subject: Remodel Your Sick Bathroom [print this page] Remodel Your Sick Bathroom Remodel Your Sick Bathroom
The average bathroom is not always the healthiest room in the house. For the most part that is not due to poor housekeeping but instead to some of the very elements in the room instead. If you have been considering a bathroom remodel here are some things your remodeling contractor can do for you that will make your new bathroom a healthier place as well as a better looking one. Urea formaldehyde, vinyl chloride gasses, volatile organic compounds, and toxic mold all sound pretty dreadful right?
Yet all these nasties and more are to be found lurking in most bathrooms, essentially making them sick. Where are they hiding and what can be done? Although municipal tap water is treated there are still quite a few less than pleasant substances that escape that process. Your bathroom water will be healthier, easier on your skin and maybe even pleasant to drink (or at least clean your teeth with) if you install permanent water filters on your showerheads and bathroom faucets as a part of your remodeling project. Nasties On the Floor and Walls Even carpet that bills itself as suitable for the bathroom is probably not. Mold loves moisture but it also loves carpet and often a homeowner can not see the mold because it is growing on the underside of the carpet. That mold is not doing much for the air quality in your bathroom. Wallpaper in the bathroom is another mold magnet so it is best to avoid those two dcor options all together. In addition most traditional paints, adhesives, and sealants emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for years after being applied. If you are having your bathroom repainted make sure your contractor uses low VOC paint after stripping off all the old stuff. Nasties In Cabinets Bathroom cabinets improve both the look and function of a bathroom, providing extra storage and keeping the clutter out of sight. Avoid opting for cabinets made from medium density fiberboard (MDF) or particle board though, as both materials have been found to off-gas urea formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. If you have MDF cabinets already that you cannot bear to part with you can lessen the possible health danger by resealing them with a low VOC sealant.
