How to Stop a Bathroom Floor from Getting Wet

Last updated on July 28th, 2023 at 08:38 am

Every individual must use the bathroom at least once a day. This means there’s water flowing at one point in time during the day so your bathroom floor is likely to get wet. A wet bathroom floor poses a danger to you and your family either through slipping accidents (which can be fatal) or mold growth which reproduces spores that can affect your respiratory health.

Besides the safety aspect, a wet floor will cause a mess in the bathroom especially because most people wear slippers all over the house. You can easily pick up dust/dirt from another part of the house and walk into the bathroom with it. When the dust mixes with the water on the floor, it will cause a dirty mess. To avoid these scenarios, it’s important to know how to stop a bathroom floor from getting wet.

1.      Get a Shower Curtain

This essential bathroom accessory is not only for privacy and aesthetic purposes. It’s hard to take a shower without splashing water around. The shower curtain keeps the water and moisture in the shower area from getting onto the floor. They are easy to install and come in various materials. The most common one is polyester. Cotton is also a great choice but on the more expensive side.

2.      Add a Bath Mat

When you step out of the shower, even after drying yourself with a towel, you’re likely to have moisture under your feet. The bath mat absorbs all the excess water, preventing it from getting onto the floor when you step off the mat. The popular and most absorbent bath mat materials for your consideration include cotton, memory foam, and microfiber.

3.      Wear Bathroom Slippers

Whether you have a bath mat or not, bathroom slippers come in handy to keep water off your bathroom floor. Simply slip into them after your shower. The good quality types are not leaky and will absorb the moisture on your feet. Most of them have a rubber sole that will keep you firm on the ground.

4.      Conduct Regular Maintenance

Sometimes leaks will happen from the sinks, toilet, bathtub, or shower. Usually, they are a sign of a problem that has existed for a while. Regular maintenance of your plumbing system will go a long way to prevent these leaks. Also, timely repair of any plumbing issues is crucial. What started as an innocent malfunction may turn into a nightmare of a wet bathroom floor that will be more difficult to repair.

How Do I Make My Bathroom Floor Dry After a Shower?

Drying your bathroom floor after a shower is crucial as it removes any chance for standing water and mold to grow which compromise the health of your household. It also keeps your bathroom accident-free – you can hardly slip on a dry floor. Here’s how you can make your bathroom floor dry after a shower:

1.      Use Ventilation

Your bathroom requires sufficient ventilation to not only dry the wet areas but also remove bad odors. Open the windows after your shower, especially when the weather is good. This allows fresh outdoor air to come in and spread throughout your bathroom while drying out the moisture. It will leave the room smelling fresh.

You can also use a bathroom exhaust fan. You know that humid, sauna feeling you create while having a hot shower? That may feel good in the moment but it’s bad for your bathroom in the long run. An exhaust fan will suck up all that moisture and dry the whole bathroom.

2.      Use a Towel

You can use a dry towel to wipe the water and moisture off the floor. The towel should be the type that sucks in moisture quickly and easily. Remember to wear gloves with this method so that your hands are protected. A substantial amount of moisture on your hands may leave them dry. The only downside to this method is that you may have to bend to wipe the floor and continue wringing the towel if it gets soaked.

3.      Use a Mop

Use a dry mop to soak up all the water from your bathroom floor. A good spin mop is a great choice. When it gets soaked, you won’t have to wring it with your hands. They come with a bucket and spinning function that will effectively squeeze out all the water so you can keep drying the floor. Unlike other types of mops, you won’t leave the floor moist.

4.      Turn on the Extractor Fan

An extractor fan is not just for removing bad odor in the bathroom, it also removes moisture. It’s a great way to keep your bathroom floors dry especially if you have a small window. After your shower, the extractor fan doesn’t give the moisture in the air a chance to turn back to liquid again. it removes the moisture and expels it through ducts or vents in your bathroom, allowing fresher air to circulate and dry your bathroom floor.

5.      Use a Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is a perfect tool if you don’t have any bathroom windows. It will remove excess moisture and humidity from your bathroom and prevent mold from growing on your bathroom floor. Also, it’s a lot cheaper than installing a new window in your bathroom.

The best way to use it would be to turn it on right before getting in the shower and then leave it on for several minutes after your shower. This will keep your bathroom relatively dry. The disadvantage of using a dehumidifier is that you‘ll need to empty it regularly. Keep in mind that its size is dependant on the size of your bathroom.

How Do You Waterproof Bathroom Floor and Walls?

Your bathroom floor and walls are the areas most affected by water. By waterproofing/water sealing these areas, you’re preventing the water from penetrating the tiles and destroying the building structure. The process of waterproofing involves applying a waterproof membrane before installing the tiles on the floor or walls. Here’s a basic step-by-step of the waterproofing process.

1.      Clean and Prepare the Area

The area must be thoroughly clean for an effective waterproofing job. You must wipe off and mop all the dust. If your bathroom is newly built and has never been tiled, the process is easier. However, if you have to rip off old tiles and flooring, your contractor will need a lot more effort to remove all the debris.

2.      Prime and Apply Silicone

Using a roller, apply the primer across the whole floor and about 20-30cm of the wall (if you’re only waterproofing the floor). Otherwise, you can apply it to all the areas where you expect water to splash. Leave it to dry then apply silicone sealer over all the joints between the floor and wall, the corner joints, and the gaps in the floor.

