History lessson needed from skilled Shower Installers !!!

[Cottage lady]

Hello Everybody

I need advice please from Tilers (Bathroom / Shower Installers) who were working in the years around 2007 / 2008
I am told some Installers used plywood in those days as the backer board for shower cubicles prior to tiling them out.
I have also learned that Hardie board and Wedi board were also available then and would have been better options I guess.

My precise question is this..... If plywood was used, what tanking type options were available in those days to seal the plywood against water ingress from the shower water if it got through the tiles grouting. I am advised that grouting is not "water proof " unless it is epoxy grout ... but is "water resistant".


If water did get into the plywood it would soak in and warp the wood causing further problems ... so it would surely have needed tanking / water proofing of some sort ?


Any advice about protective water proofing products for the plywood available on the open market at that time ie 2007 / 2008 and successfully used would be such a help for me to know.


It might be that experienced tilers will tell me only silly people used plywood then as it had been replaced by better products eg Wedi that skilled people used

I would be enormously grateful for a history lesson !!!

Thank you

 

[White Room]

Some builders still use ply....tanking systems have been around for a large number of years including prior 2000 but it seems some won't listen to advise regarding the systems that are available.

 

[jonnyc]

Think there were tanking systems suitable for over ply decks that many years ago.although I never used bal fibreglass rings a bell for me.think you will find there were others that could be applied over ply as well.

 

[Cottage lady]

Some builders still use ply....tanking systems have been around for a large number of years including prior 2000 but it seems some won't listen to advise regarding the systems that are available.

Thank you for such a swift response Whitebeam.

I gather from your reply that there were good tanking systems available along time ago but then as now not everyone used them. I imagine you are talking Wedi types then ?

Can you tell me what they should have used to protect the plywood from water ingress back in those days 2007 / 2008 if they insisted on using ply ?

I am glad of your experienced help

 

[Cottage lady]

Many thanks jonnyc ... I remain keen to know the names of products that Installers used to seal the ply against water ingress in 2007/2008.... any guidance much appreciated

 

[Perry]

Thank you for such a swift response Whitebeam.

I gather from your reply that there were good tanking systems available along time ago but then as now not everyone used them. I imagine you are talking Wedi types then ?

Can you tell me what they should have used to protect the plywood from water ingress back in those days 2007 / 2008 if they insisted on using ply ?

I am glad of your experienced help

That depends if they were asked to tank it. Or tile it. A lot of builders still do not tank showers now days. And a lot of trades men do not still have enough knowledge so it's hard for customers to know. Like hardi is not waterproof and still needs to be tanked.

 

[White Room]

broken link removed

This one I've used, there are many other makes available.

 

[Cottage lady]

Hello pjc

If it was a shower installation with water going all over the tiles inside the cubicle, wouldn't it be vital to "tank" or at least seal the wood against water ingress ?

 

[Chalker]

I take it from your posing, that you ate after some recompense from your shower installer back in 2007. Plywood was, and still is fitted on wall by some installers. Tanking systems have been around for quite some time, but that doesn't mean everyone knew about them, or used them.
With the Internet, people are getting more informed about good practices.

I take it that you have problems with tiles falling off and the plywood going mouldy, or splitting the layers due to water ingress.

 

[Cottage lady]

Thank you Whitebeam

Two points...

1. it says suitable for plaster board etc ... cannot see "ply" mentioned ?

2. Was this on sale in 2007/2008 to your knowledge ?

The timeframe is key to my problem and lack on any knowledge

 

[White Room]

Some still don't listen....

 

[Perry]

Hello pjc

If it was a shower installation with water going all over the tiles inside the cubicle, wouldn't it be vital to "tank" or at least seal the wood against water ingress ?

Sorry just edited my post

 

[White Room]

Thank you Whitebeam

Two points...

1. it says suitable for plaster board etc ... cannot see "ply" mentioned ?



2. Was this on sale in 2007/2008 to your knowledge ?

The timeframe is key to my problem and lack on any knowledge

It will tank ply and yes it was on sale in 2007....

 

[IHB]

What did the British Standard say back in 2007/2008?

 

[Cottage lady]

Hello Chalker and thank you for your interest

Yes we have an interesting issue here and of course no relevant knowledge. You mention "Tanking systems have been around for quite some time" ... do you mean in 2007/2008 ?