Ceramic Tiling

The waterproof tanking system must be allowed to dry out fully before tiling commences. For wet areas the solid bed method of application for tile fixing should be employed, especially important where power showers are installed and where the shower floor is tiled rather than having a pre-formed shower tray. Solid bedding requires the use of specially designed notched trowels having centres sufficiently close to enable a largely void-free bed to be achieved when the tiles are pressed in place.

Grouting should be carried out a minimum of 24 hours after the completion of tiling, longer if ready mixed adhesives have been used onto low porosity backgrounds. Where power showers are installed and if it is felt necessary to provide totally impervious joints, grouting should be carried out in an epoxy resin based grout. However, it should be noted that the use of impervious grouts is not a substitute for an effective tanking system.
It is absolutely essential to pay particular attention to the sealing of the junction between the shower tray and walls, the internal vertical corners, any joints around the shower head and any other penetrations and the wall/floor junction where a tray is not used. These junctions should be sealed with an appropriate flexible, curing sealant such as a silicone, polyurethane or polysulphide. Proprietary sealing systems incorporating pre-formed sections and flexible sealants are available for the junctions between shower tray and wall tiling and around bath edge details.

In order to ensure that all materials used (tanking, adhesive, grout, sealant) have fully cured and attained their ultimate properties, it is recommended that showers and wet rooms should not be put into use for at least two weeks after the completion of all fixing and sealing operations.