It’s very easy to feel frustrated with an incomplete bathroom. This is the space that’s supposed to be the place we can retire to when attending to ourselves, to stay hygienic, to feel like we have total privacy. But if a bathroom hasn’t been designed well or if issues are present, this irritation can wear away at us on a daily basis. However, this isn’t like a spare room, it’s not like you can just ignore this space and fill it up with boxes and stored items over time. Odds are, you use the bathroom daily.
So, it’s important to make sure the smaller frustrations are dealt with as you notice them, and if you feel they signify a more pervasive problem or fix, then it’s worth planning for that. The only issue is that if you don’t have a history of resolving these problems, you may feel a touch lost.
Moreover, it’s not as if extensive work to your bathroom or toilet space is that convenient. If you have to book a hotel because otherwise you have no access to a toilet, it’s not hard to postpone the smaller issues until you no longer can.
Don’t worry, because in this post we’ll discuss seven of the most common and annoying bathroom frustrations and how to solve them:
Broken Wall & Underfloor Heaters
During the summer months this won’t bother you much, but freezing tile you have to step on during winter will be noticeable to say the least. That goes if you have a smaller en-suite or full size bathroom suites. Wall heaters that have stopped working entirely or underfloor systems that only warm in patches usually don’t fix themselves with time, and need your attention. But the fix doesn’t always need to be immediate or expensive.
If the heating system is older and wasn’t installed with easy access in mind, it’s usually worth bringing someone in to take a proper look. That’s because sometimes it’s a simple wiring issue, especially if the problem appeared after another renovation elsewhere in the home. In other cases, it could be a control issue, like a thermostat that no longer works as well, or a timer that doesn’t keep schedule anymore. It might be worth replacing these smaller components before you start pulling up floor tiles.
If the system hasn’t worked properly for years, replacing it might be the most cost-effective option in the long run. This time around, a more accessible, zoned system could be installed to avoid full-scale issue later, and if the idea of underfloor heating feels like too much now, a reliable wall panel or towel radiator could do just fine.
Drafts & Window Sealants
Bathroom windows have a rough job when you think about it, because they’re expected to ventilate, let in light, maintain privacy, and block out wind all at the same time without any complaint. Over time it’s easy to see the seals begin to weaken, especially with all the moisture cycling through the room every day. One day the warm steam stays in the room as it should, the next you’re stepping out of the shower into an unexpected chill, not the kind of ventilation you had planned for. Bugs will certainly find a way at night if this is the case.
The first thing to check is the actual window frame, and closely. If there’s visible movement when pressure is applied, or if you can feel air coming in through the corners, resealing is likely a good step to take and sometimes can fix the issue completely.
It’s also a good moment to think about whether frosted panes or privacy films are still doing their job, or whether the glass might need a thicker option for insulation. Updating that at the same time as resealing can tick off two problems at once without dragging the project out longer than it needs to be.
Damp & Moisture
Bathrooms are designed to deal with water, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely immune to it, and so damp can creep in even if you’re on top of cleaning, and once it does, it tends to leave a long trace which is rather inconvenient. You’ll usually see it appear around the corners of ceilings, and that includes behind sinks or around the bath or shower. Your paint may also start to bubble or peel, and there might be a musty smell that stays even when you ventilate the space. You’ll notice it, it’s pretty horrible.
The ventilation system is often to blame if you notice this growing. You can’t stop the moisture in a bathroom for obvious reasons, so it has to be pulled out. An extractor fan that’s not quite strong enough, or one that doesn’t run long enough after showers, won’t keep moisture moving and that can build up in mold as you may expect. Upgrading the fan is usually a relatively quick fix, especially now that quieter, energy-efficient models are easy to install without a full rewiring job.
If the damp patches are more focused, resealing those areas might be enough. Shower trays and bathtubs shift ever so slightly over time, which can create tiny gaps between fixtures and tiles and as such may be leaving little drips and the damp you’ve been suffering from. A new bead of sealant might be all that’s needed to stop the spread in this cases.
Slippy Floors
Tile floors in bathrooms are quite common, but they don’t always play nicely with moisture, and the last thing you want as a reward for keeping hygienic is a twisted ankle. That’s not exactly fun. As such, even with bath mats down, it only takes a little puddle to turn the entire floor into a slip hazard. Children or elderly relatives who may be more vulnerable can find a real danger here.
As such, the simplest approach is to review the type of tiles that were used. For example, ceramics might look nice but aren’t always suitable for a space that gets wet regularly, and that’s putting it lightly. Nowadays, you can easily install anti-slip coatings that can be applied over existing tiles, giving the surface a more matte texture that adds grip without needing a full floor replacement if you’d prefer to keep the same look. It’s a good place to start.
A Lack Of Privacy
A bathroom should feel like a completely private space, especially if it’s on the ground floor where people could walk past, or if other houses have windows or sight lines into the room. If blinds feel flimsy or don’t fully cover the window, or if the door doesn’t quite latch properly, it can make using the room feel strangely exposed.
Frosted window film is usually a good fix for privacy issues, especially for bathrooms that has enough light already. It’s easy to apply and can fit on most windows, not to mention being cheap to replace, and doesn’t block out all the natural light. You can go for frosted glass as well, but this is a little more expensive when film can achieve the same effect, so it’s up to you.
Of course, you need privacy from the internal house too, so a better lock or door latch might help more than you’d think, especially on older doors where the frame has shifted a little over time and there’s a gap visible.
If the layout itself is the problem, such as a toilet that can be seen from a hallway when the door opens, then implementing a well-placed screen or even a half-wall addition could be something to think about. Great ventilation also helps for obvious reasons, especially if the extraction fan turns on and you can ensure the room is constantly cycling fresh air in or pulling out stale air and steam.
Poor Lighting
Good bathroom lighting is a little trickier than just choosing bulbs that look nice. A single ceiling fixture might not be enough, particularly in bathrooms with no natural light. Harsh overhead lights can also cast shadows in all the wrong places, which isn’t ideal for grooming tasks like shaving or makeup.
Wall-mounted lights near mirrors can make a big difference. They’re usually easy to retrofit and can be wired into the same circuit without too much effort. If that’s not on the cards, even swapping to softer LED bulbs with a better colour temperature can make the space feel more comfortable.
For bathrooms used in the middle of the night, it’s also worth thinking about motion-sensitive lights or dimmable options. These allow softer lighting without waking the whole household, and many can be installed with minimal fuss.
Poor Drainage
Standing water in a shower tray or bath that takes forever to empty is a good sign that you have bad drainage and something isn’t flowing as it should. It might be hair buildup, sure, but sometimes the gradient of the pipes or the design of the waste system just doesn’t encourage proper drainage and can build up over time. If you tend to stand in a puddle when you’re showering, that’s not nice.
If it’s a recurring issue, it might be worth having a camera inspection done. These are relatively inexpensive now and can show whether there’s a more serious blockage deeper down or a more structural issue like pipe misalignment. Alternatively, sometimes just putting down some industrial strength cleaner down the plug hole can help you remove any blockages or debris that built up. This can address the smells as well, which is always appreciated.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily deal with the common bathroom frustrations no one wants to deal with, but we all have to tackle from time to time.
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