Is tanking required with a domestic shower?

[quackfly]

hey guys, just as the title says, is it necessary to tank every shower you do, even standard domestic showers or is priming then using waterproof addy and grout sufficient?

 

[DHTiling]

hey guys, just as the title says, is it necessary to tank every shower you do, even standard domestic showers or is priming then using waterproof addy and grout sufficient?

Define what you mean by that..?

 

[Olz]

You'll find mate that waterproof addy and grouts are actually water resistant bit of a naughty use of words but what actully happens is the adhesive and grout wont break down upon contact with water, but WILL allow water to pass through them, think of it like a watering can head, which is made of plastic so wont break down when filled with water, but is full of little holes that allow the water to pass through it.

The water will pass through and rot away the substrate underneath (unless that is water proof), which is why tanking is neccessary as it protects what ever is underneath the tiles and adhesive.

Hardibacker is not waterproofing either, it just doesnt rot when it gets wet, but wont act as a water barrier.

 

[Rob Z]

Hi Q,

We've done hundreds of waterprrofed installations and not one of them has come back to bite us. I think it is cheap insurance and won't consider doing a shower or tub surround without waterproofing it first.

It might work without, but it might also have problems....problems I would like to avoid.

 

[CJ CERAMICS]

tanking shower areas is neccessary at all times in my opinion. getting the customer to understand and pay for it is in itself a different matter.

 

[Rad2474]

tanking shower areas is neccessary at all times in my opinion. getting the customer to understand and pay for it is in itself a different matter.

It certainly is.

 

[windy]

its good practise to,mentioning it could help you stand out from the cowboys..but as cj said getting customer to understand can be a issue as they think all your doing is trying to make more money as no one else has mentioned it.

 

[grumpygrouter]

Check out this thread to see what happens when tanking isn't done! Shower was only 2 years old, house empty for 6 months every year and only 2 people using it.

http://www.tilersforums.com/tiling-forum/23389-why-not-use-tubbed-adhesives-no.html

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Quackfly - As per the other posts I believe that it is neccessary.
IMO the majority of problems with showers and water is either around the controls or at the tray.
This water ingress damages the subsrate and thus the tiles become loose.
The gap at the shower tray is always a point of weakness and despite Silicon the slightest movement in the tray often proves to be the problem. Always double seal behind and onto the tray/tile.
If you use the waterproof backing boards such as wedi or hardi the only tanking that is required is at the corners and around the controls/head.
The price of present day tanking systems means its often cost effective to include it in your estimates - even if its an itemised extra that gives the client the choice.
Full tanking is essential if considering a wet room situation.

Timeless John.

 

[stoner]

I always advise on tanking a shower area, but like you said customers don't always want to know. I use the homelux stuff nowadays from Topps and it's simple to use and cheap at £45 for 5m2.

I did a shower tray and recommended this to the customer and a tile shop in Chesterfield then told customer it was'nt necessary, lol. Can't win!!:mad2: