To Tank or not to Tank????

We have bought a wet room type shower tray 1200x1200 its plumbed into the floorboards and two sources have told us contradictory advice re tanking before tiling.

The shop we bought the tray from (Fired Earth) told us we must tank the area up the walls (plaster) and floor surround (plywood) before tiling. A tiler has told us that with ceramic tiles and a suitable adhesive we don't need to. Which is correct?

The tiles chosen are a 5cm ceramic mosaic 30 x 30 sheet (wall) and 30 x 30 ceramic floor tile. The floor adhesive will need to be flexible as underfloor heating is going down also.

If we need to tank the area anyone got any recomendations?? material...paint on....any reliable brands?

You absolutely must tank. Your tiler is categorically wrong, find another tiler immediately.

What make of tray have Fired Earth sold you? Wedi Fundo or similar? They should also be supplying detailed instructions to fit and details of the membrane system, if they haven't take it back.

I've constructed a few wet room over the last two two years and have come across one company that is head and shoulders above the rest in terms of construction.

You buy a complete kit including the tray, waste, tanking membrane, primers and sealants to produce the completed substrate ready for tiling.

http://www.wetroom-solutions.co.uk

I'm not associated with these people, I've just used their products.

I too would vouch for these people have used them a lot in the past but not used them for a while is wet-dec the same as the level-dec they used to do.

This stuff is pretty good too have tanked a room and flooded it to check for leaks with no problems. http://www.aquatecnic.co.uk/3040/frames.php
I use CCL now mostly because as Mudster says they do the whole kit in one go and when it comes to tiling he knows his onions

One more vote...you must tank!

Mudster, chappers. Those look like very good solutions. What about the WP1 tanking system from BAL? Just wondering since if you use their adhesive and that's what they recommend.

Ok I am convinced

Thank you all for your comments, have looked at both links will definately Tank!!

JayS said:

One more vote...you must tank!

Mudster, chappers. Those look like very good solutions. What about the WP1 tanking system from BAL? Just wondering since if you use their adhesive and that's what they recommend.

Click to expand...

WP1 is good stuff I also use this in most of my shower installations.

The CCL wet decs are a commercial specification of this, the waterproof membrane is whole world more substantial then WP1, but then it's desgined to cope with more than the WP1 kit.

Every wet room I've installed so far has been an En-suite on the first floor of a house, I'm not willing to take any risks in the fundamental construction so I fit the best system I can find, I've yet to see one that beats the CCL system.....Damn that sounds like an advert! I should be on commission.


However I did tank a Rugby Clubs' communal shower with WP1 on Aquapanel 4 years ago, that sees 4 rugby teams and 8 Hockey teams through on a Sturday afternoon pretty much every week, and there's no the slightest hint of a faiure there.

Many thanks for the input. I think I'll go with the BAL system since this is only for my shower at home, so it won't be as busy as a commercial facility.