by Roger
The importance of a properly waterproofed shower is sometimes overlooked when planning a remodel. Everyone always wants to make the shower look pretty and concentrate on the visual aspects of the shower. Things like glass inserts, neat little liners, listellos and mosaics, and cool little patterns that make your shower stand out from the crowd. That’s great! But, without proper waterproofing all this hard work, planning and money spent will be for naught.
Any tile installation is only as good as the substrate on which it is installed. If your shower substrates (wall and floor) are not properly waterproofed they will, over time, begin to break down, allow water deeper into the structure of the house, and/or start growing mold. The last, growing mold, is a true ‘and/or’ because whether the first two happen or not an improperly waterproofed shower will grow mold. [continue reading…]
by Roger
Not that kind of seal!
How they work
Sealers, I’ve discovered since starting this site, are one of the most misunderstood products used for tile and stone. There are so many different brands, types and uses that it’s difficult to figure out what you actually need for your particular installation. So I’m gonna try to clear some of that up for you.
This will only cover a very small portion of the entire market for this type of product. I’m going to explain the different basic types of sealers and how they work, as well as the proper use for most common installations. This is NOT an all-encompassing article and will not include every scenario and installation. It is only a basic instruction on different types and uses.
Be sure to research any specific product you choose to utilize and always – ALWAYS – test the product first on a spare piece of your tile or stone to ensure you will not run into any incompatibility issues.
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