Diy Tile Shower Walls

4 Design Options In Grout Free Diy Shower Tub Wall Panels Shower inside sizing 735 X 1102

Diy Tile Shower Walls – When many people enter their tile shower they rarely think about the behind the scenes method that went into making that shower work effectively. Unfortunately some contractors uses this for their advantage to go cheap and save a few bucks. I have to say most contractors want to do a good job, however some of them never learned the correct procedure and why these processes are very important. The best method to find the best tile contractor is to make them explain the idea. If they can tell you the ins and outs behind the scenes, it is more probably you will definately get a great job. If your pals refer somebody to you it is still OK to ask these questions, in the end what can your pals fully realize concerning the first step toward a tiled shower? They may have realized a contractor that is nice and simple to assist along with their fresh shower looks great, in case you won’t want to fight mildew in a few months and for the next 20 years you’ll ask a few of questions.

So let’s move on at the beginning and explain common language and theory of a tile shower. First you have what is known a shower pan. This is a completely waterproof section that covers the shower floor and up the walls about 10″. This is either a hot mop, (that is a variety of layers of tar paper, hot tar, tar paper, hot tar and so on) or it could be a PVC membrane that is folded in to the corners and over the dam. The most important thing about this in your case the homeowner to find out is naturally it’s completely waterproof but also which it has what is known a sub-pitch. A proper sub-pitch is just a float of cement or similar product underneath the pan that can cause a flow for the drain along with the shower pan. This is important because, say for example your shower pan is flat (no sub-pitch) water will cross your grout making its way for the pan while showering. If this water forms a puddle beneath your tile floor instead of flowing on the drain it is stagnant and soon can become mildew with your grout. With a sub-pitch water that makes its way for the pan continues to flow on the drain always being replaced with fresh water. It is much like the difference between a pond along with a creek.

Next you’ve got a vapor barrier that is applied for the walls directly for the wood studs. This is commonly a paper that has a tar trapped in the center. This paper keeps moisture out of the walls. Why is this important? Not a lot of water penetrates the shower walls, however the substrate (the substrate is whatever surface your tile is stuck to, backer board, cement float, etc.) this surface will get moist. Moisture will move from substrate toward the lining wall, out over the grout and down on the pan, without vapor barrier paper you will definately get small amounts of water to your wall cavity. So you say “why should I concern yourself with such a tiny amount of water”. The reason is when you are getting a drop of water within your wall every time your shower can be used, those drops add together when your wall does not have any ventilation for evaporation, so eventually the wood is obviously moist. Do you know what loves moist wood? Termites, they love these conditions since they never have to travel back for the ground to get a drink, they can just keep eating. It would be as you and I never having to go for the grocery store. Think of how productive we’re able to be if it were the situation.

Well that’s the idea of waterproofing behind your shower walls. When you follow the following tips a new shower has got the best potential for looking great for quite some time, without extreme maintenance.

So a final thought, I hope it’s been an instructive and also 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 comprehend the value of a job congratulations.