Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Waterproofing though comprises of many steps, but in a nutshell, it is covering the surface with a waterproofing membrane which stops seepage of water, the build-up of moisture and growth of mould.

Waterproofing is required in all the areas that come in constant contact with water and can be affected by moisture. All wet areas like bathrooms, toilets, pools, spa, planter boxes, laundries, etc. need it.

For waterproofing, first clean the surface of any dirt, dust, fungus, or any other contaminants. Now apply primer on the surface. After this make bond breaker application on joints and other areas like internal corners. After bond breaker, apply waterproofing membrane with the help of a brush and a roller. Apply a second coat at 90 Degree angle. And you are done.

Primer is essential for both waterproofing and tiling. It reduces pin holding and porosity. It is usually made up of latex,epoxy, or polyurethane. It improves the tiling longevity too.

Primer is needed for the critical surface preparation step. It, first of all, reduces the porosity of the surface beneath. Then, it helps in trapping the dust and other contaminants and reduces pin holding too. Lastly, and most importantly, it helps in trapping the moisture content of the substrate within it And does not let it escape into the waterproofing membrane and thus prevents its blistering.

The long answer cut short, yes, it is necessary. In fact, so necessary that you may void your manufacturer’s warranty if you do not do priming before waterproofing. Primer is necessary, and it can be applied to all types of substrates. But, it is not applied over the waterproofing membrane, because waterproofing membranes are not water-absorbent.

Waterproofing bond breaker is used to make waterproofing membranes capable of coping with building movement. Bond breakers use the elastic properties of waterproofing membranes to make them capable of building movement.

Bond breakers are necessary for all areas like internal corners, joints, and all those areas that are affected by building movement. These guidelines are according to Australian Standards.

Liquid rubber is a new-age waterproofing solution that is liquid polyurethane. It can adhere to any non-oil based substrate. Like, masonry, tiles, cement, brick, wood, most PVC, most metals, fibreglass, etc.

Although liquid rubber is an excellent waterproofing solution and can adhere to most substrates, it cannot adhere to oily, smooth, and shiny surfaces. Like plastic piping, oil-based paints, varnishes, and silicon.

Bituminous waterproofing membranes are made by modifying bitumen by polymer-based plastics. These membranes are sometimes reinforced and sometimes not.

Reinforcement in bituminous waterproofing membranes helps in giving the membranes a mechanical strength.This mechanical strength helps them in coping with the building movement. Polyester wool and fibreglass is used to reinforce membranes.

No, bitumen melts at very high temperatures and climatic temperatures cannot rise high enough to melt bituminous waterproofing membranes. Thus, they are entirely safe. And although very hot temperatures can make it soft, that does not affect its structural integrity.

Bituminous membranes can be applied to water tanks, pools, concrete roofs and structures, highway projects, multi-level car parks. Also, parts of the home, like, balconies, bathrooms, roofs, outer walls, etc.

Porcelain tiles are made up of porcelain and added minerals like feldspar, quartz, etc. These raw materials are baked in a kiln at a temperature of 1200 Degree Celsius. Due to all of this, porcelain tiles are very dense, durable, and water-resilient. Porcelain tiles are water-resistant to the degree of vitrified tiles.

All Ceramic tiles are made up of red or white clay baked in a kiln. But at a lower temperature than porcelain tiles. Thus ceramic tiles are less dense and less water-resistant than porcelain tiles.

Vitrified tiles are very water resilient. They absorb very less water and thus are great options for tiling in wet areas and heavy-duty applications like spa and pools. Porcelain tiles are vitrified tiles. Vitrified tiles are also glossy and scratch-resistant.

The main difference lies in the making of these tiles. While porcelain is denser and more robust. Being denser, porcelain tiles are more difficult to lay than ceramic. Also, ceramic tiles have glazing as their designs, but porcelain usually has full body designs, i.e. they extend across the tile.

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are the two traditional choices.Ceramic tiles are easy to lay and scrub. While porcelain tiles do not heat up that easily and are very water-resistant, so, they both are great options. But some new options nowadays are glass tiles and mosaic tiles. Any of these is excellent for deck, waterline, or inside the pool.

Glass tiles are small squares of recycled glass.It is a very eco-friendly, robust, and non-porous alternative to the traditional ceramic and porcelain tiles. They usually come in dark colours. And give depth to your pool. They are classy and modern and a great choice altogether.

