Preventing wood rot in bath and kitchen

[Shanequa J.]

The house I'm renovating has subfloor wood rot extending to the joists in the kitchen and baths due to water leaks. What can I put on the plywood so that the water does not soak through the new plywood? I was thinking of using a water seal on the plywood like people put on decks then put the vinyl planks on top.

[Joel Owens]

Is this a rental you are holding or a flip?? I assume a rental.

The plywood isn't the issue.In bathrooms generally leaks from commode and from the bath are the main culprits.

People get out of the bath and shower and do not get off standing water.

Having a real good waterproofing caulk that expands and contracts with the weight of the tub and floor movement is best for floor to baseboard joints seals.

The cheaper caulk dries and is not flexible and when you have movement then a crack develops and water starts to get in behind there.

So this is one place where I spend the little extra money for the good stuff.

The leak for the sub floor had to be a really long time as it takes years and years of a constant leak to rot it out like that.