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There seems to be some confusion on this subject. Tiles (except glass tiles and epoxy based tiles) and cement based adhesives and grout are not waterproof. They're mostly resistant to water, which means they don't deteriorate under water's influence, but they still allow water to pass through. Even dense porcelain still allows some moisture through, though it's not much.
Long version:
If a floor needs to be waterproof, a waterproof membrane combined with cement based adhesive and grout is normally the best option, as that will allow the floor to dry out, as previous posters have stated.
If you for some reason need to use epoxy grout, and you need the floor to be waterproof, then epoxy adhesive is the way to go. Epoxies are more or less waterproof per definition, though some aren't entirely vapor proof in the long run.
When you use cement based adhesives and epoxy grouts, you want the substrate to be able to pass any moisture which get through. If you use waterproof membranes in combination with cement based adhesives and epoxy grout, water/damp might get trapped in the adhesive and any empty spaces under the tiles.
Though porcelain isn't waterproof per se, the moisture they allow through is less than what cement based adhesive can absorb. Picture putting a damp sponge in a plastic bag with a few pinpricks in. It'll dry, eventually, but it might take ages, and in that time, alot of nasty things can happen; the tiles can be discoloured and there might be mold propagation.
If you use epoxy all the way, only the tiles themselves will become damp, assuming there are no holes through which water can get in.
Short version:
/sWe
Long version:
If a floor needs to be waterproof, a waterproof membrane combined with cement based adhesive and grout is normally the best option, as that will allow the floor to dry out, as previous posters have stated.
If you for some reason need to use epoxy grout, and you need the floor to be waterproof, then epoxy adhesive is the way to go. Epoxies are more or less waterproof per definition, though some aren't entirely vapor proof in the long run.
When you use cement based adhesives and epoxy grouts, you want the substrate to be able to pass any moisture which get through. If you use waterproof membranes in combination with cement based adhesives and epoxy grout, water/damp might get trapped in the adhesive and any empty spaces under the tiles.
Though porcelain isn't waterproof per se, the moisture they allow through is less than what cement based adhesive can absorb. Picture putting a damp sponge in a plastic bag with a few pinpricks in. It'll dry, eventually, but it might take ages, and in that time, alot of nasty things can happen; the tiles can be discoloured and there might be mold propagation.
If you use epoxy all the way, only the tiles themselves will become damp, assuming there are no holes through which water can get in.
Short version:
- Floor needs to be waterproof, no particular sanitary (or mechanical resistance) requirements - Apply a waterproof membrane, and fix and grout the tiles with cement based materials.
- Floor needs to be waterproof, with particular sanitary (or mechanical resistance) requirements - Epoxy all the way
- Floor doesn't need to be waterproof, with particular sanitary (or mechanical resistance) requirements - No waterproof membrane; Tiles are fixed with cement or epoxy based adhesives, and grouted with epoxy.
/sWe
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