This type of membrane can reduce the chance of grout line cracking in the example above, by floating the tile assembly (tile, grout, mortar) on the surface of the membrane so it can stretch horizontally as the floor cracks, instead of the tile assembly being pulled apart (explained more thoroughly in the next section). Im currently at a loss on how to best approach this dilemma. I would NOT remove the shower base tiles and attempt to install a waterproofing membrane. it would really depend on how permeable these planks are. They had to use the materials available at the time, so wood studs framed it, tar paper waterproofed it, gypsum wall board lined it, and tiles were laid over it. As well, I would install a good sheet waterproofing membrane instead of a liquid membrane. okorder membrane waterproofing pvc polymer roll puncture root This drain has an integrated membrane bonding flange so your under-tile sheet waterproofing membrane can bond to it. for waterproof redgard and Kerdi membrace sheet which is better? Thanks so much Steve! Originally there was the vapour barrier over the studs and insulation, with cement board on top with tile applied to it. Redgard has a perm rating of .36 when applied according to the application instructions. 1. This would NOT be good.. especially on an outside wall. All of these bases require a waterproofing membrane attached to their top surface along with their own drain assembly (with membrane bonding flange). Would you recommend a Kerdi/Wedi/etc board for the ceiling above the new shower? The peel and stick shower membrane only requires a primer to be applied before sticking it to the backer board or shower pan. 1a. This layer also has fleece webbing attached to its surface to facilitate tile mortar bonding. Since we are not going to have permeable tile/grout but instead a waterproof vinyl surface is this still something we would need? Firstly I have to admit that I have absolutely no experience with this type of installation. I included these foam backer board products in my shower membrane post because they are the only waterproof wall boards that are designed to serve as tile backer boards. Thank you. Its great to hear from a fellow tradesman. If your shower valve is what caused the leak, thats a whole other thing! Heres how to do it correctly First drill a few holes around the perimeter of the new hole that you created so you can insert rebar for support. Liquid membranes can be problematic if not applied perfectly. I am using a USG glass matt tile backer, I called the manufacturer and they said, it should be fine. The fleece coating means that no additional membrane attachment is required for tiles to bond to it. Yes, I think you are right about all of us getting used to the concept of decoupling a tile assembly from the substrate, however it is also a good idea to be critical about the performance of any product you buy, especially if you discover peculiar performance like you and James did. Regardless, these panels will likely need some mechanical attachment method to keep them in place while the adhesive dries. This is usually a job for a professional, but if you do a bit of online research and youre motivated, you could easily do this yourself as well. Honestly, Im wondering why you tested the membranes adhesion after the mortar was dry. This ensures that it is applied to the correct thickness. Im getting ready to remodel my master bathroom? The term waterproofing membrane is in fact misleading; No membrane is completely waterproof. And if the material comes in different thicknesses, I would try to get something thicker if possible (thicker than 12mm), since this will be your only waterproofing layer. They use this stuff in industrial water systems, and it is safe in drinking water. I was planning on roughing up the existing pan tiles, installing Kerdi membrane on top and tiling over. But first, a little background about how these membranes are rated for moisture permeability. Ive been struggling with this for a few days. They even said the membrane could be used on a ceiling. Ive decided to use only a kurdi waterproof membrane. No need to worry about sheet membrane corner waterproofing of your shower niches! I also prefer sheet waterproofing membranes over liquid. After getting it removed I realized that I have 5/8 Type X drywall behind one of the side which is there as a fire barrier which I cant remove. Even with the proper pre-slope below the liner, much of the water adhered to the porous mortar base so it always stayed significantly hydrated. Stick with the materials that have been engineered and tested for shower wall waterproofing. Steve, thanks so much for this long but very thorough article! This is literally the best you can do in an outside wall to reduce the chance of condensation in this space. Thats really all you can do. Maybe I just missed it, but every company that makes a waterproofing membrane should make these ratings very clear in their specs and promo materials. Im glad you got something out of it. Given that the leak was caused by the shower mixer, would you still recommend to rebuild the entire shower? I need to break up and remove the concrete to move the drain. Do you have experience with this? Hopefully youre not as confused as the cartoon man in the picture, but wherever youre at in your investigation, I think youll find this post useful. In fact, concrete (and dry pack mortar) cures much better in the presence of a small amount of water. RedGard with Goof Proof Slope System and Kirb Perfect, RedGard with Goof Proof Slope System and Handi Curb. What is not often recognized is that the mortar used to attach this membrane does not actually adhere to it. I am installing a shower in a converted school bus. The new pan had been installed. I