Use Waterproof Building Materials
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While building materials made from organic, plant-based materials like wood, bamboo, paper, or jute can be great choices for most areas of the house, that’s not true in areas that see lots of moisture, such as a bathroom. In bathrooms, inorganic materials such as stone, metal, plastic, and ceramic or porcelain tile re better choices because they y aren’t affected by moisture. These materials tend to resist mold and mildew better than organic materials, and moisture doesn’t cause them to decay and rot.
For example, you may want to use PVC baseboards instead of MDF or solid wood baseboards. Clay-based porcelain and ceramic tile work well for walls and floors. Pay particular attention to the materials used for countertops. Solid-surface material, quartz (synthetic stone), or natural stone are usually better choices for bathroom countertops. Even plastic laminate countertops have an MDF core that can be affected by the moisture that’s prevalent in a bathroom.
If you are tiling a shower or tub surround, make sure the backer board is a high-quality waterproof material that is sealed properly. The same waterproof backer board is a good choice for tiled floors. For non-tiled walls, use special wallboard that has waterproof facing rather than the organic paper-facing found in standard wallboard.
In other words, always, opt for building materials that resist moisture when planning or remodeling a bathroom. Your bathroom will hold up much longer and require less maintenance if you do.
Source: The Spruce
