Waterproofing
Do you really need to waterproof your shower?
Surprisingly many people believe that tile and grout are waterproofing. Unfortunately for far too many of my clients, they find out the hard way that this is not true! While ceramic tile is water resistant (and perfectly fine for use in water areas) and porcelain is very close to waterproof, vapor can still penetrate tile and traditional grouts allow even more water behind the tile surface.
So what happens to the water that makes it past the tile?
Well hopefully, if your contractor uses one of the approved methods lined out by the Tile Council of North America, that water will find its way to the drain and not leak inside your wall cavities or subfloor. There are several approved methods for waterproofing a shower and not to split hairs but some of the approved ways are not truly waterproof but they are vapor retardants that do a good job of assisting the vapor to make its way down the drain.
The two most popular methods of ensuring your shower does not turn into a fungal nightmare are: #1. Topical Waterproofing and #2. Foam Board and Sealant. Have a look at the photo above for a visual aid. A combination of both methods is being used, with waterproof foam board and a painted on waterproofing membrane. Essentially the surface waterproofing is a method of applying either a sheet membrane or a roll on waterproofing directly to the tileable surface. The second method waterproof foam board and a waterproof, flexible sealant to seal everything. Both methods allow for the quickest drying out of your shower after use.
Both methods work and are time tested. The method I use typically depends on the availability of products. If you aren't sure how to begin planning for your shower and would like to discuss your options further, feel free to email me to schedule a tile installation consultation.
Recent Waterproofing Projects
Kaleb is a true artist and perfectionist when it comes to installing tile. He did an absolutely beautiful job on our kitchen backsplash and it came out better than I expected. I would recommend him 100%. He is extremely professional, punctual, and gets the job done in a timely manner with beautiful results.
We recently moved to the Rutland area and were searching for a flooring guy. When we called Rutland tile Co and spoke to Kaleb,he got us into his schedule right away. He came out to see our tile job and was very informative .Soon after he ordered the materials we needed and scheduled the installation. When the day arrived, Kaleb was on time and explained what he needed to do, and got right to work. We did 3 rooms and it was not an easy job.Kaleb worked long and hard...The results were more than we expected..great job !!!
Kaleb did our very tricky large-format porcelain tile kitchen backsplash, which goes from the countertop to the bottom of the upper cabinets. He had thought out a plan before he came, but was also very open to listening to our ideas. At the same time, my recommendation is to always ask for Kaleb’s opinion on what will work best and why. It was hard to find anyone with the skills and experience to do this, but Kaleb had both, as well as professionalism — he came when he said he would, stayed until the project was finished, and was very neat during the whole process. And he has very high standards, for himself and others. Kaleb is coming back to do a custom silicone color to better match the tiles, as the one we chose turned out a bit darker than the silicone sample stick indicated it would be. In his words, he wants us to be happy!
Kaleb did an amazing job installing a stone fireplace surround. He was quick to respond to our request for the project and communicated expectations and provided good recommendations for the materials and layout. He had such attention to detail yet was able to finish the project quickly and left no dust or cleanup for us to do. I would highly recommend him!
Kaleb replaced our walk in shower floor after we had a leak. Right off the bat he was on top of things, responsive and professional. He stopped by to assess what was needed ahead of time so he would be prepared to work. He showed up when he said he would, communicated with us and got the job done. He is very clean (a plus with tile dust) and also offered us guidance on our kitchen backsplash. He also answered all of my husbands questions and entertained him. Highly recommend him!
We have used Kaleb "Rutland Tile Company" a few times He has remodeled 2 bathrooms completely from Tile walls and floors and shower enclosers, He also put in 2 heated floors 1 in the bathroom and 1 in another area I would definitely Use him again. Very professional and neat. Very responsible. If he mentions a heated floor DO IT you wont regret it we LOVE ours
Kaleb replaced a kitchen tile backsplash for me. He communicated clearly and promptly and always showed up on time. Kaleb was also helpful talking me through some design choices with the backsplash. Most importantly, he took the time to make sure the job was done carefully and the final product is beautiful. I highly recommend Kaleb at Rutland Tile Company!
