Waterproofing tile shower and tub is a must, because this is the one place in the house that is surely going to be exposed to water. Hence it is necessary that you waterproof this area to avoid water from getting into the foundation of the room and cause cracks to develop which in turn will cause the tiles to become loose.
Choosing the right type of waterproofing membrane is crucial in order to keep your tile shower and tub securely waterproofed. Also when installing your shower and tub you will have to ensure that it is properly sloped so that the water will flow towards the drainage pipe at the bottom of the tub or shower.
Probably the best type of waterproof membrane for this particular job would be the very soft type of waterproof membrane that comes in a roll, as all you have to do is roll out as much waterproof membrane as you need to cover the area and ensure that the ends are sealed off properly.
Also this soft plastic membrane is so flexible that it can be positioned any way you choose, unlike other harder plastic waterproof membranes that are much harder to get into the correct position that you want. Because these other types of waterproof membranes are so much less flexible they are much harder to work with.
If you are considering adding a cement backer board to your walls and tub you will have to ensure that the waterproof membrane is installed under the cement backer board. In other words you will have to install the waterproof membrane to the wall and tub before you can install your cement backer board.
Once you have your shower and tub set in a proper slanting position you can begin to install your waterproof membrane and then you can begin your cement backer board installation.
After the waterproof membrane and cement backer board are installed you can begin to install your tiles on the cement backer board.
Be sure and use the correct adhesive to install your ceramic tiles onto your cement backer board and make sure and read the manufacturer's instructions to perform this task correctly.
After your ceramic tiles are installed you can begin to grout your grout lines ensuring that you push the grout as deep down as you can into the gout line , so that the tiles will be held firmly in place.
When you have finished grouting let your grout dry for the recommended time and then you can use a sealer to seal your grout which will further prevent water from getting into your grout lines and causing your grout to crack which can cause your tiles to loosen.
