Waterproofing shower/bath combo wet area?

3simon · Jan 14, 2021 9:38 pm

Hi all, would like to get your thoughts on how best to waterproof a shower+bath combo area.

below are some pictures of the area I want to turn into a shower+bath wet area, the red circled spot is where the shower head will go.

I'm planning to use a drop-in bathtub as oppose to a corner freestanding for the shower/bath combo as I've heard corner freestanding may eventually cause movements as you shower in them and break the silicone seal on the edges.

My question is;
- how should one waterproof a bath/shower combo area with a bathtub in mind?
- Is there some kind of industry standard handbook one could refer to on this matter?

I guess there are two types of drop-in tub I could use. One has a bit of a lip at the edge (tub1) vs flat edge (tub2), not fussed which type to use, I guess whichever one is easier to waterproof/more suitable than the other for bath/shower combo setup.

btw, the wall in my bathroom is concrete + render.. Thanks in advance!

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Tub1
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Tub2
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moudzj · Jan 14, 2021 11:23 pm

This is something definitely not worth cheaping out on and doing yourself. If you are in Sydney, I can give you details of a solid, and cheap waterproofer. A very minor error on your part would be detrimental.

Regardless; if you are adamant, I can, and would, reluctantly send you the AS for waterproofing wet areas.

Re the tub; would also need a pro. The drop-ins need good frames built, and sheeting run below over the lip, and waterproofed to the bathtub to ensure an adequate seal. Not sure how you should go about this with walls already finished: theres no way the waterproofing bridge can solely hold the tub to wall seal with all the movement. Get a good builder in.

Waterproofing really is no joke.

Goodluck.

3simon · Jan 15, 2021 9:12 am

moudzj

This is something definitely not worth cheaping out on and doing yourself. If you are in Sydney, I can give you details of a solid, and cheap waterproofer. A very minor error on your part would be detrimental.

Regardless; if you are adamant, I can, and would, reluctantly send you the AS for waterproofing wet areas.

Re the tub; would also need a pro. The drop-ins need good frames built, and sheeting run below over the lip, and waterproofed to the bathtub to ensure an adequate seal. Not sure how you should go about this with walls already finished: theres no way the waterproofing bridge can solely hold the tub to wall seal with all the movement. Get a good builder in.

Waterproofing really is no joke.

Goodluck.

Thanks for the info moudzj. I'm not planning to do it myself, I'm finding individual tradies to do the reno (as oppose to outsourcing everything to a builder..). The reason I'm asking is to make sure I understand how things should be done properly especially given I'm coordinating the tradies..

That'll actually be very helpful if you could send me AS for waterproofing wet areas especially shower/bath combo so I can familiarize myself with how it should be done. I am indeed based in Sydney, so feel free to send me details of waterproofer you mentioned. That'll be much appreciated, thanks!

In terms of building frames for the drop-in, I was thinking of getting tiler to build a frame using hebel blocks. is that the wrong approach in your opinion? Should I get a carpenter in instead?

Last question; given I don't have a builder to 'put it altogether' so to speak, how best should I coordinate the different traders (plumber, tiler, waterproofer etc) to make sure the bath shower combo is done properly?

moudzj · Jan 15, 2021 12:11 pm

I really dont think hebel is the correct approach at all - would need to be framed with steel or possibly timber if thicknesses allow. I even doubt that a standard carpenter will understand the dynamics enough to forsee through the frame to be built correctly.

There really is too much to it if you are trying to nail it. I think you might be overestimating how much you will save by coordianting yourself. Its not worth the grief, and, from a cost perspective, your savings will not be as much because a builders material and trade prices will be so much cheaper than what you can get for this litte project. Also happy to give you a builders details whom I know, probably worth getting a quote - you are definitely underestimating the complexity if you want a top notch, quality job to last a lifetime.

chippy · Jan 16, 2021 1:32 am

3simon

moudzj

This is something definitely not worth cheaping out on and doing yourself. If you are in Sydney, I can give you details of a solid, and cheap waterproofer. A very minor error on your part would be detrimental.

Regardless; if you are adamant, I can, and would, reluctantly send you the AS for waterproofing wet areas.

Re the tub; would also need a pro. The drop-ins need good frames built, and sheeting run below over the lip, and waterproofed to the bathtub to ensure an adequate seal. Not sure how you should go about this with walls already finished: theres no way the waterproofing bridge can solely hold the tub to wall seal with all the movement. Get a good builder in.

Waterproofing really is no joke.

Goodluck.

