FEATURE
BATHROOMS
& SHOWERS
“Time and budget spent on waterproofing
is imperative to the creation of a wetroom
or shower room which not only looks
attractive, but performs successfully too”
Waterproofing wisdom
with some top tanking tips
Waterproofing, or tanking as it is commonly known, is consistently one of the hottest topics
on Impey’s training tour. Technical manager, Shaun Hunt, explains how quickly and easily a
wetroom or shower space can be waterproofed, using a next-generation tanking membrane.
Modern and high-quality,
WaterGuard waterproofing
membrane is our best-selling
tanking product.
Consisting of a 1mm thick, self-adhesive
membrane which is applied throughout
the wetroom, across the floor (and, also on
the walls if specified), WaterGuard turns
the room into a large, watertight ‘tank’ and
ensures a failsafe wetroom installation.
Impey’s WaterGuard is quick and easy to
apply and once installed can be tiled upon
straight away
Time and budget spent on waterproofing
is imperative to the creation of a wetroom
or shower room, which not only looks
attractive, but performs successfully too,
offering peace of mind for you and your
client.
The key to achieving effective
waterproofing is to create an entirely
watertight barrier on both the floor and
walls, to guard against any potential leaks
and create an ideal surface on which to
begin tiling.
Effective waterproofing ensures that the
wetroom you have fitted stays leak-free for
the duration of its lifespan.
To safeguard against leakage, we
recommend waterproofing walls and
floors as a ‘belt and braces approach’ to
installation; eliminating the danger of
leakage, which can be damaging to the
structure of the wetroom, or potentially the
structure of the building itself.
DECOUPLING ALLOWANCES
Decoupling properties can vary from
manufacturer to manufacturer.
WaterGuard tanking membrane is 1mm
thick and has decoupling properties of
10mm. Because WaterGuard has inbuilt
decoupling properties, there is no need
to buy an additional decoupler, therefore,
saving time for you and budget for your
client.
You’ll likely be tiling straight onto the
tanking membrane so good load-bearing
properties are essential to guarantee safety
when using large or heavy wall tiles.
WaterGuard has a load-bearing
capability of 30kg/m2 – enabling the use of
substantial wall tiles while maintaining the
waterproof guarantee.
If in doubt, check the manufacturer
guidelines for tanking membrane you’re
working with to ensure it’s safe to use with
your chosen tiles.
Depending on the brand of membrane
you have chosen will determine how
long the guarantee is. WaterGuard has a
lifetime guarantee, which is based on the
lifetime of the tiles initially fitted to it.
Once the original tiles are removed, the
guarantee is no longer valid, as it is possible
that the membrane may become damaged
or compromised by the removal of the tiles.
Fitting your tanking membrane carefully
and effectively is imperative, as even
the highest quality products need to be
used accurately for best results and the
membrane can become damaged if not
handled correctly.
LUMPS AND BUMPS
Make sure that before you start to fit the
tanking membrane, the room is completely
clean and free from any dust, grease
or residues. Also, check that you have
smoothed down any lumps and bumps so
there is no risk of the membrane becoming
compromised or spoiled during the
installation process.
Remember to position jointing tape
accurately as referenced in product
instructions; with the WaterGuard product
this means lining all wall and floor
junctions, and ensuring at least 75mm of
the tape is going up the wall and 75mm
covering the floor.
If any damage to the membrane occurs,
it is possible to repair it using specialist
instructions. We would recommend that
you call the Impey technical team and run
through your particular circumstances,
so we can offer advice precisely tailored to
your installation.
ENQUIRY NUMBER 104
A modern wetroom featuring an Impey AquaDec Linear
floor former and AquaScreen X wetroom panel
A contemporary en-suite wetroom using the
WaterGuard waterproofing system, EasyFit floor
former and an AquaScreen panel configuration
40 Heating & Plumbing Monthly | MAY 2018 | www.hpmmag.com
/www.hpmmag.com
