How to protect beams in bathroom

[leyasg]

So we recently found out we are having another lil sprog joining the family soon. So I've got the summer to do any modifications I need to do.

This is the main bath tub in an ensuite where the lil one will go, and it'll be handy for baths etc. We didn't think we would use it much but how things change. The bathroom has real original beams which are great. Flooring isn't, but that'll get changed.

So my question - does anyone have a similar setup? And what have you done to protect the teams?

Thanks in advance

 

[Mrs McG]

Congrats! For the first and probably the only time in my life I will give the literal advice to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water

I have some beams in a shower room although they’re not as prone to getting wet as yours look likely to be. Mine seem to be treated with a wax, I have no idea if that’s good or bad as it’s just how they were when I bought the cottage but I haven’t had any problems.

 

[skierhughes]

Ours were painted black when we moved in, so that came off and I use linseed oil. The bathroom has been a bathroom since at least 1951, don't know before that They are in no different condition to any of the other beams in the house.

 

[a twig]

Agree with the above as long as you have good ventilation so the moisture / water isn’t hanging around.

Otherwise I’d be looking at a glass or polycarbonate splashback stepped 15-20mm off the wall with spacers

 

[a twig]

Something like this but in a bathroom

 

[malcolm]

I would say let them breathe. Getting the beams wet isn't a problem but not being able to dry out again will cause them to rot. I've got an oak frame on a wall outside that is completely unprotected and I reckon it will last until someone decides to waterproof it.

Some extraction in there to help everything dry might be an idea.

 

[Kearn]

Something like this but in a bathroom

View attachment 19853

I always wonder what these look like once full of dirt and spiders webs that you cannot get out….! Worse still near a hob where there’s so much airborne grease!

 

[Kearn]

Personally I would do nothing… as indeed I have.

Covering the walls with Perspex or similar will look terrible, how do you possibly clean behind, plus the moisture will not be as free to move away from the area.

Certainly applying anything to the timbers, will case issues itself.

Ensure adequate ventilation, limewash the lime panels, and it will all happily dry out time and time again. Below is a relatively dry day, we’ve had splashes on the ceiling more than once …!

 

[Flyfisher]

I agree with the above comments regarding ventilation. This will be be the key.

I can't really imagine this being much different to oak timber frames exposed to the elements. We have exposed timbers that have weathered the English climate for over 400 years and where they are bare and have been able to dry naturally after being rain-soaked, they are still rock solid.