Shower Waterproofing
25mm per metre fall
ShowerSeal is a special polyethylene waterproofing sheath, soft and thin, also ideal for gluing on paving during realisation or on old deteriorated paving. Its use is normally recommended on all bathroom surfaces, in particular behind showers.
Lightweight, can be shaped and elastic, ShowerSeal is able to absorb the expansion phenomena, drastically reducing the forming of shrinkage cracks. Accessories are available upon completion for corners, edges, holes for piping and straps for the overlapping of more parts of the liner that can also be used on their own, near the critical points.
Lexcoat Flash is a polyurethane based waterproofing material. It is a single pack material that cures with atmospheric moisture. High quality liquid applied elastomeric coating.
Properties:
- Elastomeric / Flexible
- Easy application
- Crack bridging properties
- High build
- Resistant to water and UV
- Excellent adhesion to most substrates
- Suitable for foot traffic or light vehicular traffic
- Remains flexible in sub-zero conditions
Uses:
Waterproofing of roof-tops, balconies and terraces. Waterproofing under tiles in bathrooms and balconies. Suitable for flat roof applications with ponding water providing the heavy duty application option is used.
Lexcoat Flash is an ideal solution for re-roofing and remedial repairs on existing membrane roofs. Old membrane roofs can be easily re-coated and brought back to a new standard with minimal disturbance to the existing roof or structure.
Tile Underlay
USG’s Durock™ Brand Uncoupling Mat $10USD m2
TileSEAL Under Tile Uncoupling Systems
TileSEAL is a polyethylene membrane with a grid structure of square cavities, each cut back in a dovetail configuration, and an anchoring fleece laminated to its underside.
TileSEAL is adhered to the substrate using a Pressure Sensitive Adhesive. The anchoring fleece on the underside of TileSEAL is semi bonded, allowing the TileSEAL to be lifted at any stage.
Designed specifically for ceramic tile and dimension stone installations, TileSEAL serves as an uncoupling layer, slip layer and vapor management layer that accommodates moisture from beneath the tile covering. Further, TileSEAL performs all these functions while still providing adequate support/load distribution for the tile covering.
Schluter®-DITRA and DITRA-XL are specifically designed for ceramic and stone tile installations. DITRA and DITRA-XL provide uncoupling to prevent cracked tile and grout. Made of polyethylene, DITRA and DITRA-XL serve as a waterproofing layer that protects moisture-sensitive substrates, such as plywood/OSB. 3.5mm or 7mm thick. $40 per sqm
When installing over wood subfloor, you must use a modified thinset that meets ANSI A118.11 standards.
Installing an uncoupling membrane over a wood subfloor
For this, you want to use a thinset mortar meeting ANSI 118.11
ANSI 118.11 means it’s approved to go over exterior grade plywood. That’s what you want. It doesn’t have to be an LHT mortar. Specific products include:
- Ardex: X5, X77
- Custom Building Products: Versabond Flex; FlexBond
- Laticrete: 253 Gold; 254 Platinum
- Mapei: Ultraflex 2; Porcelain Tile Mortar
Large Tile Thinset Mortar (LFT, LHT, etc)
Now for the tile adhesives that are specifically for large format tiles.
Large Tile (at least one side is 15-inches or longer) over concrete or cement board
- Ardex: X5, X77
- Custom Building Products: Versabond LFT; Natural Stone & Large Tile Mortar, Prolite
- Laticrete: LHT Plus; Tri-Lite; 4-XLT
- Mapei: Large Tile & Stone Mortar; Ultraflex LFT, Kerabond T*
- TEC: Ultimate Large Tile Mortar; 3N1; Uncoupling Membrane Mortar*
*unmodified ANSI 118.1 mortar
Large tile (at least one side is 15-inches or longer) over uncoupling or crack-isolation membranes (CIS)
Uncoupling membranes such as: Flexbone, Stratamat, Mapeguard UM, Redgard and CIS membranes like Nobleseal CIS
- Ardex: X5, X77
- Custom Building Products: Versabond LFT; Natural Stone & Large Tile Mortar, Prolite
- Laticrete: LHT Plus; Tri-Lite; 4-XLT
- Mapei: Large Tile & Stone Mortar; Ultraflex LFT, Kerabond T*
- TEC: Ultimate Large Tile Mortar; 3N1; Uncoupling Membrane Mortar*
*unmodified ANSI 118.1 mortar
Large tile over waterproof membranes on walls in wet areas like showers (note: includes waterproof foam boards such as Wedi and GoBoard)
- Ardex: X5, X77
- Custom Building Products: Versabond LFT; Prolite
- Laticrete: Tri-Lite; 4-XLT, 255 Multimax Lite
- Mapei: Large Tile & Stone Mortar; Ultraflex LFT, Ultralite
- TEC: Ultimate Large Tile Mortar; 3N1, Ultimate 6 Plus
Thinset Mortar for Schluter Products like Kerdi and Ditra
When installing a Kerdi Shower, Ditra uncoupling membrane, or Ditra-Heat they want you to use Schluter’s own branded tile adhesive mortars such as: [11]
- Schluter Set (unmodified)
- Schluter All-Set
- Schluter Fast-Set
- OR an unmodified ANSI 118.1 mortar
In all situations EXCEPT:
Ditra products over a plywood subfloor.