3.      Masking Tape and Waterproofing – 1^st Stage

Just like with a painting job, use masking tape to separate the area you’re waterproofing. For the shower area, the standard height is 1.8m. Cover some pipes with tape to stop the waterproofing agent from getting everywhere and only waterproof a few centimeters of pipe. Using a roller, apply a general waterproofing agent starting on the wall and keeping within the tape boundaries.

4.      Membrane and Waterproofing – 2^nd Stage

Start by covering the gaps between the walls and floor with a membrane roll. Cut the membrane rolls into strips that are the same length as your walls. Push the strips against your wall and the floor. Half of it should cover the wall and the other half, the floor.

Using membrane strips still, proceed to cover any gaps in the walls and floor. Stick it down by painting the waterproofing agent onto it using a roller. Continue rolling on the rest of the floor and wall until it’s all covered with the agent. Leave it for about 12 hours then apply a second coat. It will need about 2 days to dry completely.

Can I Waterproof My Own Bathroom?

Yes, you can waterproof your own bathroom but if you don’t have a license it’s a huge risk. Waterproofing your own bathroom depends on where you live and what the regulations in your state stipulate. Even if the state permits you to do the work yourself, it must abide by the waterproofing standards of your country or state.

Some states strictly emphasize that only licensed waterproofing experts should do the job. This saves you from poor waterproofing application, cheap products, and long-term damage. A poorly applied waterproofing membrane will soon cause peeling paint as well as moldy ceilings walls and cupboards so think twice before waterproofing your own bathroom.

Is It Necessary to Waterproof Bathroom Floor?

The bathroom floor is the area of the house that gets wet the most. Most showerheads on the market come with a 2.5 gallon per minute water flow rate. Imagine if 2 people take a shower daily for 15 minutes each. That’s more than 70 gallons of water. If all this water seeps through the floor, it will spread to and damage other areas of the house. Waterproofing your bathroom floor is necessary because:

It Prevents Mold and Dampness

Mold comes as a result of moisture and standing water under the floor. A waterproofing membrane creates a barrier that stops the accumulation of water under the tiles and prevents it from penetrating brickwork, plaster, and wood.

Mold takes a short time to grow on damp surfaces (between 24 and 48 hours). It then produces invisible spores which travel through the air and ventilation throughout your house. If you or your family inhale or touch these spores, you may experience allergic reactions like coughing, sneezing, and wheezing.

1.      It Stops Leaks

The only direction water can ever go is downwards. Water will seep through any weak points in your bathroom floor, down into your walls until it gets to the ground. If your house is double-storeyed and the bathroom is upstairs, you’ll notice water starting to drip from your ceiling.

Waterproofing your bathroom floor will create a watertight seal to stop water from leaking through gaps and cracks in your floors and walls. It will also prevent water from forming on your light fixtures (which is dangerous). You’ll save lots of money on structural repairs.

2.      It Provides Insulation

Waterproofing your bathroom provides insulation especially during winter. Imagine the uncomfortable feeling of ice-cold tiles under your bare feet. A waterproof floor will ensure that the bathroom stays warm. You won’t dread stepping on the bathroom floor. Insulation will also reduce your heating costs because you won’t need extra heat in the bathroom during winter.

3.      It Increases Property Value

Potential property buyers are always attracted to, and more likely to buy, a home that’s well built and maintained, not one that will cause them more stress or cost them more money in repairs. A professionally waterproofed bathroom goes a long way in adding value to your home and causes buyers to make a quick buying decision.

What Is the Best Floor Covering for a Bathroom?

The bathroom is one of the key spaces in your home, so the finishing especially the flooring must be taken into serious consideration. This is mostly because the bathroom is the source of most of the water flowing out of the plumbing system whether it’s through the shower, sinks, or toilet.

Somehow, water will reach the floor and may cause serious damage to the structure or dangerous accidents in the home. When deciding to purchase a floor covering, you must consider some important factors. To make the best decision, ask questions like:

• Is it waterproof?
• How durable is it?
• Is it slip-resistant?
• Is it damage-resistant?
• What will it take to maintain it?
• Does it suit my style?
• Is it worth the price of materials and installation?

Each type of floor covering comes with pros and cons but the ones you should consider using include ceramic or porcelain tiles, waterproof vinyl flooring, and natural stone tiles. They are all waterproof, scratch-resistant, durable, and come in various styles and designs.

The types of flooring you should completely avoid include solid hardwood, floor-to-floor carpeting, laminate flooring, and linoleum tiles as they are not durable and susceptible to water damage.

How Much Does It Cost to Waterproof a Small Bathroom?

The average cost of waterproofing a small bathroom is $40 per square meter. The total cost will range from $500 to $750. If you’re in the process of a renovation project, the waterproofing cost will be lower. Most waterproofing work lasts between 15 and 25 years. When you think about the waterproofing cost, it’s a small price to pay for keeping your household health and building structure intact.

Ensure that the contractors you select for the job are licensed professionals. They must present a compliance certificate that indicates that they follow the waterproofing compliance standards of your state. Check reviews of local contractors in your area and compare quotes. It will eventually cost you thousands of dollars in structural repairs if your hire an amateur.