Waterproofing your home will save you money and time in the long run. Afterall, prevention is better than cure. So, instead of waiting for your house to leak during the monsoon and become a breeding ground for moulds and fungus, it is a smart option to waterproof your home during the construction itself.
Waterproofing your home makes it possible for you to create a safe environment for your family where you can make dreams come true. We all know that waterproofing the foundation, basement and terrace of our house are important. Similarly, another area in the house which needs waterproofing is your bathroom. Waterproofing your bathroom floors using a waterproofing membrane can ensure that your bathroom is protected from moisture, fungus and mildew.
Keep reading to get a brief guide on bathroom waterproofing and whether you can waterproof your bathroom tiles after you have installed them.
Benefits of Waterproofing Bathroom Tiles
- Water resistance- The primary reason why you must consider tile waterproofing for your bathroom is to protect your floors from the excess water that they are exposed to.
- Protection from moulds and mildew –Molds and mildew are a common problem when it comes to your bathroom tiles. If not treated on time, they can cause severe respiratory ailments. Waterproofing helps to protect your bathroom floors from mould infection.
- Pest Infestation –Are you spotting termites and centipedes on your bathroom floors? Though you can use a pesticide to get rid of them temporarily, they can’t solve the problem completely. These pests breed in a moist environment and hence it is important to waterproof your floors if you want to completely get rid of them.
- Structural Damage – Another major reason why you must not skip bathroom waterproofing is to avoid the water leaking through your tiles into the foundation and causing irreparable structural damage.
- Protection from stains- Along with water resistance, waterproofing your bathroom floors also protects them from stains and makes it easy to clean them.
Can you waterproof your tiles after they are installed?
- Once you have installed your tiles, there is no way in which you can fully waterproof them unless you remove the tiles and apply a waterproofing membrane under them.
- You can consider using a sealant on the grout gaps. Though this won’t completely waterproof your floors, it will make your floors more resistant to moisture.
- You can also consider caulking the gaps on the tiles with a silicone or urethane sealant. If done correctly, this can waterproof your floors to some extent.
How is a waterproofing membrane applied?
- If you are considering tile waterproofing during the construction of your house, then using a waterproofing membrane is your best option.
- It gives you the ultimate protection against water by not only protecting your floors from the water on the surface above but also the water that comes from below the surface of the foundation.
- The waterproofing membrane comes in rolled strips and you must lay it on the floor and cut it to the size that you need with a knife. A pro tip to follow while tile waterproofing is to start with the corners of the room and to lay the rolls in a manner that half of the membrane’s width is on the wall and the other on the floor.
- Keep in mind that you need to let the floors dry for at least a day.
The bottom line is that you cannot waterproof your tiles after they are installed. Hence, it is highly recommended that you invest in a good waterproofing solution during the time of the construction of your new space. Though it might shoot up your construction budget, in the long run, it will save you the hassle of spending a fortune to fix severe structural damages caused by untreated leaky floors.
Looking for a premium quality waterproofing service in your city? Your hunt is over! Visit the Asian Paints website to hire the best waterproofing service in the city or to shop for the latest waterproofing solvents available in the market.
