Bathroom waterproofing is one of the most critical things you absolutely need to do properly when renovating.
The majority of warranty issues and call backs that occur in most bathrooms are due to waterproofing failure. Below are some of my top tips to help you avoid this.
Bathroom Waterproofing: What You Need to Know
1. Watch Your Angles & Upturns
A big consideration when it comes to bathroom waterproofing needs to be around the placement of angles or upturns in shower bases and also at doorways.
2. Hiring a Bathroom Waterproofing Professional
There are a lot of waterproofing products on the market, but generally they will be polyurethane or acrylic based materials.
It’s important that the right product is used for each individual bathroom. This is where hiring a professional waterproofing contractor really comes in handy. So if in doubt, get someone in who knows what they’re doing!
In many cases the tiler will install the waterproofing membrane. This is ok if they have been trained to do so and can install it according to the relevant codes.
If the tiler is competent with the installation then you don’t need to get two separate trades involved. And as an added bonus, they can also select the correct tile glues to match the waterproofing product that is used.
3. Choose The Right Installation Method
One important thing to note with bathroom waterproofing is that sometimes there are different installation methods depending on how your existing space is constructed.
For example sometimes the waterproofing membrane will go directly on the floor sub straight (concrete slab or cement sheeting) and have the sand and cement tile bed laid over the top.
Some methods may also include a membrane over the sand and cement bed as well for that extra protection.
Either way its critical its done correctly. So I advise you to be over cautious at this stage. And if it means paying more for extra precaution when installing the bathroom waterproofing then it’s worth it.
4. Make Sure Your Floor is Level
A major tip when it comes to the waterproofing on your floor is to ensure that the substrate of your floor is level. Also check that all plumbing puddle flanges (technical term, sorry you may have to google it) are recessed into the floor so they sit flush.
This way if any water gets through your sand and cement floor screed (we will discuss this in the tiling stage), it will make its way to the membrane and then into your floor wastes with no obstructions.
If you have an existing bathroom floor that is majorly out of level, then I would advise to have a membrane installed over the sand and cement screed bed as well. Then no water will get trapped under the bed in the uneven areas of your floor.
Again it’s pretty hard to explain every little detail when it comes to bathroom waterproofing. But I strongly suggest hiring a professional that comes with good references as this is a very critical part of any bathroom renovation.
It may be hard for a waterproofer to quote on your renovation until they have seen the state of your floor after the demolition has been carried out. So you may have to factor in getting them to inspect immediately after your demolition is completed to avoid any delays down the track.
If you have any questions let me know – I’m always happy to help!
Enjoy your renovation.
All the best,
James Mason
