R
Rob Z
FYI for those tilesetters that are starting to use tanking products.
It's important to know the manufacturer's requirements for wet film thinkness. A cured film of the tanking product that is too thin isn't necessarily waterproof.
I just got a new gauge that is set for the brand we use (Laticrete, the product is Hydroban).
Note the required thickness in mils, listed on one side of the gauge. This thickness will vary from product to product.
Another way I have done it in the past is to look at the coverage in square feet per gallon, bucket, etc, and compare to the square footage needed in the shower, on the floor, etc. and then tell my employees to ensure that X amount gets on the substrate. In this way, the required quantity gets on the surface without having to mess around with one of these gauges.
Also, while it might be tempting to put on one heavy coat rather than two thinner coats, it won't yield the same results. When tanking products are applied too thickly, they don't cure properly, can crack, and in some cases they might not ever cure or will take weeks to cure. I've seen cases where the tanking was applied too thickly, the tile was set too soon, and then once water got into the grout it remulsified the tanking and all the tanking came up through the grout. :yikes:
It's important to know the manufacturer's requirements for wet film thinkness. A cured film of the tanking product that is too thin isn't necessarily waterproof.
I just got a new gauge that is set for the brand we use (Laticrete, the product is Hydroban).
Note the required thickness in mils, listed on one side of the gauge. This thickness will vary from product to product.
Another way I have done it in the past is to look at the coverage in square feet per gallon, bucket, etc, and compare to the square footage needed in the shower, on the floor, etc. and then tell my employees to ensure that X amount gets on the substrate. In this way, the required quantity gets on the surface without having to mess around with one of these gauges.
Also, while it might be tempting to put on one heavy coat rather than two thinner coats, it won't yield the same results. When tanking products are applied too thickly, they don't cure properly, can crack, and in some cases they might not ever cure or will take weeks to cure. I've seen cases where the tanking was applied too thickly, the tile was set too soon, and then once water got into the grout it remulsified the tanking and all the tanking came up through the grout. :yikes:
