How to Waterproof a Ceramic Shower
Most people think tiling and grouting will waterproof the inside of their shower, but this isn't true. Tile and grout repel water, but they don't make a shower waterproof. That's where chlorinated polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride membrane comes in handy. These man-made products are the best defense against water infiltration. Your tile installation can have a hairline crack due to the shifting of the house caused by seasonal freezing and thawing. Water can penetrate this crack and cause damage you may not discover for years. Be on the safe side, install a waterproof membrane. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Poly membrane
- Straight edge
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Utility knife
- Adhesive
- Paintbrush
- Caulk gun
- Caulk adhesive
Instructions
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1
Cut the poly membrane for the floor of the shower, dry-fitting it first before permanently installing it. Draw out the dimensions of the shower floor on the roll of membrane. Add 3 inches to three sides to create the walls. On the fourth side, which will face the opening of the shower stall, add enough extra to go up the inside face of the shower dam---usually a 3-inch-high wall that keeps water from splashing out on to the bathroom floor---across the top of the shower dam and down the front of it. If you are tiling the bathroom floor, add another 24 inches to the fourth side to extend the membrane out onto the floor. The space in front of the shower door is also considered a wet area and should be waterproofed.
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2
Fold and crease along the lines drawn on the membrane. Fold the membrane to create the corners. Cut and fit where the membrane passes up, across and down the front of the shower dam.
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3
Apply the recommended adhesive to all surfaces the membrane will touch. Apply two concentric lines of adhesive around the perimeter of the shower floor drain. Put the membrane in place and smooth it out to ensure good contact with the adhesive. Rub around the outside perimeter of the drain as well. Cut away the membrane to reveal the drain after the adhesive has dried.
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4
Cut two lengths of membrane that will be adhered to the shower walls, one above the other, to line the walls of the shower. To measure for the membranes, lay a tape measure on the wall outside the shower 6 inches away from the doorway. Bend it around the doorway of the shower and all along the inside walls, then back out the opposite side of the doorway and 6 inches out onto the wall outside the shower. Cut two identical lengths of membrane.
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5
Apply adhesive to all the wall surfaces the two sections of membrane will touch. Run two lines of caulk adhesive along the 3-inch-high walls of the poly membrane shower pan. Lay the first section of membrane on its horizontal edge. Place the vertical edge on the outside facing wall at the 6-inch mark and press it against the wall, the side of the doorway and all along the inside walls of the shower. Make sure the bottom horizontal edge of the membrane lies along the bottom of the wall where it meets the floor. Cut vertical slits in the membrane where it meets the shower dam to fit it. Finish by bringing the poly membrane back out to the opposite side of the doorway. Smooth out the membrane to ensure good contact with the adhesive on the wall and the adhesive on the shower pan.
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6
Repeat Step 5 for the second section of membrane. Run two lines of caulk adhesive along the top front face of the first section of membrane. Lay the membrane against all wall surfaces and doorway surfaces making sure the top edge of the membrane is even with the top edge of the shower stall. Smooth the membrane against the adhesive.
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