A Detailed Guide on Australian Shower Waterproofing Standards
Any building's construction or
renovation is the ideal time to pay attention towards the bathroom's condition
and inspect it comprehensively. If some signs of damage and leakages are
traced, shower waterproofing should be the first step in Australia. It is
essential to ensure that waterproofing in the bathroom and other areas is done
according to the Australian Building Codes and standards AS-3740. There are
several guidelines to follow, and we have covered the most vital ones here.
WHAT ARE AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS FOR
SHOWER WATERPROOFING?
There are strict rules and
guidelines related to shower waterproofing and building works. Contractors,
builders and handymen must comply with the standards mentioned in Waterproofing
of Domestic Wet Areas or AS 3740-2010. Here are some common yet highly
essential guidelines related to shower waterproofing.
Shower floors must be
waterproofed completely, and the walls around the shower area should be
waterproofed up to 1800 millimetres.
●
The bathroom walls
must be waterproofed up to the height of 150 millimetres.
●
The steps down the
shower area should be waterproofed up to a height of at least 100 mm.
●
If the bathroom is not
on the ground floor, the entire floor must be thoroughly waterproofed.
●
Complete shower floor
waterproofing should be conducted if the floor has wood content.
WHAT TO WATERPROOF IN A BATHROOM?
The Waterproofing Of Domestic Wet
Areas Act, AS 3740-2010, has clear guidelines on what to waterproof in a
bathroom through shower waterproofing services. The details are presented
below.
WATERPROOFING TAPS AND FAUCETS
These two areas must be
waterproofed at the beginning of the shower waterproofing process. You will
have to caulk the faucet area to ensure that no leaks from the tap damage the
surrounding areas.
BATHTUB AND SHOWER SKIRTING
You will have to get the bathtub
and shower skirting waterproofed using specialised waterproofing services. This
will ensure that water or moisture present around the walls and showers doesn't
penetrate and generate issues like mould and mildew.
THE FLOORING AREA
Experts of shower waterproofing
services should not ignore flooring during the shower waterproofing process.
There are strict guidelines related to floor waterproofing, and they say that
if the bathroom is not on the ground floor, the entire floor area must be
waterproofed completely. Similarly, if the floor is made up of wood or any
similar material, again it is important to shower waterproof the entire floor
area.
Apart from this, the toilet area
should also be waterproofed, and an inspection should be carried out to ensure
that all the fixings are tight and perform flawlessly. If there are issues like
slowly dripping water or moisture, you must seek shower repair services from
reputed local plumbers.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF SHOWER
PLUMBERS IN SHOWER WATERPROOFING?
The shower plumbing professionals
are responsible for inspecting the entire bathroom during renovation. They must
ensure that waterproofing is active and done in accordance with local and
national standards. If not, they must go for shower waterproofing and complete
the process to the guidelines and waterproofing standards mentioned in
Australian Standards AS 3740 and AS 4654.
SIGNS THAT YOU NEED SHOWER
WATERPROOFING SERVICES
The bathroom and shower area will
show several signs to let you know that it's time to be serious about shower
waterproofing. Some common signs are discussed here, beginning with the funny
and foul smell.
FUNNY AND FOUL SMELL
If you notice any unusual smell
in your bathroom, it means the moisture is there and helping the mould and
mildew build up there. This mainly happens due to poor waterproofing that
allows water to seep into the walls, and dampen them, and when this happens, it
becomes a perfect environment for mould and mildew to grow and generate foul
smells. This is a clear indicator that it's time to get shower waterproofing
services for complete bathroom inspection and shower waterproofing.
APPARENT MOULD AND MILDEW GROWTH
In some cases, you learn about
mould and mildew through smell, and in others, they become visible. If this
happens in your bathroom, it's time to avail bathroom inspection and shower
waterproofing services. The professionals will first detect the source of
leakage shower repair the issue, and then waterproof the entire area after
eradicating mould, mildew and other imperfections.
Apart from these, if you notice
floor bulging near the toilet, sink or bathtub, you should understand that it's
time to get a bathroom inspection and shower waterproofing done. Floor bulging
happens as the water manages to seep into the floor and swell it from inside.
However, this is a less common sign and often dampness and foul smell are
considered the top indicators.
Comments