How to Renovate, Waterproof and Seal a Bathroom?

 A new bathroom can be a dream or a nightmare depending on how you go about building it.

When you build or renovate a bathroom, you really want to do it carefully and well. One small leak and you could have your ceiling or floor cave in.

What you have to get right when building or renovating a bathroom is the waterproofing product, grout, tiles, floors, and silicone sealing products all complement the substrate.

It is imperative that you check if the floor is solid and have the correct underlay and sheeting.

Using the correct waterproofing product is as per specification as per the TDS to suit the substrate and complement the other products used in the construction process.

It is one thing to choose fashionable tiles, but you will need to make sure that you must also use high-quality Silicone Sealant to ensure there are no spaces between the tiles. The Joint Sealer or Caulker will know what type of tile and what type of silicone is recommended for the substrate.

Waterproofing needs to be applied correctly to prevent water from dropping between the tiles and soaking the floor or ceiling below – depending on which level of your home your bathroom is situated.

The Steps in Preparing, renovating, waterproofing, Tiling a bathroom, and Joint Sealing

    1. Preparation for a renovation: After the old bathroom floor is ripped up, you must get rid of all dust, grease, and debris. The floor must be relayed level and even. Your bathroom renovators will have specialized tools and techniques to ensure this is the case. Once you clean the old bathroom floor, you will still have gaps between the wall and the floor. To seal these gaps and you will need to use a primer. This is a chemical solution that helps with adhesion that assists extra bonds when filling the gaps with a joint sealant.
    2. Waterproofing a bathroom: As any bathroom renovator will tell you, it is incredibly important to ensure the floor is prepared and cleaned before waterproofing. You will need to make sure that all the edges of the bathroom are sealant with a Modified Silicone, Fast Cure Polyurethane, Silicone, or Hydrid Polyurethane. A bandage is required if you find that the gaps are wide and this is an extra precaution to prevent any possible leakage. After applying the sealant, drying time is essential before applying your first coat of waterproofing membrane. When applying your waterproofing membrane please make sure that there is no dust on the floor and walls. Mask off any areas that are not required to be waterproof. Please ensure your shower angle and wastage is installed properly and bathtubs are stable and secure. Now you know how to waterproof a bathroom and shower. Once you have completed your first coat of waterproofing membrane you then go over the works to see if there are any pin holes and areas not covered and then you proceed with the second coat to make sure you waterproof completely your bathroom and shower.
    3. How to tile the bathroom: Draw a datum line one row above the bathroom floor. Measure your tile height and mark a point on the wall of the bathroom. Please use a spirit level to draw a horizontal line at that height around the walls. Please check if your glues are safe and complement the waterproofing product. This will usually be available on the TDS of the waterproofing product. Work out the width of the last tile in a row and check what type of space you require. If you are using aluminum angles please allow this in your measurements. Mix the glue with water and blend it inside a bucket until it has a consistency like toothpaste. If you find that it might too runny then add more powder to make a perfect consistency. Spread glue with a notched edge of your trowel to the back of the tiles and start laying. Make sure you use your spirit level and each tile and measure everything correctly. The next step is the grout the tiles and then clean and prepare for joint sealing.
    4. Joint Sealing or Caulking with silicone: It is important to know the type of tile or substrate you are working with before choosing the silicone sealant. Silicone come in different colors and brands of quality. Basic standard-grade silicone sealants usually have white oil or are extended with fillers. There are two types of silicone. Neutral Cure or Acetic Cure Silicone Sealants. Neutral Cures are great to use for any Joint Sealer because it does not smell as much as Acetic Cure. It also has other benefits that can be most useful when using natural stone or around mirrors so this does not bleed into the tile or delaminate the mirrors. There are different grades of sealants and it is essential that if you want the sealant to perform at its best you should consider using the best you can get your hands on. This gives you more life and durability with the silicone including a higher content of mold additives. Mold additives are only resistant for a certain time. Please look at using proper handling fluids like neutral or smoothes to keep your Ph level at 7 so there is no potential harm to the substrates. Please ensure that when you apply silicone the joints are dry so this will illuminate any failure to adhesion with the sealant. Clean away any excess spray and make sure you clean up any residue.

Seal’em Solutions is a leading provider of Joint Sealing or Caulking Solutions

Established for decades, and a finalist in the HIA Awards, we have worked with major developers like Tom Dooley Developments and Parklands -the Commonwealth Games site.

To learn more about us, visit our website or call us at 1300 377 577.

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