Preventing water damage in utility room

[RogerS]

Just had the floor retiled in the utiiity room as part of a refurb. The floor level had to be built up slightly to bring it in line with the kitchen floor and I used plywood sheets for that duly screwed and stuck down. My tiler mentioned that it would be a good idea to seal around the perimeter to guard against any water ingress from leaks getting into and blowing the plywood.

I was going to try and find some sort of waterproof flowing compound that i could carefully pour into the gaps but then had a better idea. Namely to put silicon on the bottom and back of the skirting boards when they are applied. A sort of mini-tanking if you get my drift.

Can anyone see anything wrong with that approach?

 

[TrimTheKing]

Sounds like the way to do it to me.

 

[dedee]

Roger, Are you putting down a wooden skirting?

Personally I try and avoid silicon as much as possible. I reckon it always discolours with age and never looks right.

If the floor is tiled could you use a skirting tile? Glued and grouted would would make a very good seal. As you have a tiled floor I guess you will be cleaning it with water, which over time, may discolour wooden skirting

I am not suggesting that silicon would not make a good seal but for me tiled floors should have a tiled skirting. This also means you can slop water around to your hearts content when washing the floor.

Andy

 

[RogerS]

Cheers, Mark.

Andy - it will be wooden skirting - probably painted - walls are way too much out of whack to put tiles on and I dont think that Chief Designer is that fond of tiles on walls!

 

[Jake]

If not tiling an upstand, then I would use an MS Polymer rather than silicone, more expensive up front, but then the sealing bond should last 20 years rather than 5 or so.

 

[StevieB]

Get a good quality white (other colours are available) bathroom sealant - if its good enough for showers on a daily basis it will be good enough for the occasional floor wash once or twice a week.

Steve

 

[Jake]

It's not how well it seals while it is sealing, it is how long it remains bonded at all. Silicone has a limited life expectancy and this is not going to be easy to replace.

 

[RogerS]

Thanks guys - especially Jake for his suggestion re the polymer.