Thanks for the info moudzj. I'm not planning to do it myself, I'm finding individual tradies to do the reno (as oppose to outsourcing everything to a builder..). The reason I'm asking is to make sure I understand how things should be done properly especially given I'm coordinating the tradies..

That'll actually be very helpful if you could send me AS for waterproofing wet areas especially shower/bath combo so I can familiarize myself with how it should be done. I am indeed based in Sydney, so feel free to send me details of waterproofer you mentioned. That'll be much appreciated, thanks!

In terms of building frames for the drop-in, I was thinking of getting tiler to build a frame using hebel blocks. is that the wrong approach in your opinion? Should I get a carpenter in instead?

Last question; given I don't have a builder to 'put it altogether' so to speak, how best should I coordinate the different traders (plumber, tiler, waterproofer etc) to make sure the bath shower combo is done properly?

Hi 3simon

It's not difficult.
Speak with your plumber and tiler. Different trades like to do things slightly differently but normally the plumber will set up and install the bath on the walls and hook up the waste and then mortar bed under the bath. It's that mortar bed that is important as it is what takes all the weight of the bath through the floor of the bath.
The tiler can then build the hob for the bath sides. They can brick it up or you.
If the bath is cut into the wall so the lip sits behind the tiles it makes the waterproofing easier as you can waterproof tight down onto the edge of the bath.
I'll attach some pictures of details so you have an idea.
If you go to the Caroma website and look up their baths and then look under installation documents they have some handy details.
Your plumber should be able to talk you through it.

Good luck with it all. Just be meticulous with your waterproofing. Make sure you use a good bond breaker in the corners and at the junction of the wall and bath as that's where any movement will cause problems with the waterproofing.

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3simon · Jan 17, 2021 3:32 pm

chippy

3simon

moudzj

This is something definitely not worth cheaping out on and doing yourself. If you are in Sydney, I can give you details of a solid, and cheap waterproofer. A very minor error on your part would be detrimental.

Regardless; if you are adamant, I can, and would, reluctantly send you the AS for waterproofing wet areas.

Re the tub; would also need a pro. The drop-ins need good frames built, and sheeting run below over the lip, and waterproofed to the bathtub to ensure an adequate seal. Not sure how you should go about this with walls already finished: theres no way the waterproofing bridge can solely hold the tub to wall seal with all the movement. Get a good builder in.

Waterproofing really is no joke.

Goodluck.

Thanks for the info moudzj. I'm not planning to do it myself, I'm finding individual tradies to do the reno (as oppose to outsourcing everything to a builder..). The reason I'm asking is to make sure I understand how things should be done properly especially given I'm coordinating the tradies..

That'll actually be very helpful if you could send me AS for waterproofing wet areas especially shower/bath combo so I can familiarize myself with how it should be done. I am indeed based in Sydney, so feel free to send me details of waterproofer you mentioned. That'll be much appreciated, thanks!

In terms of building frames for the drop-in, I was thinking of getting tiler to build a frame using hebel blocks. is that the wrong approach in your opinion? Should I get a carpenter in instead?

Last question; given I don't have a builder to 'put it altogether' so to speak, how best should I coordinate the different traders (plumber, tiler, waterproofer etc) to make sure the bath shower combo is done properly?

Hi 3simon

It's not difficult.
Speak with your plumber and tiler. Different trades like to do things slightly differently but normally the plumber will set up and install the bath on the walls and hook up the waste and then mortar bed under the bath. It's that mortar bed that is important as it is what takes all the weight of the bath through the floor of the bath.
The tiler can then build the hob for the bath sides. They can brick it up or you.
If the bath is cut into the wall so the lip sits behind the tiles it makes the waterproofing easier as you can waterproof tight down onto the edge of the bath.
I'll attach some pictures of details so you have an idea.
If you go to the Caroma website and look up their baths and then look under installation documents they have some handy details.
Your plumber should be able to talk you through it.

Good luck with it all. Just be meticulous with your waterproofing. Make sure you use a good bond breaker in the corners and at the junction of the wall and bath as that's where any movement will cause problems with the waterproofing.

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Thanks Chippy! That's really helpful!

I've spoken to my waterproofer and plumber, but neither were very helpful and feel like I'm being bounced between trades. Plumber suggested that I should get a carpenter in to build the frame, and he will know how everything go together in terms of securing and waterproofing the bathtub for a bath/shower combo. Is that true?

Also, given there will be a lot of movement as we shower and getting in and out of the bathtub, do we need to further secure the bathtub against the masonry wall somehow (e.g. bolt it down?) besides having the lip sit behind the tile, support from the frame or hebel block and mortar bed under the bathtub?

Thanks a lot!