In this case, you would use an A118.4 mortar such as: [4,11]
- Ardex: X5; X77; X78
- Custom Building Products: Flexbond; Versabond Flex; Complete Contact
- Laticrete: 253 Gold; 254 Platinum; 255 Multimax Lite
- Mapei: Ultraflex 2; Porcelain Tile Mortar, Ultracontact
- Schluter: All-Set (Schluter’s preference)
- Tec: Full Flex; Full Contact Mortar
Tile Adhesives for Specialty Tile Situations:
Glass tile
Always check with the manufacturer of the glass because the better manufacturers will often list the thinset name and type that’s to be used with their products. In general, these thinsets work well with glass:
- Ardex: X7 Plus
- Custom: Megalite; Glass Tile Premium Thinset mortar
- Laticrete: Glass Tile Adhesive, 254 Platinum
- Mapei: Adesilex P10; Mosaic and Glass Tile Mortar
- Tec: Super Flex Ultra-Premium; Ultimate 6 Plus
Exterior Tiling
Exterior tiling is something that needs to be taken very seriously. It’s not the same as tiling indoors. For exteriors, you’ll want to use tile adhesives such as these:
- Ardex: X90 Outdoor
- Custom: Megalite; Megaflex
- Laticrete: 254 Platinum; Multimax Lite
- Mapei: Ultralite Pro; Keraflex Super
- Tec: Super Flex Ultra-Premium; Ultimate 6 Plus
Natural Stone
Natural stone is another application that has its own quirks and special details. In general, you want to use WHITE tile mortars and ones that will hold the weight of natural stone (look for an “H” grade next to the ANSI number). Mortars such as:
- Ardex X4; X5; X77
- Custom: Natural Stone and Large Tile mortar; Prolite; Versabond LFT
- Laticrete: LHT; Multimax lite; Select Bond with non-sag additive
- Mapei: Kerabond T*; Large Tile & Stone mortar; Ultraflex LFT
- Tec: Uncoupling Membrane Mortar*; Ultimate Large Tile; Ultimate 6 Plus
*unmodified ANSI 118.1 LFT mortars
diytileguy.com/which-thinset-to-use-infographic
Grout
Mapei colour matched epoxy and grout. Flexcolor has sealer built in.
Epoxy grout. Waterproof forever – use in bathroom, kitchen. 2x the price. Use for shower, kitchen floor, laundry and toilet areas.
Unsanded grout, 3mm gaps for low traffic areas or walls.
Both sanded grout and unsanded grout can be purchased in an epoxy-based form – and they’re essentially the same as their portland-cement based relatives. When cement-based, unsanded grout dries, it shrinks – and it can pull away from tiles. Adding sand to the grouting mix ensures that the material doesn’t shrink as much. Shrinkage is of concern with larger joints in particular, also resists cracking, making it more durable for flooring applications. As sand is abrasive, don’t use with marble, granite etc. to avoid scratching.
Epoxy Grout Beige, Dual Tubes Waterproof Tile Grout 19oz 400ml
amazon.com/NADAMOO-Waterproof-Restore-Bathroom-Included/ $30USD
DesignTile Starlike EVO Epoxy Grout 113 Neutro Base for Metallic Color 2.5 kg – 5.5 lbs. (113 2.5kg-5.5lb)
amazon.com/DesignTile-Starlike-113-Neutro-Metallic $63USD
LATICRETE SPECTRALOCK® 1 Pre-Mixed Grout (#42 Platinum) 1 US Gallon
amazon.com/LATICRETE-SPECTRALOCK-Pre-Mixed-Grout-Platinum $112USD
Doorway Transition
Allow 5-10mm over tile height to prevent flooding to floors.
Shape of wooden version in image but made of GFRC
