When you have the right tools and materials, installing a wetroom is a much simpler process than you may realize. Essentially, you are building up a series reinforced barriers. The steps to installing a fully functioning wetroom include the preparation of the area, waterproofing and sealing which will give your wetroom protection against leaking, and creating a slope towards the drain. We’ve put together a simple, step-by-step guide which will talk you through what is involved in installing a wetroom.
Preparing the Area
The first step that you should take towards installing your wetroom is making sure that the area is fully prepared. This involves installing a pre-formed shower floor, ensuring that the floor is sloping towards the drain, and making sure that the whole of the construction area is free from any dirt, debris, or grease which could get in the way of waterproofing. You should also check the walls and floor for any signs of movement or looseness, and ensure that it is all intact before you move on to instalment.
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Waterproofing
Before you can begin tiling, you will need to waterproof your wet room using primer and waterproofing and uncoupling systems which you can purchase from Ardex, either online or in store at Ellegant Home Design, 1002 W. Dundee Road, Arlington Heights, lllinois. It is important to make sure that the whole room is fully waterproofed, and the floor area should be primed up to 100mm onto the wall, and the walls primed from the floor to the ceiling before leaving the primer to cure. Once this is done, you should apply the outlet sleeve around the drainage area, and ensure that there is a waste traps clamping ring that is firmly fixed into position.
Tanking the Area
The entire floor area of your wetroom should be tanked with the tanking compound reaching 100mm onto the walls, as with the primer. In the showering area and the splash zone of the shower, you will also need to apply the tanking compound from the floor to the ceiling. For most tanking compounds, the recommended thickness is around 1mm, so you may need to apply two or three separate coats in order to get the results you need.
Completing the Room
Once all of the above steps have been completed, the preparation of your wetroom is complete and you are now ready to begin tiling and grouting as normal. Although the room will be fully waterproofed and should have minimal risk of leakages thanks to the preparation which you have put in, it’s important to pay extra attention when tiling a wet room as the tiles will act as the first waterproof barrier against any leaks. Because of this, it is vital to make sure that all of the tiles are laid correctly with no gaps.
With the right materials and a little bit of know-how, installing a wetroom yourself can actually be a very simple process. The most important part is getting the preparation right so that you can rest assured that the floor and walls are fully waterproofed.
