How to Tank a Wet Room

There is nothing worse than having a great luxury wet room that ends up leaking and causing dampness. The following guide is how the professionals tank a wet room. And tank to you and me is waterproof.

Walls

Start by applying a primer called keraprimer on a clean dry surface i.e. plaster board. Dilute primer 1:1 with water and let it dry for at least 1 hour before waterproofing with a latex/fibreglass material called kerafibre.

Stir the kerafibre well before use and use reinforced material in corners, junctions and over screw heads, brush kerafiber over the tape and make sure it is thoroughly wet. On pipe inlets use reinforcement tape (cut out hole) press the patch in fresh kerafiber and brush kerafiber over to ensure it is wet. Apply the first coat of kerafiber on the entire wall area then let it dry for at least 4 hours before applying the second coat. Kerafiber changes to a darker colour when dry.

Apply the second coat of kerafiber and let it dry for 6-12 hours before tiling. Check the thickness of the coat and apply extra kerafiber on thin or porous spots then allow to dry again. The amount of kerafiber required min. 0.6 1/m2 and min.coat thickness o.4 mm.

Start tilling from the second lowest row of tiles, and at least 10cm from the floor. Fix the tiles on the wall with superfix tile adhesive.

Floors

Apply keraprimer on a clean dry surface; dilute the primer 1:1 with water. Use reinforcement tape at corners, junctions and over screw heads brush kerafiber over the tape and make sure it is thoroughly wet.

Use reinforcement material crosslaid to seal the floor drain. Brush one sheet on the floor with kerafiber then brush the other one crosswise onto the first one brush well with kerafiber as well.

Apply kerafiber around the floor drain (40x40cm) and turn the double reinforcing sheet onto the drain. Apply a coat of kerafiber on the entire area and let dry for at least 2 hours, (kerafiber changes colour as it dries).

Apply a second coat of kerafiber and let dry for 6-12 hours before tiling. Check the thickness of the coat and apply extra kerafiber on thin or porous spots. Allow to dry. The amount of kerafiber is 0.8 1/m2 and min and the coat thickness should be 0.5mm.

Once it is dry cut out hole for floor drain. Make sure the diameter of hole is at least 40mm shorter than the diameter of the drain. This ensures the brim of the hole reaches the seal of the floor drain. The kerafiber coat must be at least 1.5mm thick around the drain.

Press a compatible tension ring carefully to the floor drain and cut off any extra membrane from under the tension ring. Brush kerafiber over the entire floor area, up to the tension ring seal tension ring/drain junction with silicone.

Fix the tiles on the floor with superfix tile adhesive. Fill the joints with tile adhesive wait 15-30 minutes and wash excess grout off tiles with a sponge. Wring the sponge well as excess water can discolour the joints.

Clean off excess grout and use silicone on all seams and corners. Leave for 24 hours to dry completely. Floor heating can be used gradually after a week from the joint sealing.