Bathroom Partitions and How You Can Prolong their Life
How often do you replace your bathroom partitions? If you do it frequently, then it’s probably because of two things:
- You’re not using the right materials; or
- You’re not following the proper care tips.
But don’t fret. We’re here to help you keep your bathroom partitions last longer.
Proper Care Tips to Extend the life of Your Bathroom Partitions
Maintenance should be very minimal, and you should only do it once a year. However, not all materials are the same. Here’s what you need to do to extend the life of your bathroom partitions.
Mount Them Gently
Most toilet partition materials are strong, but it doesn’t mean you don’t have to be gentle with installing them. If the partition inside gets destroyed, it will affect its service life.
Apply Varnish on Wooden Bathroom Partitions
One way to improve the durability of your wooden partitions and extend their life is to apply varnish on them. Varnish is a protective finish or film that people use in wood furnishing and other materials. It has little to no color and contains added pigment, unlike wood stains and paint.
Applying varnish on solid wood partitions once every few years can help make them last longer. It’s not only anti-fading, but it also maintains a slick finish. However, you should avoid applying too much varnish on the surface. Otherwise, it would cause the partition to split.
Avoid Exposing the Partitions to the Sun for Long Periods
Increasing the room ventilation doesn’t mean you have to install the bathroom partitions under the blazing sun. Exposing them to the sun for a long time is never a good idea. Doing so will only affect their durability. The sun’s harsh rays could cause them to fade. Exposing them to the sun might also cause them to be out-of-shape.
On a more serious note, exposing them to the sun will cause cracks on the partitions’ surface. And once that happens, they will require immediate repair or replacement.
Choose the Right Floor Material
How does the floor material affect the life of your bathroom partitions? Ultimately, choosing a suitable floor material goes a long way. People tend to overlook this area. But if your bathroom has poor flooring, or if it’s suffering from wear and tear damage, then you’ll need to get a replacement.
When choosing a material, make sure it curves up where the floor meets the walls and has non-slip properties. It ensures a water-resistant surface, preventing any leaks from affecting the fabric of the building. It also makes the bathroom easy to clean.
Clean them Properly
You must perform regular cleaning if you want to improve the durability of the toilet partitions. It helps in keeping their good appearance. However, the cleaning process varies between different partition materials. For example, you need to use a sponge or cloth to clean compact laminate partitions using warm water and mild detergent or soap. If this doesn’t work, try using a mixture of water with a paste of baking soda. Never use an acidic cleaning solution or an abrasive cloth.
For particleboard, don’t mix alkali soda and water. It will only cause moisture and mold. Use a wet dishrag to clean the partitions immediately. For stainless steel partitions, you can clean the dust on the surface using warm water and low alkaline detergent or soap.
Fix the Scratches (if There are any)
You can never avoid cuts and scratches on bathroom partitions, especially if occupants use them a lot. The good news is that you can easily renew them to their original appearance. Using a light abrasive cleanser, you can repair burns or scorches, scratches, chemical stains, and minor impact marks.
If you’re dealing with heavier damage, you might need to perform light sanding. Here’s how:
- Identify the extent of the damage
- Determine whether a minor repair will fix the problem
If the damage isn’t that big, then you can repair them using an abrasive cleanser. If it doesn’t work, contact a professional who can offer repair options.
Have Enough Stock of Replacement Hardware
Whenever site managers perform regular checks, they’ll pay more attention to the cubicle hardware. That includes the handles, locks, hinges, supporting feet, and coat hooks. You better have enough supply of hardware in case you need to replace them.
Increase the Ventilation in the Bathroom
You may experience persistent damp problems in your bathroom. This wet and humid nature makes the space prone to this kind of issue. And while a lot of bathrooms have windows, you should still install proper ventilation from extractor fans. It will help moisture escape the room, solving the problem permanently.
Increase the bathroom ventilation and ensure that water doesn’t stay at the partition surface for long periods. Otherwise, you’ll experience degumming issues with the bathroom partitions. It would negatively affect their service life.
Keep the Heat From Touching the Partitions
Never let the heat from directly touching the bathroom partition. Most partitions that many companies use have a thin veneer, which is vulnerable to cracks and blisters. Once the heat penetrates them, the surface gets damaged, affecting their service life. Therefore, you shouldn’t settle for materials of inferior quality.
Perform Routine Maintenance Checks
To prolong the life of your bathroom partition, you must stay on top of any problems. Yes – that includes even the smallest ones. After all, it is one of the best ways to ensure that the partitions last longer. So, if they need re-grouting, then you must do it as soon as you can. Don’t wait for the issues to worsen. Perform maintenance checks occasionally. Also, pay close attention to small details, like the locks, hinge movements, corner fasteners, handles, and other hardware.
You can use this list as a guide if you’re looking for ways to improve the durability of your bathroom partitions. Following these tips will help you prolong their life, which saves you time, money, and effort in replacing or repairing them.