The waterproofing system for your bathroom or shower must meet specific Australia standard building regulations. What system you use depends on the flooring material, whether there is a hob and the layout of the room.
You will require a waterproof membrane that is flexible, guaranteed for at least twenty years and chemically resistant. Some showers will never dry out, so it must be able to withstand being permanently and temporarily wet.
Bathrooms
Waterproofing for your bathroom tiles is best to be done by a professional, who will provide the necessary certificates and guarantees. In most bathrooms the joint between the wall and the floor needs to be sealed with a flexible, right-angled flashing fixed to the floor.
Showers
Showers are the weak link in the waterproofing process. Preformed and prefinished shower bases have few problems. In the event of a leak, check all of the timber architraves and door jambs for rot and steel jambs for rust.
Internal shower trays are usually put in over the hob and out onto the floor as well as inside the shower. They’re good if you’re renovating an existing bathroom. External shower trays are normally preformed in folded copper or heavy-duty PVC. They’re designed to be installed before the hob is put inside the tray.
For renovators, it pays to install a brand new shower and shower tray or replace an existing one that could get damaged when tiles are removed.
Hobless Showers
Hobless showers increase the risk of creating damp space. A brass or aluminium angle must be fixed to the floor under the shower screen, finishing at the height of the tiling. The bathroom floor must have a waste in the shower and another outside.
Tiling Around Baths and Basins
Water will leak behind a bath or basin unless the top rim is well sealed. In a new bathroom, wall linings are put in to overlap the rim of the bath and the joint sealed with a flexible silicone sealant. With existing tiles, use the same sealant.
Give Johnson Tiles a quick call today, and we will be happy to give advice regarding wet areas and waterproofing your tiles.
