Solid Shower Walls

9 Frequently Asked Questions About Stone Solid Surface Shower Wall intended for sizing 735 X 1102

Solid Shower Walls – When many people enter their tile shower they rarely think about the behind the scenes process that went into making that shower work effectively. Unfortunately some contractors use this for their benefits of cut corners and save a couple of bucks. I have to say most contractors want to do an adequate job, and some of which never learned the correct procedure and why these processes are very important. The best way to look for a tile contractor is usually to ask them to explain the idea. If they can tell you how it works behind the scenes, it is more probably you’ll get a fantastic job. If friends and family refer somebody for your requirements it’s still OK must these questions, all things considered so what can friends and family actually know regarding the first step toward a tiled shower? They may are finding a contractor who’s nice and easy to assist along with their fresh shower looks great, but if you dont want to fight mildew in half a year and for the next twenty years you are going to ask a couple of of questions.

So let’s start at the start and explain common language and theory of an tile shower. First you have what is known a shower pan. This is a completely waterproof section that covers the shower floor or over the walls about 10″. This is either a hot mop, (that is a amount of layers of tar paper, hot tar, tar paper, hot tar and the like) or it’s really a PVC membrane that is certainly folded in the corners well as over the dam. The most important thing about this for you personally the homeowner to find out is obviously it’s totally waterproof but additionally who’s has what is known a sub-pitch. A proper sub-pitch is just a float of cement or similar product beneath the pan that can cause a flow for the drain along with the shower pan. This is important because, say as an example your shower pan is flat (no sub-pitch) water will traverse your grout and earn its way for the pan while showering. If this water forms a puddle through your tile floor instead of flowing towards drain it becomes stagnant and very soon can become mildew with your grout. With a sub-pitch the water that creates its way for the pan continues to flow towards drain always being substituted with fresh water. It is just like the difference between a pond plus a creek.

Next you have a vapor barrier that is certainly applied for the walls directly for the wood studs. This is ordinarily a paper that has a tar kept in the guts. This paper keeps moisture from the walls. Why is this important? Not a lot of water penetrates the shower walls, but the substrate (the substrate is whatever surface your tile is stuck to, backer board, cement float, etc.) this surface is certain to get moist. Moisture will move from substrate toward the lining wall, out from the grout and down towards pan, without vapor barrier paper you’ll get small amounts of water to your wall cavity. So you say “why should I be worried about such a little water”. The reason is when you invest in a drop of water inside your wall whenever your shower is used, those drops add together when your wall does not have any ventilation for evaporation, so eventually the wood is usually moist. Do you know what loves moist wood? Termites, they love these conditions given that they never have to travel back for the ground to secure a drink, they can just keep eating. It would be just like you and I never having to go for the supermarket. Think of how productive we will be in the event that were the situation.

Well that’s the idea of waterproofing behind your shower walls. When you adhere to these guidelines your shower has the best chance of being confident for countless years, without extreme maintenance.

So in conclusion, I hope it’s been an enlightening in addition to understandable explanation of why an adequately waterproofed shower makes a difference. As a Contractor I welcome customers who will ask me these questions, it tells me they view the value of an job congratulations.