Tanking for Tiled Bathrooms
"Tanking" A Tiled Bathroom Is Now Mandatory
In July 2018, the British Standards Institute (BSI) released updated codes of practice for BS 5385-1.
In clause 6.1.1.3 of the revised British Standards Institute (BSI) guidelines, it is recommended that in wet areas, substrates should be safeguarded with an appropriate proprietary tanking membrane system.
It also states that the tanking system must be able to support the weight of both tiles and adhesive. Waterproofing all substrates in wet areas is now a requirement prior to tiling, including in residential settings.
British Standards previously only covered waterproofing in commercial wet areas, but with the introduction of clause 6.1.1.3 in the new BS 5385-1:2018, it is now advised to also waterproof domestic locations. When renovating a bathroom or shower, make sure to use a tanking membrane, tanking solutions, or waterproof tile backer boards for proper protection against moisture.
What rooms/areas needs tanking?
A wet area encompasses spaces like wet-rooms, bathrooms, shower areas, steam rooms, or any other spot that regularly comes into contact with water. This includes the walls and floors in a wet room, the walls of a shower cubicle, and the walls surrounding a bath with a shower.
While these rooms are typically tiled, the surfaces to which the tiles are attached (such as plaster, plasterboard, or certain backer boards) can be prone to moisture damage. British Standards now recommend using tanking membranes, tanking solutions, or waterproof backing boards instead of moisture-resistant plasterboard to safeguard these substrates.
Is it truly necessary for me to include a tanking solution?
Failure to adhere to the BSI guidance could result in significant expenses. If you don't comply with the new standards, your home insurance may not cover water damage in areas like the tiled wet area and neighboring rooms.
Failure to protect the substrate can result in damp and mould problems, which may eventually affect adjacent rooms and cause tiles to become loose. This could lead to expensive repair work.
What type of tanking do I need?
When it comes to waterproofing a wet area, there are various options available:
Apply tanking solution to create a waterproof membrane on surfaces such as plaster board and moisture resistant plaster board, preparing them for tiling once dried. Various companies offer tanking kits that meet regulatory standards, including Tilebacker and Aquaseal.
Backer boards for tiling offer waterproof and ready-to-tile surfaces with added weight capacity and insulation benefits compared to plaster boards. They are also quicker and easier to install, requiring less painting and drying time. Some popular brands include Tilebacker, Wedi and Abacus Elements..
Which Tanking Option Is Best?
Tile backer boards, such as those from similar brands, are the ideal choice for many situations. They provide a greater weight capacity, come waterproof as standard, and are quick to install which saves on labor time and minimizes mess. These boards can be used in place of plaster board when replacing old tiles.
If your walls are in great condition with new plaster boards, painting them would be the most straightforward choice unless you plan on installing large, heavy tiles.
Each option provides the necessary protection to meet BS 5385-1 requirements.
Substrates for tiling, read more
We provide high quality domestic and commercial tiling installation services to customers in Kent. For further details of our services click onto the domestic tiling installations and commercial tiling pages of this website. Of course we also welcome enquiries at any time and our friendly and experienced tilers are always on hand to answer questions; contact us at Estwall Ceramic Services today to arrange your no obligation survey and quotation.