They say the kitchen is the heart of a home—but the value of a functioning bathroom is often overlooked. Beyond your toilet, chances are your bathtub takes second place as the most crucial fixture of this underrated home-space, often needing some kind of refinishing done. Unfortunately, tubs are not any more immune to damage than any other room of your home. Here are four problems to check for in your bathroom.
Stains and Discoloration
If your inner clean freak is triggered by unsightly stains or discoloration on your tub, it could be more than a cosmetic concern.
Staining can be a sign of a deeper issue—the growth of dangerous bacteria and germs. Worse, this type of damage often can’t just be scrubbed away once it’s reached a certain point. It’s often invaded micro-abrasions in the tub’s surface itself. No amount of bleach and elbow grease is going to help.
Thankfully, refinishing can be an affordable and fast solution for bathtub stains and discoloration. During a refinishing, the top layer of your tub is removed, cleaned, and then a new coating is applied. You can have your tub looking its best again in no time! You can even change the color if you like.
Leaks and Cracks
You might think that a leak or crack is hard to miss—and in some cases, you’d be right—but not all tub damage is obvious. Seams and drain rings are the most common failure point, and unless you have a stand-alone tub, that leak may be releasing water out of sight underneath of your bathtub. This can lead to mold, mildew, and even structural damage to your flooring (and ceilings if your tub is on the second floor).
The easiest way to check for a leak is to fill your tub up (but not to the overflow valves) and let it sit for a few hours. If the water level changes, then there’s likely a leak somewhere, and it’s time to call in an expert.
Mold and Mildew
While stains can be a common sign of mold and mildew, that’s not always the case. If the mold is under your tub or in the caulking, for instance, you might not really see it—but it can still make you sick. Mold and mildew spores have the potential to cause a myriad of adverse health effects, such as asthma, headaches, and allergic reactions. In some cases, a good cleaning is enough, but in others, you may have to refinish or replace your tub.
Decreased Functionality
This point covers a lot of ground. If your tub is too small, hard to get into, uncomfortable, drains slowly, has annoying drips, weak water pressure, or any other issue that impacts its usability for you. Its time to consider a fix.
That could mean something as simple as having your drains cleaned or as involved as having your tub replaced entirely. It’s estimated the average person spends 100 hours in the tub or shower a year—make sure yours can meet your needs.
Contact Renov8 today to see what you can do to take care of these issues!
