Creating a Spa-Like Bathroom – Moisture Mitigation for a Healthier Home

Keim Mineral Coatings Blog

By Andy Pace, Healthy Home Concierge and Owner of The Green Design

When I’m involved as a consultant to help build or remodel a home, I spend a lot of time discussing moisture. Everyone knows that the reduction of moisture in a home contributes to a lesser chance of mold growth. What you may not know, is that lower moisture in a home also reduces the off-gassing of chemicals coming from the building materials. So moisture mitigation is one of my top focus points.

Foundation, landscaping, wall assemblies, roofing, and HVAC systems are the typical designated areas for moisture. However, an often forgotten-about area is the bathroom. Most folks want to have a primary bathroom that feels like a spa. A large tiled shower, double sinks, and maybe even an entire wet room with the bathtub and shower within one large waterproof enclosure are on the wish lists! While this might contribute to that zen-like feel you’re trying to achieve, these large bathrooms are becoming more difficult to keep dry and mold-free. Here are a few tips, tricks, and additions to help manage the moisture in your bathroom area for a safer, healthier space.

Dry Showers Made Simple

Airmada makes an air jet drying system for showers and it’s the most
effective way to keep our showers free of mildew. After your shower,
simply flip the timer switch on and the air is forced out of 4 to 24 jet
nozzles to quickly and efficiently dry the entire shower. This eliminates
the breeding ground for mold and mildew and greatly reduces the
amount of weekly cleaning. Combined with the proper ceiling
ventilation fan, your bathroom will stay dry and less likely to contribute
to poor IAQ. For those of you who want a glass door but get anxious
just thinking about keeping it clean, Airmada offers a pre-made glass
pocket door, which incorporates their drying system into the pocket,
minimizing water marks and reducing the use of harsh chemicals.

Smart Ventilation Solutions

The Panasonic Whisper Sense fan is a wonderful
addition to any bathroom. It can be wired on a
standard switch so you can turn it on when
needed. But it can also be set for a specific
humidity level so that it automatically goes on
when it senses the moisture rise and shuts off
when it’s done its job. If you’re like me, I
unconsciously turn the fan switch off when I
leave the bathroom, sometimes before the fan
has completed its ventilation. The Whisper
Sense takes care of that for me. Out of sight, out
of mind.

Wall and Floor Materials

The materials used for the walls and floors of your
bathroom can also really help with maintaining a
healthier environment. I like the Keim Mineral
Paint for bathroom walls and ceilings (not in the
shower area, however) because mineral paints
are breathable and help regulate natural
humidity levels. As well as not being breathable,
traditional latex paints can also become a food
source for mold. For flooring, you really can’t
beat porcelain tile. It’s inert, waterproof, and
never requires the use of a topical sealer.

Antibacterial and VOC-Absorbing Tile Solutions

One step better than typical porcelain would be the Active Surfaces product made by Iris Ceramica in Italy. These tiles are made with layers of natural minerals on the surface that make the tiles anti-bacterial without the use of dangerous chemicals. These tiles also have the ability to absorb VOC’s and
convert them into harmless substances. I have used these tiles in showers as well with wonderful results.

Antibacterial and VOC-Absorbing Tile Solutions

Finally, when choosing the cabinetry and countertops, I always think about
worst-case scenarios in the bathroom. For example, the sink gets clogged
and starts to overflow. How can you make sure the materials that get wet
won’t be affected? The countertops I recommend are either a quartz material
or a large format porcelain. For the cabinetry, my pick is the Crystal Cabinets
products, as they offer ultra-low emitting materials and finishes. Their
premium custom lines, Encore and Keyline, are also available in a textured
laminate finish that looks fabulous and is more moisture-resistant. These do
not look like a 1970s melamine product. In most cases, you wouldn’t even
know it wasn’t real wood.

By, Andy Pace Healthy Home Concierge, Founder of the Green Design Center and Host of Non-Toxic Environments Podcast

About Andrew Pace

Andrew Pace is a Healthy Home Concierge and Founder of The Green Design Center, a leading resource for homeowners and contractors looking to source products that are healthy and green and receive expert consulting advice on designing and building healthy green homes. Andrew is the host of Non Toxic Environments Podcast. He is a worldwide expert on green and healthy building products and services customers and contractors from around the globe. As founder of the oldest healthy building supply company in the United States, Andrew has become one of the single most helpful and educational experts dealing with the day-to-day concerns of those individuals who suffer from allergies, asthma and chemical sensitivities. Andrew serves as a board member of the Change the Air Foundation and has been featured in numerous national media outlets