How to Find and Repair Leaks from Wooden Floor Bathroom

Water on the floor or seeping through the ceiling is never a welcome sight. When water seeps through wooden floors, the structure may rot as well as subfloors and joists. Fixing a wooden bathroom leak can be a messy procedure, but it’s definitely not impossible. Given the fact that wet wooden floor poses even greater risks, it would be advisable to repair it as soon as possible.

Locate The Leak

The first and most fundamental step of fixing a wooden bathroom leak is locating the origin of the leak. You can do this by uplifting the floor where the wood is damp and observing underneath. In some rare cases, the leak can start in the wall and drip downwards towards the wooden floor, giving the impression that it originated somewhere beneath the floor while it actually originated somewhere in the adjacent walls.

Dry Out the Area

Dry out the affected area as soon as possible to prevent further damage. This could mean turning off the water supply or even using dehumidifiers. Soaking up any moisture with a towel will also be beneficial. Just ensure that the area remains dry for now as you really don’t want the wood to buckle or mold to develop.

Fixing the Leak

Once you have located the leak you should be able to handle the repair with comparative ease. In most cases, it is usually a simple valve or coupling which requires tightening to prevent the water from escaping. You can easily fix this with an adjustable wrench.

If you were unable to locate the leak in the first place it would be wise to call in a professional plumber. This might also be appropriate if you find that a large amount of water is leaking from the wooden floor. If the wood has buckled and doesn’t return to its original shape then you may need to have the floor replaced.

Flooring Alternatives

If you are unable to fix the wooden bathroom leak or your wood becomes buckled and/or mouldy then you should consider remodeling your bathroom. If you still have your heart set on wood flooring then you can always try engineered wood. This has a plywood base that can hold its own against moisture and it looks great too because the top layer is real wood!

Other alternatives for more durable bathroom flooring include ceramic tiles which are solid, waterproof and relatively inexpensive. You can even find ceramic tiles that look like stone and additionally they come in a variety of sizes meaning you can tailor your floor to look exactly the way you want it to. Another popular option is sheet or vinyl tiles. It’s extremely practical and very cheap; it’s also extremely easy to install.

The final alternative flooring is stone itself which looks good and is very solid; the only drawback is that it can be quite costly, especially if your bathroom is very large