Mosaic tiles are an excellent way to bring colours to your pool. Mosaic tiles are small pieces of tiles that come in varied colours and patterns. They can be made up of ceramic, porcelain, or glass or even a combination of these. Also, since they come in sheets, thus they are easy to lay too. Their variety can match any style of surroundings.

Laying tiles involves many steps. Firstly, it is time for waterproofing and screeding. Next, pick up some adhesive and apply it on the screeded surface and lay tiles over it and place spacers in all the required areas. Also, do not forget to make grooves in the adhesive; these help in proper adhesion to the surface. After the tiles are laid, remove spacers and do the grouting. Finally, apply sealant if required.

A tile adhesive helps to stick tiles to the substrate. It is of two types- premixed paste andcement-based. Many factors that influence your choice of the type of adhesive are humidity and temperature, type of tile, substrate beneath, etc.

Cement and sand form bonds with the help of water. This bond expands into the substrate below and tile above. This bond-forming joins the tile with the substrate, and the tile adhesive does its part. The right proportion of all these three elements is critical to a suitable tile adhesive. Also, many factors like humidity, temperature, etc. affect the bond formation ability of a tile adhesive.

Yes, low humidity effects tile adhesive. It affects the bond strength. When humidity is very low, then evaporation of water in the tile adhesive happens faster. This means shorter curing time and thus weaker bonds. This results in lesser life for tiling.

Yes, high-temperature effects tile adhesive. It fast paces the water-cement reaction. When the reaction happens at a faster rate, the cement crystals formed are of a smaller size, and thus, the bond formed is weaker. Temperature below 35 degree Celsius is optimum for tiling.

Those empty spaces between tiles that are left ungrouted are called movement joints. These are of two types- Perimeter movement joints and field movement joints. The objective of leaving these spaces ungrouted is to allow tile floor movement.

Field movement joints are those grout joints that are not grouted and extend from wall to wall, like those on gates. These joints since are left ungrouted, thus are filled with caulking.

Perimeter movement joints are those joints that run along the wall. It is that space which lies between tile and wall. This is left ungrouted.

Grout joints are required to accommodate the tile movement and avoid compressive stress build-up. Also, they help in proper curing of the adhesive, which means proper bonding of tiles and the substrate. If we butt joint tiles, then it will lead to problems like tenting of tiles. Thus, a minimum gap of 3mm in porcelain tiles and 5mm in case of ceramic tiles is required.

Grout is traditionally made of sand, cement, and water. When we apply this grout in the spaces between tiles, it is known as grouting. Grouting helps in coping with the tile movement and keeps the structure secure. Grout comes in many types- Epoxy Grout, Unsanded Grout, etc.

Yes, replacing a tile shower is costly. Because it is not just about the tiles. You have to do the levelling and waterproofing too. Thus, it is always smart to do it correctly the first time. Because it takes a lot of time, effort, and money to set it right again.

Firstly when you encounter a hairline crack, you need to apply clear epoxy resin on it. Because most hairline cracks are so small, you may need to push the epoxy compound down into each crack using a toothpick. The epoxy should fill out the gaps.

Epoxy grout is the best option for douches, kitchens, bathrooms and other humid areas because it is stain-resistant and does not need sealing, unlike cement grout.

The ceramic tile floors in your bathroom can bear much more wear and tear than an antique urn or cup; the longevity of ceramic makes it suitable for underfoot use. Ceramic tiles may also be applied to shower frames etc.

Remodelling and renovation are just a matter of scale. Remodelling is on a larger scale while the renovation is done at a smaller one. Remodelling is when you try to change the whole theme or look and feel of your bathroom. While in the renovation, you change parts of your bathroom like your decorations or your fixtures, or a bit of everything.

See, it is a personal choice. If you are on a budget and your bathtub is in good condition, then re-glaze-it. Re-glazing will last you a few years and is a good option. But, if you are tired of the old look or it is damaged beyond repair, replace it.

There is simply no problem in keeping the same tiles during your bathroom renovation. But care should be taken that they are not broken or leaking. And if you have the same tiles in the adjoining room, then you must keep your old tiles.

Brisbane Tiling is an old and respected entity of Brisbane’s tiling industry. We have done many tiling projects over all these years, and it has taught us a lot from in-depth field knowledge to how to maintain long-term relationships with clients. We assure you that there will be no nasty surprises at the end of the project, plus workmanship would be of the highest quality and your experience with us, smooth and memorable.