Shower Waterproofing Tape, Bands & Pipe Seals
The weak points of a tiled shower are the seams, the joint between the floor and the walls, the pipes and the mixing valve. Seal them with the waterproofing bands, sealing tapes, pipe and valve seals and movement-joint strips made for your membrane system, such as Schluter KERDI, Wedi S-DRY, Laticrete Hydro Ban or Ardex, plus reinforcing fabric for liquid membranes.
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Frequently asked questions
See all FAQsWhat do I need to waterproof a shower before tiling?
You need a waterproofing membrane on the walls and floor, either a sheet or a liquid (see Waterproofing Membranes), plus the parts that seal its weak points. In a Schluter KERDI shower, for example, KERDI-BAND covers the seams and the floor-to-wall joints, and KERDI-SEAL-PS seals the pipes. If the walls are Schluter KERDI-BOARD, the panels are the waterproof layer and their seams get KERDI-BAND. Not sure what your project needs? Contact us.
Should I use a sheet membrane or a liquid membrane in my shower?
Neither is better in every case, so start from the system you want to build with. Schluter KERDI is a bonded sheet membrane and vapour retarder set in thin-set, and the tile goes directly on it; Wedi S-DRY is a sheet membrane installed with S-DRY SEAL. Mapelastic Turbo is a liquid membrane applied with a roller or brush over flat, curved and irregular surfaces, and Hydro Ban 1 is a single-coat liquid membrane applied with a trowel or a brush. Each system has its own bands and seals, such as KERDI-BAND for KERDI and the Hydro Ban sealing tapes and pipe collars.
How do I seal the pipes and the mixing valve in a tiled shower?
Use the seals made for your membrane. In a KERDI shower, KERDI-SEAL-PS seals pipe protrusions such as the showerhead and tub spout, and KERDI-SEAL-MV protects the backing at the mixing valve. Laticrete makes the Hydro Ban Pipe Collar and a Hydro Ban mixing valve seal, and Wedi S-DRY has its own pipe collar and mixing valve collar.
Which waterproofing band or tape goes with my membrane?
Use the band or tape from the same system as your membrane. KERDI-BAND goes with Schluter KERDI, KERDI-BOARD and DITRA, Wedi S-DRY Tape is part of the S-DRY system, and Laticrete makes Hydro Ban sealing tape for its Hydro Ban membranes. For a liquid membrane, a reinforcing fabric such as Ardex SK MESH 25 is made to go with a waterproofing compound. Not sure which one fits your system? Contact us.
What do I put over movement joints in a waterproofed shower?
Cover movement joints, such as expansion or construction joints, with a flexible strip made for movement. Schluter KERDI-FLEX is a flexible strip for movement joints, used with KERDI and DITRA. Follow the installation guide for your membrane system.
How soon can I flood test a liquid waterproofing membrane?
It depends on the product, so always follow its technical data sheet. Hydro Ban 1 can be flood tested 2 to 3 hours after it has cured, under the temperature and humidity conditions in Laticrete's sheet; it takes longer when it is cooler, and its colour change shows when it has cured. Mapelastic Turbo can be tiled in as little as 90 minutes and flood tested after 3 to 4 hours, under the conditions in Mapei's sheet. Flextile WP-900 is ready for tile once it is dry to the touch, in about 1 to 2 hours, and shower enclosures can be flood tested after 24 hours at normal thickness and room temperature. Hydro Ban Cementitious can be flood tested in 2 hours at 70°F (21°C) or higher.
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