What moisture problems could arise from having a wet room?

4/9/2014 at 10:35:35 PM

"Wet rooms" can be accommodated through the right materials and building processes being used.

For example...

1. Ventilation... reduces moisture levels during and after use. Critical!!

2. Glass enclosure... you will need a completely sealed and water tight compartment above the tub line. Cement board with a sealed membrane under the finished surface. In the scenario you posted I would suggest full size marble panels to reduce joints.

3. Balance of the room... as you will be having higher than usual steam. Walls, ceilings and floors need to be as moisture resistant as possible. From the substrates to the finished paint. Even the vanity and other accessories need to be considered as potential sources to retain moisture.

In general, lots of thought and pre planning are needed to ensure that nothing in the room has the ability to retain moisture for long periods of time.

4/17/2014 at 8:39:42 PM

Hi,

If you haven't hired a general contractor, the moisture barrier responsibility is yours. The best thing to do in the high moisture areas is use concrete board. Tile should always be put on concrete board in those areas. Getting a higher cfm rated fan would also help a lot!

When you hire a general contractor, they take the responsibility of the trades work. When you hire each individual trade, you become the general contractor, and the responsibility of getting the job done right becomes yours. The individual trades are responsible for their work, but not responsible for the design of the bathroom. They are basically doing what you tell them to do.