Shower/ Wetroom waterproofing

[H573]

Hi all.
I’m after some advice on how to waterproof a shower?
I’ve recently moved from the UK to Zambia materials such as Wedi board, tanking systems etc are not available here. Any ideas/ advice on waterproofing will be much appreciated

 

[Andy Rhodes]

You might be best go online and searching for Ardex or another manufacturers & see if they have suppliers in Zambia or on the continent

 

[Dumbo]

What background are you tiling onto and it is above a solid floor or suspended floor, is it ground floor or first floor and above .
Do you have any local shops that supply tiling materials and if so do you know whose materials they supply .

 

[H573]

What background are you tiling onto and it is above a solid floor or suspended floor, is it ground floor or first floor and above .
Do you have any local shops that supply tiling materials and if so do you know whose materials they supply .

Thanks for the reply, substrate is concrete on the floor. The walls are block covered with what they call plaster here but it’s just sand and cement. Some local products are tilefix, tuffstuff but it’s just adhesive and grout they sell. Can get some SA products, TAL, Progrip but not waterproofing kits etc just bonding agents, adhesive and grout.
It’s a single story property so ground floor, they don’t have timber floors here just a concrete foundation and they tile straight onto it, no primer or anything even on walls!!!

 

[H573]

You might be best go online and searching for Ardex or another manufacturers & see if they have suppliers in Zambia or on the continent

Thanks for the reply Andy, can’t get Ardex here.

 

[Andy Rhodes]

Are the primer/bonding agents acrylic or SBR product

 

[H573]

What background are you tiling onto and it is above a solid floor or suspended floor, is it ground floor or first floor and above .
Do you have any local shops that supply tiling materials and if so do you know whose materials they supply .[/

Are the primer/bonding agents acrylic or SBR product

Some Acrylic, some latex based so not sure if this is classed as SBR,not sure if that’s the same thing. Instructions on latex one: add to adhesive and make a slurry apply to the wall and let it dry. I think it’s just for better adhesion though not sure.
Acrylic one just paint on wall let dry apply second coat opposite way for full coverage again I don’t know if this is just for improved adhesion, neither mention waterproof properties..... hope all this makes sense!!!

 

[Andy Rhodes]

Can you get the one you prefer shipped in by Amazon

 

[widler]

Mmhttps://www.tilingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/product/everbuild-503-sbr-bond we used to use sbr and cement to tank damp areas over here , like cellars , and damp courses, maybe that is what they tank with in zambia, sbr mixed with addy ?

 

[H573]

Can you get the one you prefer shipped in by Amazon

Yeah I’ve looked into that. It works out really really expensive. About £32 for 7kg’s And then maybe I’d have to clear it at customs etc depending on what I get, its a bit a headache. That’s another cost. Thanks though mate.
As you’ve probably guessed I’m a newbie. I retrained as a tiler, went to Leeds College Building for 13 weeks or so, we were just getting into substrates and different adhesives, primers tanking etc and I had to leave. Going back in the summer to do my dioploma hopefully.

 

[Andy Rhodes]

were you on the level 2 Cskills diploma or city & guilds level 2

 

[H573]

Mmhttps://www.tilingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/product/everbuild-503-sbr-bond we used to use sbr and cement to tank damp areas over here , like cellars , and damp courses, maybe that is what they tank with in zambia, sbr mixed with addy ?

Mmhttps://www.tilingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/product/everbuild-503-sbr-bond we used to use sbr and cement to tank damp areas over here , like cellars , and damp courses, maybe that is what they tank with in zambia, sbr mixed with addy ?

Thanks Widler I’ll look into this. I think you could be right. Cheers mate.

Just another question Is SBR latex based or Acrylic or are they both the same thing? I’ve looked online but can’t find any definite answer

 

[H573]

were you on the level 2 Cskills diploma or city & guilds level 2

I got my Level 1 extended Certificate City and Guilds and was about to start Level 1 diploma but then we moved here, the tutors were great though they knew I was leaving so they let me do some of the diploma stuff too before I went. I’m hoping to return for a short time and do the level 1 diploma starting September.

 

[H573]

Thanks Widler I’ll look into this. I think you could be right. Cheers mate.

