How do people waterproof a concrete shower floor?

by delavin home
Sources SVG
Sources
DIY How to Build and Waterproof Shower Curb on a Concrete Floor
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youtube
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1
How to waterproof a shower floor before tiling? - Tile Pro Depot
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tileprodepot
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2
Build Curbless Walk In Shower on Concrete Floor (Part 4 - YouTube
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youtube
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3
Answer SVG
Answer
There are several methods to waterproof a concrete shower floor before tiling:

Shower Pan Liners

Install a sloped mortar bed over the subfloor towards the drain weep holes. Place a waterproof membrane like copper, lead, polyvinyl chloride, or chlorinated polyethylene pan liners over the sloped mortar bed and clamp it into the drain.2

Hot Mop Shower Pans

Build up a waterproof pan liner using layers of mortar mix cement, asphalt, fiberglass mesh, and roofing felt adhered with hot asphalt. Once the hot mop process is complete, prepare a mud bed to install tiles with thin-set mortar.2

Liquid Membranes

Apply multiple coats of a liquid membrane waterproofing product like paint onto the substrate, allowing proper drying time between coats. Ensure there are no voids or pinholes that can allow water penetration.2
3

Sheet Membranes

Bond elastomeric or plastic sheet membranes to the substrate using adhesive or thin-set mortar before tiling the shower floor. Their pliable nature allows easy installation on floors and walls.2

Penetrating Sealers

For an uncoated natural look, apply multiple coats of a penetrating sealer like silane/siloxane or water-based polyurethane to reduce moisture seepage through the concrete.45 However, this method may not be as effective as a membrane for areas with constant water exposure. The key is creating a waterproof barrier between the concrete substrate and tile to prevent moisture penetration and damage.245

References

1. DIY How to Build and Waterproof Shower Curb on a Concrete Floor2. How to waterproof a shower floor before tiling? - Tile Pro Depot3. Build Curbless Walk In Shower on Concrete Floor (Part 4 - YouTube4. How to Waterproof Concrete Showers and Tubs5. Concrete Shower and Bath Sealers > Articles > Ghostshield®



Author: Gripset Industries PTY Ltd.



Key insights

  • ️ Proper curing of concrete is essential before applying waterproofing materials to ensure its effectiveness.
  • The water droplet test can reveal if there are substances preventing water absorption into concrete, requiring surface preparation work.
  • 🧱 Understanding the impact on adhesion to concrete is crucial for waterproofing success.
  • ️ "You can use a brush, a roller, or a sprayer."
  • The use of different primers depends on the moisture vapor and water absorption levels of the concrete, not just the type of concrete itself.
  • The importance of following the correct systems and data sheets before using liquid membrane or gripsy 38 fc for waterproofing concrete.

Timestamped Summary

  • 00:00 Waterproofing concrete is important and requires proper curing before application.
  • 00:51 Test the concrete by dropping water on it to see if it absorbs or beads, which will determine the necessary surface preparation for waterproofing.
  • 01:26 Understand the impact of concrete preparation on adhesion to ensure waterproofing membranes adhere properly.
  • 01:50 Waterproofing concrete is a simple process.
  • 01:56 Use gripsy gp primer for porous concrete, grip's at e60 for moisture vapor, and grips at op or grips of sp primer for dense, well-prepared concrete with lower water absorption levels.
  • 02:44 Use P10 as an option for waterproofing concrete substrates, following the system and data sheets before using liquid membrane with gripsy 38 fc.
  • 03:00 Use the appropriate system and primer for waterproofing concrete, consider surface preparation and ask questions about cracks before applying.

Video Full Text

  • 00:00 Hey everyone thanks again for joining on sued for good if you haven't subscribed yet. You know what I tell you to do do so. Today's episode how to waterproof concrete okay so let's go down the concrete path. This is the substrate that I think everybody in the building industry has worked with at some time or another and a lot of the times with waterproofing. We think it's the easiest substrate to get involved with because compared to some of the more synthetic materials that come into the market there's other specifications required however concrete still has its challenges and it's important to understand where those challenges are now. Firstly concrete needs to be cured properly before you get on it.
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  • 00:51 But when you are working on concrete understand that if it's external internal a domestic job or a commercial job how that concrete's been poured has it had any release agents on it has there any curing compounds with it because these can all impact the adhesion and understanding that is real simple a lot of times just doing a water droplet test to understand you can see the water absorbing into concrete if the water's beading and it's not absorbing the concrete as quickly as it should be. Then you know there must be something there to prevent that so that's going to take a lot of the surface preparation works you need to do whether it be grinding. Pressure.
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  • 01:26 Cleaning blasting again speak to the builder understand what's happening because you might be there months after the concrete has been laid and wanted to know what has been impacting the adhesion the concrete because if you can't adhere to concrete I've seen the best of our membranes and any other membranes liquids or sheets that just peel up really easily because they can't get adhesion to the substrate. But once you've prepared concrete well.
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  • 01:50 It's a real simple one to waterproof.
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  • 01:56 We have a number of products in our range that are suitable for this so the primers gripsy gp. Primer ideal for porous concrete. The grip's at e60 ideal for when you've got concrete. That's got moisture vapor. In. There you're trying to prevent it any of the vapor blisters forming same as the h2o. The other product to consider is the grips at op or the grips of sp primer particularly if you've got a dense concrete that's been well prepared but it might be a higher mpa and so the water absorption levels lower. You may not use a gp primer and you may not need to use the e60 because there's no vapor but you want to get optimal. Adhesion.
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  • 02:44 P10 is another option that you've got in that situation with any of those concrete substrates. The data sheets will show you that but the systems are there for you to follow and that's the part you've got to get right before you go with down the path of the liquid membrane with using the gripsy 38 fc.
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  • 03:00 The 2p system. The brw range the hd or the pfn or the express late whatever you have that you're going to go over the top with and we've had this question before. I'm using it outside of the p39 system do I have to use the same. Primers outside can have different challenges because of the fact that that concrete might have been poured differently than what's internal again all about surface preparation. If you have things like spider crack okay you need to ask a question is that a live crack is it a static crack and know the difference and if you don't understand ask a question so ask the questions 1-800-650-435 or if you've got a question about an application just type it in below and we'll be happy to come back to you and answer that if you need any of our team around the country to come and see you on site give them a call until next time on seal for good. I'll see you then and remember subscribe.
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