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The secret to a leak-free shower is simple: it's about using the right materials and having a sound base. So follow these tips and your shower will last for many trouble-free years. 1. Build on a good foundation. If you don't get the foundation of your shower enclosure right first then nothing else will be right. If you are fortunate enough to have plastered brick or block walls then you will already have a good foundation and preparing it will be nothing more than making sure the surfaceis smooth and level. But if your bathroom has a wooden floor then the preparation process will need to be taken very seriously. A wooden floor has a tendency to move over time so you will need to prevent this by strengthening it. This can be done by adding braces and/or additional noggins to the joists. The number of noggins required by UK Building Regulations is not always enough to prevent the amount of movement that will cause your shower tray to shift away from the wall. Alternatively lay plywood or a thin tile backer board over the floor boards.
2. Prepare the Walls. If you have plasterboard walls then replace the plasterboard in the shower area with a waterproof tile-backer board. Plasterboard is absorbent and if water gets behind the tiles the plasterboard will swell up and dislodge the tiling.You can choose from concrete-based or extruded foam tile-backer board but for walls the foam type is best as it is lighter and easier to cut and install – it can be glued to a solid wall or screwed into partition struts with special screws and washers.The joints between sections of the waterproof tile-backer board should always be taped over with flexible, waterproof tape.
3. Create a solid base. Shower trays are supplied with metal legs but they are usually inadequate to prevent movement over time, particularly on a wooden floor so it is always best to create a solid wooden base for a shower. Use a layer of plywood on top of the base to protect it from moisture. If you are installing a level wet-room type shower tray/former that will be tiled over then you will not need a base but strengthening the floor to prevent movement is just as important for this type of shower.
4. Secure the solid base. If your floor is wooden then the base must be fixed to the walls, otherwise there is the possibility of the base moving if the floor moves. Screw the base into the solid wall or stud frame of a partition wall. You can still use the metal legs supplied to ensure the tray is perfectly stable.
5. Buy a solid shower tray. Always choose a solid tray such as porcelain or resin so that the tray itself will not flex. Cheap acrylic trays will always move and eventually lead to gaps and leaks.
6. Fully waterproof the shower area. Specialist "tanking" liquid or matting is now available to provide an impermeable layer on top of the floor and walls before tiling. Although this clearly adds to the expense of a shower installation it will guarantee there are no leaks even if some movement of the floor or shower tray occurs.
7. Use the right tiling products. Whether you have opted for natural stone, contemporary porcelain tiles or traditional ceramic tiles you will need to choose a flexible, water-resistantadhesive suitable for the tiletype and weight. (Your tile supplier should be able to recommend the best products). Use a waterproof, polymer grout and a good quality silicone sealant to finish off the perfect leak-free shower installation.
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