Just another question Is SBR latex based or Acrylic or are they both the same thing? I’ve looked online but can’t find any definite answer

I’ve just opened the link ta, so SBR is latex based great stuff thanks mate

 

[Andy Rhodes]

You might be better off going straight on to the level 2 diploma I teach the level 1 it's just basic & you re-visit some of the level 1 on the level 2 anyway

 

[H573]

You might be better off going straight on to the level 2 diploma I teach the level 1 it's just basic & you re-visit some of the level 1 on the level 2 anyway

Thanks Andy, that’s really helpful, much appreciated. I’ll take your advice and try and get straight on the level 2

 

[Andy Rhodes]

worse case scenario you have to do the level 1 which you can do in 2/3 months then move on to the level 2 , you'll just have to put a little more graft in H

 

[WetSaw]

Sika products seem to be available but to be honest you'll probably be a trail blazer tanking a shower over there much like it is here in Spain.

 

[H573]

worse case scenario you have to do the level 1 which you can do in 2/3 months then move on to the level 2 , you'll just have to put a little more graft in H

Cheers Andy, How long approximately does the level 2 take?
I’m more than happy to put the graft in.
I left school with no qualifications. I was a window cleaner 25 years and hated every minute of it. I love tiling it gives me a great sense of satisfaction.

 

[H573]

Sika products seem to be available but to be honest you'll probably be a trail blazer tanking a shower over there much like it is here in Spain.

Thanks PDC. I think you’re right you mention tanking and waterproofing for showers, even primers and nobody knows what you’re on about. And availability is non existent.
Like Spain pretty much everywhere is tiled here.

 

[WetSaw]

..and probably the same as here, tiling is done before plastering ( if anything is plastered rather than rendered) so you're going straight on to block/brick. Very rare to find a house here with any plasterboard walls.

 

[Andy Rhodes]

on 3 days a week the course should take 24 weeks ,but as you a maybe a gentleman of older yrs like myself, the college may only be able to offer you 18 weeks again it's how you apply yourself to the course ,put also remember like myself they only cover the basic to get you started on your journey into tiling.Another thing like PDC said to you half hour ago & you replied there could be an opening into the supply market for what you are about to embark on also Good luck

 

[H573]

..and probably the same as here, tiling is done before plastering ( if anything is plastered rather than rendered) so you're going straight on to block/brick. Very rare to find a house here with any plasterboard walls.

Yep, same here. Plasterboard is available but no one uses it. And customers just won’t pay for it. They render everything internally and externally, and yes more often than not they tile straight onto block work.

 

[Italy]

Thanks for the reply, substrate is concrete on the floor. The walls are block covered with what they call plaster here but it’s just sand and cement. Some local products are tilefix, tuffstuff but it’s just adhesive and grout they sell. Can get some SA products, TAL, Progrip but not waterproofing kits etc just bonding agents, adhesive and grout.
It’s a single story property so ground floor, they don’t have timber floors here just a concrete foundation and they tile straight onto it, no primer or anything even on walls!!!

you don't need primer if it's all sand and cement.

 

[H573]

on 3 days a week the course should take 24 weeks ,but as you a maybe a gentleman of older yrs like myself, the college may only be able to offer you 18 weeks again it's how you apply yourself to the course ,put also remember like myself they only cover the basic to get you started on your journey into tiling.Another thing like PDC said to you half hour ago & you replied there could be an opening into the supply market for what you are about to embark on also Good luck

Thanks Andy. Take care mate

 

[H573]

you don't need primer if it's all sand and cement.

Thanks Antonio. Much appreciated

 

[H573]

you don't need primer if it's all sand and cement.

Hi Antonio,

I know this is from a long time ago.
I can’t get primer, my substrate is just sand and cement. Do I just brush/ vacuum then tile. Or do I have to dampen the sand and cement first then tile?

 

[Italy]

Hi Antonio,

I know this is from a long time ago.
I can’t get primer, my substrate is just sand and cement. Do I just brush/ vacuum then tile. Or do I have to dampen the sand and cement first then tile?

you can also moisten ...

 

[H573]

you can also moisten ...

Thanks Antonio . . much appreciated