Question:

I was wondering if your product would work to waterproof a shower base that I am constructing. I am making the base using premix concrete and vinyl concrete. Then I will be using natural slate tile to cover the entire shower. I have been looking at some rubberized shower bases, but they do not have the size I am looking for. I hope you have a product that might work.

Answer:

Sani-Tred products are used for setting tile for a permanently flexible, bonded, waterproof base. You would want to make sure that the back of your tiles do not have a shiny, glossy glaze on them. If they do, you would need to use our “Tile Etch” on the back first.

Setting Tile:

The first thing you would do is waterproof the area you want to adhere the
tile to. The basic steps are listed below:

1. Preparing the substrate. Meaning remove any loose crumbly substrate, make sure the substrate is clean, dry, free of any previous applied products, and foreign matter. Poured concrete floors are typically acid etched according to our instructions. You would want to make sure that the back of your tiles do not have a shiny, glossy glaze on them. If they do, you would need to use our “Tile Etch” on the back first.
2. Prime the substrate with 1 coat of PermaFlex (240 sq ft per gal).
3. Patch and profile any joints, seams, cracks, holes, etc… using LRB/TAV mixture (Liquid Rubber Base, Thickening Activator). LRB can be used by itself (as a liquid membrane) to smooth out any horizontal surface (at any thickness) or can be used like a coating over horizontal, vertical, and inverted surfaces.
4. Topcoat using 1 coat of PermaFlex (240 sq ft per gal). All block surfaces will require a 3rd coat of PermaFlex.
5. Now that the area has been waterproofed, you would want to prime the backs of your tiles using 1 coat of PermaFlex (approx 240 sq ft per gal) and allow to cure or at least until it has become quite tacky. If the tiles are glass or granite we suggest using our 2-part primer on the back of the tiles.
6. Mix up a small batch of LRB/TAV mixture (thickened mixture). Most people would use a 1/4″ Notched Trowel or a 1/4″ notched tool to evenly distribute the LRB/TAV mixture (approx 40 sq ft gal). This mixture would be used to set your primed tiles. You can butt your tiles “side to side” or space them to accept standard grout. Grout may be used as soon as 3-4 hrs after setting the tiles.

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