Search the forum,

Discuss Confused about wetrooms in the UK Tiling Forum area at TilersForums.com.

B

Brad

I am confused about the principle behind tanking a wetroom. In the event of a flood, water will simply find its way through the door to the next room. I don't understand the logic behind tanking a wetroom if this can happen? Tanking is supposed to protect substrates, but adhesive and grout is not waterproof so water ingress will adversely affect the installation whether the room is tanked or not.

Also, as grout is not waterproof, how can it be used with confidence in a wetroom???

Very confused! ........ Some feedback much appreciated......
 

Dan

Admin
Staff member
Reaction score
5,036
Points
1,318
Location
Staffordshire, UK
Re: Confused about wetroom tanking

You don't tank a wetroom to protect it against floods. You tank it to protect the substrate during general use.

Water in a shower area for example (one that is using a trap in the floor with tiles around moreso) will mostly fall down the tile and into the drain, but some will work its way through the grout, through the adhesive, and onto the substrate. So you tank the substrate so that water doesn't pass through that part, and runs down into the trap in the floor.

So your tanking should start high up near the shower head, and end in the trap.

Then your tiles are cosmetic and only there for aesthetics and for easy cleaning.

Grout and adhesive should be mainly cement-based in wetrooms which means that no water can damage it per se (it can discolour some grouts but not damage it). Water can pass through it all and not break it down. Though if water soaked into plaster once a day for a few months your plaster could start to deteriorate. And if it soaks into plasterboards that have the weight of tiles on them, expect them all to come crashing down within a year or so. And if you shower naked like I do, that's bad news for the little soldier that now has sharp tiles flying around it!!!!
 

Ajax123

TF
Esteemed
Arms
Reaction score
931
Points
1,213
Location
Lincolnshire
Re: Confused about wetroom tanking

Ditto dans answer...
 

Ajax123

TF
Esteemed
Arms
Reaction score
931
Points
1,213
Location
Lincolnshire
Re: Confused about wetroom tanking

Apart from the little flowery shower cap eh
 
L

Lee garnham

Re: Confused about wetroom tanking

I agree. My opinion tanking a shower with shower tray is a complete waste of time should large enough quantities of water manage to get past the tiling you got a problem regardless of what water proof product or tanking ect you have used. I tiled the shower in the house I'm in Now when I was an apprentice about 11 years ago straight onto plaster it's still now as solid as the day I put them up. I will always tank a wet room floor or use a similar product in case the water does brake through at some point it should avoid damage to any rooms below.
 
D

diamondtiling

Re: Confused about wetroom tanking

I agree. My opinion tanking a shower with shower tray is a complete waste of time should large enough quantities of water manage to get past the tiling you got a problem regardless of what water proof product or tanking ect you have used. I tiled the shower in the house I'm in Now when I was an apprentice about 11 years ago straight onto plaster it's still now as solid as the day I put them up. I will always tank a wet room floor or use a similar product in case the water does brake through at some point it should avoid damage to any rooms below.

I wouldn't go quite that far? its not a waste of time at all, in fact its a requirement to tank wet areas. If you have installed it correctly using the right trap then the water that may get behind your tiles will work its way down the wall and into the trap.
Mcalpines manufacture specific traps for use with tanking kits in situations like this.
 
A

AJPlumbing

Re: Confused about wetroom tanking

I am confused about the principle behind tanking a wetroom. In the event of a flood, water will simply find its way through the door to the next room. I don't understand the logic behind tanking a wetroom if this can happen? Tanking is supposed to protect substrates, but adhesive and grout is not waterproof so water ingress will adversely affect the installation whether the room is tanked or not. Also, as grout is not waterproof, how can it be used with confidence in a wetroom???Very confused! ........ Some feedback much appreciated......
A properly designed and constructed wet room will have a floor mounted drain, and an fall over the entire floor towards the drain of 1:100 - 1:200 (0.5 - 1.0 cm per metre). Across the doorway should be a 25mm high threshold, also tanked and therefore watertight.Should a pipe in the wetroom burst then these two proven design criteria are sufficient to ensure that no water floods the rest of the building, but instead simply goes down the drain.If a pipe bursts inside a wall then obviously it won't prevent flooding elsewhere in the building.The fall over the entire floor is also a practical measure to prevent pooling of water outside of the shower from general usage. Tanking also protects the substrates from water damage as has been stated by others.
 

Reply to Confused about wetrooms in the UK Tiling Forum area at TilersForums.com

There are similar tiling threads here

Good morning all. After a little advice. I'll post pictures a bit later. However.... The...
Replies
6
Views
869
Hi! I'm looking for some advice, I have laid some SLC (Mapei 1210) in our conservatory in...
Replies
5
Views
611
I had a small leak in the main water line before the stop tap in my 1950s house. The copper pipe...
Replies
1
Views
651
10 Tiling Tips for Fixing Tiles to Bathroom Walls = From UKTilingForum.co.uk There are a few...
Replies
1
Views
717
Hi all. Just wanting some advice and wondering what the pros in here are using nowadays for...
Replies
2
Views
593
Posting a tiling question to the forum? Post in Tilers' Talk if you are unsure which forum to post in. We'll move it if there's a more suitable forum.
Please visit our sponsor websites, they keep the forum free to use!

Advertisement

New Tiling Questions

Replies you've not seen

Top