currently have a drywalled shower/tub surround awaiting tiles. My bathroom remodel will be starting shortly and my contractor use Laticrete Hydro Ban. To avoid the many problems associated with this backwards pan assembly, I would MAKE CERTAIN that your installer uses the install method in this video. There is little chance for condensation in this area since there is no trapped air. Although the screws would indeed penetrate the membrane, the proper screws (with gaskets) are designed to keep out water. If this could be done it would save me a lot of work. 4) NobleSeal TS instructions say for steam room to sandwich TS between two cement backer boards on ceiling. Steve Personally, I would not use a product that has a perm rating greater than .5 perms. The winter temps can fall into the 30s and the summers the 90s, though the temperature in the house stays pretty constant because of our foam roof. I cant imagine anyone installing the Durock base without a membrane because you could not attach your tiles to it it would be a total disaster. There are some complex physics involved in these systems and frankly most tiling professionals dont really have a clue either. Sounds like a fun project! We just bought a home that needed extensive remodeling. Also, is it 2 to top of waterproofing of curb structure or to top of 3/4 thick marble threshold which will have 100% silicone bead to NobleSeal TS on curb? 2) Current ceiling over the old tub/shower combo is the standard dropped ceiling common in the 80s. Thank you. I always use Mapei Flexcolor CQ premixed grout. These will serve to connect the original slab to the new concrete youll be placing. This should be done regardless of the membrane you decide to use, but I always recommend using a really good sheet membrane on any outside wall (like Subliner Dry, Kerdi DS) to reduce moisture permeance as much as possible, especially if its a 24 stud wall. Thank you for the feedback. And the answers to those questions provides a good background for this post about waterproofing products and strategies. A preformed foam shower niche can be a used as a great defence against long term leak issues into the shower wall, but they will never entirely eliminate moisture from moving into the stud space (see my discussion of perm ratings). Converting a shower tub to a tiled walk in shower. These ratings are already considered overkill by many professionals because they are much better that the required threshold of. It is easy to see how shower nooks and niches could be the cause of major water infiltration issues in the showers of the past, when they still cause problems in some shower today. I really hope that helps, and good luck with your project! Your biggest problem will be water vapour management in the room in general. Congrats! Their wall boards come in 1/2, 5/8, 3/4 and 2 thicknesses and have a reinforcement layer on each side to create more structurally stability. Thank you for your comment! The New Age of Shower Waterproofing Products, This Contractors Opinions and Preferences. You dont want that. We are building two 4 enclosure walls that are 7 for 2 the descends to 4 over the next 2. So if I were you, I would remove it and start over. Any suggestions on a method to use as there will obviously be an air gap between the metal and the walls/curved ceiling? It bonds directly to clean metal drains, PVC, stainless steel and ABS drain assemblies and can be used as a slab-on-grade moisture vapor barrier under all types of floor coverings. I suppose it would just need to be something that the adhesive will stick to. I do not think this is adequate, but I am not an industry expert or a contractor myself. In warm dry weather it can dry very quickly but may take up to several hours between coats and again before tile can be applied over it. The bottom line is. He/she does not necessarily need to use the Schluter system, but a sheet membrane system with an integrating drain assembly is essential in my opinion. The shower base could also be irreparably damaged. I have lots of carpentry experience but basically zero with plumbing/showers/tiling I followed most of what you wrote (but maybe not everything, Im still learning). Why? I will explain the different types of shower waterproofing methods available, which ones I prefer and why. Any recommendations for minimizing curb height much appreciated. If moisture makes it into the stud cavity, it could easily condense on the back side of your niche and cause mold growth. I would also make sure the corners and joints are taped. I use Weldbond for this purpose (pictured above) because its easy to use, non-toxic, economical, and readily available. Always read and follow manufacturer installation instructions, In order to ensure that RedGard fully penetrates into a gypsum underlayment, we recommend diluting the first coat with water (4 parts water to 1 part RedGard); it works in more effectively on its first coat diluted. This is super easy but is also fairly expensive. Is there a reason to buy a prefabbed foam bench, or could one build it out of wood, cover in a membrane board and sealed as a shower seat? The wall boards are made from extruded polystyrene foam and have a layer of material on both sides designed for tile mortar bonding. 1) I had a look in the TCNA, and it says to over lap the tub lip with the tile backer board minus 1/4 from the tub surround, from your experience is this correct? Coverage is well over 95% as all the peaks are collapsed smooth as silk. On the back and inside I was going to build out the wall 1/4 so the durock could go over the flange. I agree with you that this product is a little expensive. Any vapor retarder will only limit the amount of moisture that can pass through it, not eliminate it.
shower waterproofing roll on