Homelux waterproof matting?

[campbell]

Hi All,
I went into Topps to get my bathroom wall tiles, the assistant asked if there were any plasterboard walls.
I have one wall of 12mm plasterboard, it runs the length of the bath by about 2000mm high, and it has been skimmed.
I have a power shower (just fitted). The assistant sold me two rolls of the waterproof matting and suggested that I fix it with the same adhesive that I used for the floor (BAL Flexi, I had some left over)
Do I need to fix this material? is there something easier? should I fix it to the entire bath area? (ie the walls that run the width of the bath?)

Thanks for your help,

best regards...........Campbell

[theyomper]

It's easy to fix and I would recommend it as it will form a waterproof barrier between the tiles and the wall. Use a small notch trowel to apply the adhesive and then use the flat edge to smooth over the membrane, this will ensure a good adhesion and remove any air bubbles. Ensure that you overlap any seams. At the bath edge I always trim and then apply silicone. Also I would apply silicone to the bath/wall prior to fitting the membrane......an overkill but better safe than sorry.
If you don't use it there is a possibilty that you could get water penetrating the grout and compromise the plasterboard. A little expense and time but well worth the effort foe peace of mind.

[CDS]

In terms of fixing method I agree with Theyompers response.

However I think the suggestion from the original post that the 'whole bath area/wall' needs covering is overkill. 1m.sq in every direction should be ample - Basically think about 'water spread' and where water is actually going to hit the walls. I would apply matting along the depth and width of the bath by 1metre in each direction and then to a height of 1 metre above the baths edge.

[wetdec]

2 rolls thats like 100 quid they having a go you need nowhere near that much m8 5m2 be fine




..

[dazzak]

It's a good product. I'm about to re-do my own bathroom and use it in my shower area. Two rolls is a bit overkill though. I would just use it on the two walls the bath is touching, and whatever you do, do not use a ready made adhesive to stick it up. Even then doing the entireity of the two walls is overkill, but better safe than sorry right?

[jrm]

Do you need to prime the plasterboard before applying the Homelux matting?

[Fred]

Never used it in the years tiling. Its just another gimmick to sell. If your a sole trader like me, do you really think clients will be sold this? We've tiled on plasterboard for years without problems, if done right.

[whitebeam]

Not even in a wetroom Fred????

[Fred]

Not even in a wetroom Fred????

I don't do wet rooms. BUT they have been around for yonks as well! I may be being a bit picky, but all these new products and a recession, clients won't have it, IMO. And I tile in areas where the so called ' stars' live. Surrey, that is.

[Dave]

Never used it in the years tiling. Its just another gimmick to sell. If your a sole trader like me, do you really think clients will be sold this? We've tiled on plasterboard for years without problems, if done right.

If you had seen the amount of water ingression on jobs i have ,then you wouldn't make comments like that...

Epoxy grout or tanking on a regulary used shower that leaves no time for grout to dry, so water ingresses.. i know what i would use.....


Did you know that BS5385 new editions 2009 parts 4 and 5 recommend showers to be tanked now.....wonder why..?...when all these years tilers have done it with no tanking what so ever and never been called back....

This dose not say that problems have never occured, it just sez you haven't been called back...

ALL tile fixers should offer their customers the best way to have a tiled installation that will last years, not just 2 or 3 or even 6 yrs...to last as long as they want it too...

Just because a tiler sez ..well i have always done it this way...dose that make it right..?...Not in my book it dosen't...


Not aimed at you simon...just a statement i hear lots and it pee's me to hear it..

If a job is worth doing right....then do it right.....Tanking membranes are cheap as chips now.. especially the deals wetdecs has on a full roll of durabase wp....

A fixer could include 4 mtrs of it in his/her price no probs...for a standard 2 side shower....

The sooner tiling to wet area's etc is licenced the better...

[Fred]

Fair comment Dave............

[theyomper]

I think this new thread sums up to pros for recommending a tanking system.
Wet Area/Shower-Room Advice Wanted

[campbell]

Thank you to all for your help and advice, I best get on with it then!

best regards...........Campbell

[dazzak]

I would personally advise that all shower areas should have some form of tanking. I think a lot of this comes down to the current climate we are in regarding insurance claims.

Say Joe Bloggs has his bathroom tiled now. Lets say he does absolutely nothing to waterproof or tank his shower area. 2 years pass, and he starts to get damp appearing on the opposite side of the wall, and crumbling plaster etc (This is the exact same situation I am in at the moment, thanks to the former owners). Most people would probably claim for this on their home insurance and get it sorted that way, rather than paying for the full lot themselves.

I've heard from a couple of people in similar situations that their insurance company has flat out refused to pay out due to the fact that no effort has been made to prevent this from happening. I can only see this becoming the norm, rather than the exception to the rule, due to this recession, and insurance companies having less money to throw about.

Personally I would say its better to be safe than sorry. Especially when there are so many cheap options available to tank a shower area. I also believe it's been the norm in a few european companies to tank out shower and wet areas for a few years now, and as we all know, what europe does, we usually end up doing as well.