Tanking?

[Winkers]

I am tiling a shower enclosure. Having read advice about tanking the walls before tiling I just don't understand the logic. The tanking is presumably to prevent water getting through the grouting and the adhesive and into the wall. Having tanked the wall and water has penetrated through the grout and adhesive what happens next? Where does the water go and what then happens to the adhesive and the tiles?

 

[Dave]

I am tiling a shower enclosure. Having read advice about tanking the walls before tiling I just don't understand the logic. The tanking is presumably to prevent water getting through the grouting and the adhesive and into the wall. Having tanked the wall and water has penetrated through the grout and adhesive what happens next? Where does the water go and what then happens to the adhesive and the tiles?

The tanking is to prevent your substrate from being destroyed by constant wetting if water does happen to penetrate, its a preventative measure incase of penetration or in an upstairs wetroom floor, stopping water from seeping through the ceiling. The adhesive extra will wet and dry with no issues.

 

[Paulg83]

I am tiling a shower enclosure. Having read advice about tanking the walls before tiling I just don't understand the logic. The tanking is presumably to prevent water getting through the grouting and the adhesive and into the wall. Having tanked the wall and water has penetrated through the grout and adhesive what happens next? Where does the water go and what then happens to the adhesive and the tiles?

It's extra peace of mind but water should not get through the tiled installation if done properly even without tanking it first.

 

[Winkers]

Thanks, the peace of mind would be better increased by using an epoxy grout that has also been sealed. Who wants water behind their tiles?
Not me mate!