How To Waterproof A Wall Before Tiling

Determine how much tile you ll need.

How to waterproof a wall before tiling.

Repeat the previous steps to apply waterproof membrane to the remaining shower walls. You should not ever put tile directly onto drywall even the green board water resistant kind. Cut the waterproof membrane into lengths of the bathroom walls. Pattern they ll take is established.

You protect it with a layer of water proofing material. It s likely that different styles of tiles will be used for floor and walls based on how much slip resistance they provide. With the installation of a waterproof membrane followed by water resistant cement boards your enclosure will be safely sealed usually within the course of a single afternoon s work. There are two types of waterproof membranes sheet and liquid applied options.

Use a utility knife to cut an x shaped slit to reveal the shower valve. This means deciding where the first tiles will be laid and how the tiles will align with floor and wall joints. This old house general contractor tom silva shows a foolproof way to build a leak free shower. You ll need a design plan before you start attaching the tile.

To prevent water damage you must install a waterproof membrane just below the tile bonding mortar as close to the tile as possible. You don t really water proof the drywall itself. Add up the wall areas and add 10 so you have extra tile for mistakes or future repairs. Sheet membranes are plastic or elastometric sheets that have to be bonded to the substrate before tile installation.

For our shower we chose a running bond pattern. See below for a shopping list and tools subscribe to this o. To stick the membrane down use either a paint roller or brush to paint over it with the waterproofing agent. Rub the smooth edge of the trowel over the membrane to smooth out any wrinkles or trapped air bubbles.

You should be attaching the tile to cement. Fortunately waterproofing an enclosure is only a matter of proper preparation of the walls before the first tile is laid. The wall in question is plastered with bonding which is very very absorbent of water. Press the waterproof membrane into the wet mortar on the wall.

Tiles are cut as necessary to fit where they belong.