When it comes to designing a bathroom that’s not only beautiful but also built to last, a tiled shower tray and proper waterproofing — known as tanking — are absolute must-haves. Whether you’re building from scratch or renovating your existing bathroom, understanding the essentials of tanking and its role in protecting your bathroom from costly water damage is very important.
What is a tiled shower tray?
A tiled shower tray combines the aesthetics of seamless floor tiling with the functionality of a traditional shower tray. Unlike standard trays, which are often plastic or acrylic, tiled shower trays sit flush with the floor, offering an arguably more modern appearance.
These trays are built with a gentle gradient to guide water towards the drain, hidden beneath beautifully laid tiles. They create the illusion of a continuous bathroom floor, enhancing the design while maintaining functionality.
However, without proper preparation and waterproofing, even the most stunning tiled shower trays can turn into a homeowner’s nightmare. This is where tanking comes in!
What is tanking?
Tanking refers to the process of creating a waterproof barrier across bathroom walls and floors. Typically, this involves applying a specialist liquid membrane or waterproof matting system to seal all surfaces. It’s done to stop water from seeping through your walls and floors and causing structural damage.
How is tank carried out?
The process of tanking is relatively straight forward:
- Preparation: Surfaces are cleaned and smoothed to ensure proper adhesion.
- Application: The waterproofing material (often a paint-on liquid membrane) is applied to walls and floors, focusing on high-risk areas such as joints and corners.
- Curing: The barrier is left to dry, creating a durable, waterproof seal.
This barrier is especially vital behind a tiled shower tray, where even the tiniest crack in the grout could allow water to penetrate the substructure.
Why is tanking essential?
Without tanking, bathrooms are highly vulnerable to leaks. Over time, even well-installed tiles and grout can deteriorate due to the constant exposure to water. Tanking acts as a failsafe, ensuring that your bathroom remains watertight, even if the visible surface develops imperfections.
The costs of skipping tanking
If water finds its way into unprotected areas:
- Ceiling damage: Water dripping down can stain and weaken ceilings below.
- Mould and mildew: Moisture trapped in walls can lead to fungal growth which can cause both structural damage and health issues.
- Structural weakness: Persistent leaks can rot wooden subfloors or erode cement, leading to expensive repairs.
For the relatively low cost of tanking upfront, you’re safeguarding against these long-term expenses.
Tanking as a building regulations requirement
Tanking is now a building regulations requirement, especially in new builds. Failing to comply could result in issues with your home insurance if water damage occurs, as non-compliant installations may not be covered.
In fact, the UK’s leading home warranty provider, NHBC, updated its 2023 standards to require impermeable liquid-applied waterproof membranes in all bath and shower enclosures, wet rooms, and bathroom pods. This update, effective from 1st January 2024, applies to all new homes with foundations being laid, ensuring proper waterproofing to prevent water damage.
How to spot when tanking is needed
If you’re unsure whether your bathroom has been properly waterproofed, look out for these warning signs:
- Damp smells: Persistent odours may indicate trapped moisture.
- Peeling paint or stains: Water damage often manifests as discoloration or bubbling paint.
- Cracks in grout or tiles: While these may seem minor, they could be allowing water to seep into unprotected areas.
In older bathrooms, investing in retroactive tanking can prevent further damage and save you money in the long term.
Practical tips to ensure proper tanking
- Hire professionals: Always choose a contractor with experience in tanking and bathroom installations.
- Ask for waterproofing products: Ensure that high-quality materials, such as liquid membranes or waterproof mats, are part of the installation process.
- Don’t skip maintenance: Make sure that you regularly inspect grout and tiles for cracks or damage and repair promptly.
- Check for compliance: If you’re building or renovating, verify that your contractor complies with current waterproofing regulations.
Additional considerations for tiled shower trays
When installing a tiled shower tray, it’s important to ensure that the tray is large enough and installed correctly to ensure proper drainage. We often encounter situations where the water drains in the wrong direction, which can usually be attributed to the tray area not being large enough, or the tray not being installed with the correct fall to direct water to the drain. This issue can cause water to pool in unwanted areas, potentially leading to water damage.
Also, for a level access tray to fit correctly, you must ensure that the drain can run correctly under the floor. It’s important to check that you have the necessary space and slope to ensure the tray can be installed level with the floor and the water drains effectively. These details might seem trivial, but they’re really important for preventing issues down the line.
Need to know more about tanking and other aspects of bathroom renovation? Contact us today, we’d love to help!