When the time to waterproof your bathroom comes, you assess how successful the process will be by how you prepare the surfaces for it. If you don't consider the quality of the waterproofing materials you will use or even contact waterproofing experts, the project will flop. Waterproofing systems should be applied when the temperatures get high or during the warm weather. If you waterproof during the cold season, the increased moisture levels and low temperatures will make the process wasteful; bubbles will form in the membrane and condensation will increase. So before you waterproof your bathroom, here are steps you should first take:

Clean and Inspect the Surfaces

Check for any substrate on the surface and clean it to make it ready for the waterproofing process. The mechanical properties of the peeling parts on the to-be-waterproofed surfaces are insufficient, and they hinder waterproofing in a big way. If you treat the room before you remove the unwanted materials like dust and rust, the waterproofing materials won't adhere properly. Once the surfaces are clean, check the systems to see if they will collect and dispose of water adequately. If they won't, water stagnation might be inevitable. If the railings or walls don't limit the surfaces in any way, make some holes on the wall and apply quality moulds so the water could flow away easily.

Make the Surfaces Ready to be Waterproofed

The surface you want to treat or waterproof will determine the waterproofing material or system you use. It's one thing to know you need to get the surfaces ready, and it's another thing to know how you should prepare them. Do you intend to waterproof a tiled or concrete surface or probably a membrane containing bitumen? If you want to waterproof bituminous membranes, you should then apply the treatment material on the uneven surfaces.

When waterproofing concrete surfaces, first check for degradation and assess its depth before you waterproof them. Treat any irregularities, remove the spacers and find out if the substrate structure is sound enough to hold the waterproofing materials. If the surfaces are already tiled, remove the first tiles and assess if the treatment materials will adhere properly to the substrate. Acid-wash the surfaces to get rid of the cement motor residues and then rinse them with water.

Ensure the Joints Are Properly Waterproofed

If the joints don't need to be restored, just go ahead and waterproof them. Place the waterproofing material—polyethylene—at the end of the joints to offer support and make the sealant more effective. The sealant you use will depend on how large the joints are. After placing polyethylene, then apply an adhesive membrane followed by a reinforcing material. The waterproofing resin you want to use and where you apply it will determine the reinforcing substance you will use. Finally, apply some more adhesive membrane between the wells and screed to waterproof them perfectly.

Before you lay or install the waterproofing membrane, first ensure the surface is ready for it. Waterproofing is a delicate process, and skipping one step could ruin it completely. To avoid most of the inevitable waterproofing hurdles, get a waterproofing contractor to handle it to the end.