It’s obvious – the tiles that are around a shower area are bound to get wet at one point or another. But, did you know that approximately 90% of the time this area is not waterproofed before tiling.
Here’s the myth. Most people believe that once an area is tiled it is inherently waterproof.
Why it’s false. Over time, water can seep through the grout and make its way behind the tiles. Once the water is behind the tiles it can cause damage to the wall background, especially if that background is plasterboard.
What’s the damage? Worst-case scenario is that the wall breaks down and the tiles crack and, ultimately, fall off the wall. Often the damage isn’t as excessive and is unseen to the eye. However, the water behind the tiles can lead to mould and mildew.
Haven’t waterproofed up until now, so why start? If you have been in the trade for several years and haven’t waterproofed the shower area, it’s hard to find a reason to start now. Here’s why you should. If you tile a client’s shower area and it, unfortunately, falls part due to water damage it’s ultimately your responsibility. All tile adhesive products come with a warning stating that they aren’t waterproof which means it isn’t the fault of the manufacturer.
The benefits of waterproofing outweigh the additional costs. Prevention is key and in order to prevent the worst-case water leak scenario from occurring, you must ensure that the shower area is waterproofed before applying the tiles.
Luckily, we have a full range of waterproofing products here at Tile Fix Direct, all at rock bottom internet-only prices!