will deteriorate more quickly due to the moisture.

For your laundry, bathroom or kitchen tiles you should use thin-set tile adhesive, which you will have to mix yourself. While there are simpler options, such as mastic (which comes premixed), it will not hold up well in continually wet areas.

Windows

All of your windows should be watertight, but you may find that they spring leaks around the edges. You can either remove the whole window, redo the flashing (the rubber sealing) or you can do a quick fix. This usually involves adding some silicon around any gaps or holes. Keep in mind this is not the best-looking solution and it can be difficult to locate an exact hole.

Roof Space

Your roof space may seem dry, but with rain and your moisture from inside your home getting trapped it can cause problems. This moisture can affect any adhesive used for your roofing, even if it is partially water resistant. Make sure you have proper ventilation in your roof and the rest of your house to stop moisture affecting your adhesives.


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