Whether you’re installing a domestic shower in an existing room or fitting out a shower area in a leisure environment, some thought should be given to the protection of the existing fabric of the building from the risk of water penetration before starting work.
Proper tanking will ensure professional, problem-free results. This protection is especially important when planning for showers which will be heavily used - in leisure centres, for instance - or showers in hotels where they may be used with considerably less care than those in a domestic environment.
It is often felt that the use of a water-resistant adhesive and/or a water-resistant grout will suffice. However, grouts or adhesives, which resist the effects of water, do not necessarily resist its passage and more comprehensive measures should be taken on water sensitive backgrounds or in any area where the penetration of water would pose a problem. This is especially important in a wet room or where a power-shower is to be installed; these are capable of generating considerable pressure, and will seek out the slightest weakness in the work.
Porous tiles
It might sound obvious, but some porous tiles may not provide a waterproof surface unless appropriately sealed. However, because of current trends and fashions many types of natural stones such as limestone are finding their way into the shower room. If you intend to use a natural stone product, check the porosity of the preferred material before advising your client of its suitability and how these should be sealed.
A waterproof substrate
Making sure that the substrate is fully waterproofed prior to tiling is essential.
In this situation you can either use a totally waterproof construction board, such as PCI Pecidur®, or treat the substrate to waterproof it. Both options have their advantages.
Waterproof Construction Boards
A lightweight, waterproof, insulating board, PCI Pecidur® is designed to be easily cut and shaped to create curves and corners. PCI Pecidur ® construction boards, creative boards and angle elements allow you to construct a multitude of individual, unique and interesting structures for bathrooms, wet rooms, baths, showers, spas, kitchens and so on.
Unlike timber or ply substrates PCI Pecidur is inert therefore it is not affected by fluctuations in the temperature. You can use Pecidur in dry and wet areas because of its special water repellent surface coating, which is constructed of special mortar and glass fibre fabric. All joints would be sealed using PCI Lastogum, PCI Pecitape and drain and floor and wall gaskets.
Waterproofing the Substrate
Alternatively, a waterproofing treatment will be required for moisture sensitive substrates eg. Plasters, gypsum fibre boards, plaster boards, plywood, concrete, brick and blockwork, cement/sand screeds,anhydrite screeds and renders in moist and wet areas. The following two solutions are available to waterproof this type of substrate:
Frequent Contact with Water: Lastogum X
PCI Lastogum X® from PCI is waterproof, flexible and can be applied directly onto substrates before tiling with ceramic coverings. Applied as an undiluted liquid by brush, roller or trowel, Lastogum® waterproofs and protects moisture-sensitive substrates in two coats.
Constant immersion: Seccoral 2K
A two part, industrial tanking system, for use under tiled surfaces, which protects buildings from external water penetration and swimming pools against upto 15m head of pressurised water. Applied by brush and trowel it is ready for tiling after 24 hours curing. It does not require the use of reinforcement matting and provides protection and crack bridging, after application seccoral 2k can be used with Pecitape to offer extra protection at wall and floor junctions.
Installing a waterproof construction board coating is the key element of the waterproofing process. To ensure complete protection you also need to ensure that the primers, tile adhesives and grouts specified are fit for this type of environment and suitable for the type of tile selected. If you have any questions regarding waterproofing or require a full NBS specification PCI’s technical team are able to provide this service.
For more information, contact PCI’s Techincal Services Department on 0161 794 7411