waterproofing a shower-help please

[bladerunner]

Hi All, just joined the forum and would like some advice please. I'm putting in a new shower in my en-suite, I'm not an expert but a compitent DIY'er. I've removed the old tiles(put up by builders 16 yrs ago) and found they were stuck directly on to the wall boarding. This is another problem as my internal walls are made of 2" thick straw panels(Strasboards I think they are called). I know I require some kind of backerboard, do I need tanking?(what does this consist of exactly) and can I fix any type of waterproof boards directly to the wall boards? Finally I guess I need to use waterproof tile adhesive and caulk in the corners and for board joins.
Thanks for your help.
bladerunner

 

[wetdec]

Hi m8

Welcome

If you remove all waste from your supporting walls I would think you could replaster board the area making it structuraly sound. If its normal straw board the plaster board can be screwed to it to fix. The boards will not require skimming/plastering.

For a shower there are 2 ways of tanking it :

Firstly tanking the whole area, the best system would be a tanking membrane off the roll which fixes directly to your plasterboard with flexible tile adhesive. Putting this on the walls covering the whole of the wet area and the floor below your base. The membrane should over run both areas.

Second method using the same membrane off a roll, Install your shower base and fix a shower seal such as Sealux around the base then covering your walls with the membrane as above but finishing it on the shower seal. Tile over with any water resistant adhesive prefereably a powder mix.

Both of these methods will give a seal for any type of shower system, being based on the off the roll membrane it will be a very secure job.

Tiler

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[bladerunner]

Thanks for the reply wetdec. Using this membrane directly on to the plasterboard pressumably means that I wouldn't need the water reistant backer boards like Aquapanel, is that correct?
thanks again.
dickey

 

[wetdec]

Exacly m8 all this Tilebacker, Hardie backer, Aquapanel is a water resistant board they all have to be added to to create a tanked wet room, shower or bathroom. Ordinary plaster board with a propper tanking solution such as Durabase wp is the answer. Waterproof tanking membranes on the roll are the secure method of creating a leak proof barrier between your tiles and your walls...............

Details of the Durabase wp tanking membrane can be found here if you need help installing the shower tanking please ask and I will do my best to give you instructions. Depending on what you want to waterproof I can put together a shower tanking or bathroom tanking kit to suit your needs.

tiler

 

[bladerunner]

Thanks again wetdec, big help and thanks for the link, I may get back to you again.
bladerunner

 

[bladerunner]

Wetdecs, I've just been reading some of your advice to other members from a while ago. You advised to one of them regarding tanking a shower area that because he was installing an acrylic tray with cubicle a liquid tanking solution would be ok.
I am installing a stone resin tray with sliding doors on front so 3 walls to tank. Would the liquid option be one that I could consider? If so what is available please, price etc. I need enough for about 7 sq metres. Do you sell it?

Thanks again

blade

 

[grumpygrouter]

Wetdecs, I've just been reading some of your advice to other members from a while ago. You advised to one of them regarding tanking a shower area that because he was installing an acrylic tray with cubicle a liquid tanking solution would be ok.
I am installing a stone resin tray with sliding doors on front so 3 walls to tank. Would the liquid option be one that I could consider? If so what is available please, price etc. I need enough for about 7 sq metres. Do you sell it?

Thanks again

blade

Stick with the membrane Bladerunner. It is quicker to apply and you can tile straight away when it is up. With liquid you will need to leave it to dry and usually requires at least 2 coats.

 

[wetdec]

Hi

The post you refer to was written tongue in cheek to emphasize the fact I regard the paint on systems as DIY. Paint on systems are a 1 for all solution which work inconsistantly in the field ie you cant guarantee thickness the manufacturers specify. Should something go wrong and a leak happen the manufacturer will expect the membrane to of been applied to their specified thickness or guarantee will not be honoured.

With an off the roll membrane there is no such worry and no drying time involved.

As Grumps has said stick with the off the roll system such as Durabase WP it is by far the safest.


tiler

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[Ger]

I am installing a stone resin tray with sliding doors on front so 3 walls to tank. Would the liquid option be one that I could consider? If so what is available please, price etc. I need enough for about 7 sq metres. Do you sell it?

Bladerunner

I attach a file that may be of interest to you when connecting a liquid or mat membrane onto a shower tray ledge.

Ger

 

[wetdec]

00ps forgot I had that, thanks m8 :yes:

Here it is for everyone to see :

tiler