Sealing Bathrooms So They Are Waterproofed
Waterproofing your bathroom is one of the most important steps in home improvement because it can prevent thousands of dollars worth of damage from occurring to your walls and floors. You need to accomplish a good bathroom seal, because if you don’t it can end up expensive.
Bathrooms are a place where there is a lot of moisture and exposure to water. This can lead to mold, mildew, and rot if the bathroom is not properly waterproofed. In this post, we will discuss what you should know about bathroom waterproofing so that you have the best options for your home or business.
Waterprooofing – What Is It?
It is important to define waterproofing first.
Waterproofing is often overlooked by renovators, but it’s one of the most important aspects to protect the house from structural damage if water finds its way into places it shouldn’t.
Installing a waterproof barrier around the walls and floors of a bathroom is the first step when building or renovating one. The barrier prevents moisture from getting into the structure.
Waterproofing must be installed in accordance with Australian standards. You shouldn’t attempt it if you don’t know how.
The Bathroom Floor Is The Most Important Part To Waterproof
To seal bathroom areas, the floor is the most important part of your bathroom that needs waterproofing because it can be exposed to water just from taking a shower or washing hands.
A lot of people choose to use tiles for their bathrooms, but they are not always ideal since you cannot replace them if they get damaged over time and mold starts growing underneath them.
There are a few different waterproofing bathroom options, especially when it comes to the floor of the bathroom:
Use Non-Adhesive Liners To Waterproof Your Bathroom
The first option is to use non-adhesive liners that can be put on the walls and floor of your bathroom, then tiles or other fixtures are installed over them. This will cost more upfront but save money in the long run because you won’t have to replace anything when it gets wet or damaged. This option is also great for people who do not want to see waterproofing materials in their bathroom.
However, if you choose a non-adhesive product it may require more frequent replacement than adhesive products due to the fact they are not as durable over time.
Use Pre-Slope Membrane To Waterproof Your Bathroom
Another option that works well with adhesive products is the use of a pre-slope membrane, which can be placed on top, or attached underneath tiles before they are installed. The major advantage of this method is it allows you to remove the tiles and replace them if they become damaged or moldy.
Install Epoxy Flooring For Bathroom Waterproofing
Another alternative is installing epoxy floors, which are very durable and inexpensive. However, this method is only good for the floor and not the walls of your bathroom. The basic process is to remove any current flooring, and then install a waterproof membrane underneath. Then you can lay down an epoxy or polyurethane finish that will not wear away over time.
Use A Shower Sealer On Tile Grout
If you need a shower waterproofer to seal the grout lines in your bathroom, you can use a product like Crommelin Shower Sealer to provide a permanent seal that is water-based. It will penetrate the grout and fix showers that are leaking water through the grout. Check out the YouTube video below.
Waterproofing Bathroom Areas: What Are The Australian Standards?
The Waterproofing of Wet Areas in Residential Buildings of the Building Code of Australia and Australian Standards AS3740-2010 must be followed when waterproofing a bathroom.
It’s good for the property owner to be informed that these Australian standards exist in addition to the ones they know their waterproof specialist knows.
If the property owner is concerned about water damage, going above the minimum requirements is not a bad idea either. Installing a water-damage prevention system can be significantly cheaper than repairing water damage.
Shower walls and floors must be waterproofed up to 1800mm if a bathroom is installed on the ground floor. It is necessary to waterproof the walls of the bathroom to a height of 150mm. Up to 100mm of waterproofing should be applied to hobs.
A wet room bathroom (one that has a frameless shower) must have the entire floor waterproofed as well as the walls that extend up to 1500mm. Shower spaces in wet room bathrooms will also require the same minimum requirements.
Renovation of bathrooms often involves adding a wet room because it is a modern design. In order to prevent property damage in the future, it is crucial that the waterproofing is done correctly.
The entire floor of a bathroom needs waterproofing if it is on the second floor or higher. The same requirement is applicable for bathrooms with timber flooring.
Conclusion
Regardless of which method you use for bathroom waterproofing make sure to do thorough research on each option before making a final choice so that you know what would work best for your needs and budget.
To summarise, installing pre-slope membranes on top or underneath tiles before installation so that you can remove and reinstall new ones when needed without having to redo the entire process again.
Finally, epoxy floors are great at providing waterproofing in bathrooms with durability that other options cannot match and is inexpensive.
Recent Posts
Louvered roofs are becoming increasingly popular for their versatility, durability, and aesthetic appeal. They offer numerous benefits, including excellent shade, weather resistance, and customizable...
Your deck is a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors, but it can also be a breeding ground for dirt, grime, and mold. If you don't clean your deck regularly, it will start to look dingy and...