how to tell whether it is discolouration or efflorescence?
it is possible through a simple test. simply wet the area. if the white haze disappears, then it is efflorescence. otherwise, if it does not disappears, then it is discolouration. efflorescence being white, is more visible on darker colour walls and tiles.
yes, efflorescence may be weakening your walls. efflorescence does lead to loss of structural integrity.
it is possible through a simple test. simply wet the area. if the white haze disappears, then it is efflorescence. otherwise, if it does not disappears, then it is discolouration. efflorescence being white, is more visible on darker colour walls and tiles. there are some signs that you can look for to check if your bathroom is leaking. for example, you may be having stains at the base of your bathroom door. or there might be chipping paint or mould growth on the other side of shower walls. for bathroom on upper floors, these signs can be hunted for on the lower floor ceilings and walls. to ensure there is no leakage, have waterproofing done over in your bathroom and other wet areas. in waterproofing, layers of chemicals are applied, and these stop moisture build-up or water leakage. this keeps the structure of your property sturdy and robust. it is done in all the wet areas like bathrooms, balconies, toilets, pools, spa, etc. waterproofing can be done in four simple steps. the first being, cleaning the surface for waterproofing by removing dust or fungi, etc. secondly, apply primer all over the surface that will come in contact with water. in the third step, apply bond breaker in all the areas that are prone to the effects of building movement. in the fourth and last step, apply waterproofing membrane in two coats, done at 90 degrees angle to each other. primer is essential for an effective waterproofing because, it reduces the porosity of the substrate, traps the dust and other contaminants of the surface, and reduces the pin holding problem. most importantly, it seals the moisture of the substrate within it. if this moisture escapes into the waterproofing membrane, it will lead to blistering and failing of waterproofing membrane. yes, primer application is necessary according to australian standards. if you do not apply primer while doing the waterproofing, then you can also void the manufacturer’s warranty of the products used. also, it can be done on almost any substrate. no, you cannot as waterproofing membranes are non-absorbent. therefore, the primer cannot be applied to them. but applying primer before applying a waterproofing membrane is a must. yes, primers do get affected by high temperature. because it gets evaporated faster, that is before it can complete its work of trapping dust and contaminants and controlling the porosity of the substrate. the liquid rubber is an easy to apply waterproofing solution. it is liquid polyurethane. for application, you can apply it on almost any substrate except those which are oil-based or very smooth and shiny. it can adhere to masonry, cement, brick, tiles, most metals, etc. liquid rubber does not stick to very smooth, shiny, and oily surfaces. like, plastic piping, oil-based paints, varnishes, silicon, etc. efflorescenceis the result of calcium hydroxide in cementsurfacing from grouts or from between the walls. calcium hydroxide is present in all types of cement. when this calcium hydroxide surfaces, it reacts with carbon dioxide of the air and forms calcium carbonate. and calcium carbonate is a white coloured flaky/hazy substance. we call efflorescence. yes, efflorescence may be weakening your walls. efflorescence does lead to loss of structural integrity. glazed ceramic tiles are as the name suggest tiles with ‘glaze’ over them. here glaze is a thin layer of liquid glass. this glazing is done over most ceramic and even porcelain tiles. in addition to giving them a gloss, they also give the tile resistance to stains and water. mosaic tiles are a combination of many tiles that together form a pattern or a design. these can be a single type of tile or a combination of many. like, some ceramic and some stone and others something else. this variety enables them to match any décor. mosaic tiles often come attached on a sheet, and this makes them very easy to install. ceramic tiles are a good option for lining at the waterline. they can also be used to cover the floor and walls of the pool, but some things need to be considered before that. if there is even a small crack in the glaze of the tiles, water can leak through the tiles and cause harm to the pool’s structural integrity. glass tiles are small tiles made up of recycled glass. they are not only eco-friendly but also non-porous. also, they usually come in dark colours, which gives depth to the pool, while making it look classy at the same time. lastly, they can be used in both hot and cold water pools. thus, yes, they are perfectly suitable for use in swimming pools. the best way out is mosaic tiles. mosaic tiles come in many colours and patterns, and they are the ideal way to add colours to your swimming pool. their versatility can match the décor of any backyard. also, they sometimes come in sheets, which are very easy to install. a perfect combination of ease and looks. porcelain is the more durable of the two. the manufacturing process for both tiles is different. and this makes all the difference. porcelain tiles can be used for any type of application, from heavy-duty commercial to the household. while ceramic tile’s usage depends on the glaze, accordingly, it can be used for low traffic and areas like home bathrooms and kitchens. a vitrified tile is known for its water resilience. other features of a vitrified tile are a glossy finish and scratch-resistance. these vitrified tiles are made up of clay with some unique minerals added, like, feldspar, quartz, etc. there are many steps while laying tiles.and the first one is to waterproof the surface and then make it smooth and even. the second step is to apply adhesive and tile over it. do remember to put spacers in between. when done tiling, remove the spacers, and apply grout in these spaces. lastly, apply sealant. but sealant is not required in all types of tiles. yes, definitely. exterior tiling goes through a thermal expansion which interior tiles don’t. thus extra measures should be taken while doing exterior tiling. like, there should be mechanical fixing every 2 meters. also, the adhesive should be applied in vast quantities and that too after adding additives. large-format tiles are those whose size is in the range of 600mm x 600mm. they need extra care, as owing to their large size, they may be bent at places. thus, a thick layer of adhesive must be applied at the back of the tile too and used with a fast setting adhesive. also, they create more compressive stress than other tiles. thus you must leave at least 3mm space in porcelain and 5mm space in ceramic tiles. a tiling failure can be due to many reasons. if even one of the step is not done accurately, it can result in a tiling failure. some of the general reasons are if waterproofing is not done correctly. or the wrong product or wrong quantity of that product is used. like for large tiles, we need to butter on both the tiles and surface. if not done like this, it can lead to a tiling failure. not many efforts are required to keep your tiles looking like new for longer. just brush and mop your tiles regularly. also, take care that you wipe off the spills asap. and you can deep clean grouts and tiles once in a while. lastly, you can use carpets and doormats; these cover the tiles and help a lot in extending the longevity of the tiling. if you find that your tile shower is leaking, and you cannot spot any leakage area. then it can be a missing grout somewhere.search for the missing grout before and after it is wet. you must search for even the smallest hole. even that can give rise to big problems. this could be the reason for leakage in your tile shower. if water is leaking through a crawl space, then maybe it is not your grout joint that is at fault. but the main reason for this must be the waterproofing membrane of your tile shower. to solve this issue, you must remove it all and reinstall it correctly. the process usually is expensive. thus, care should be taken to do it right the first time. to paint over tiles of a tile shower, use epoxy paint. but, first, cover the grout with masking tape as grout should never be painted. now, you can pain the colour and design of your choice. after, you finish painting, remove the masking tape and you are done. to rectify hairline cracks in a ceramic tile, fill them with clear epoxy resin in them. since these cracks are microscopic, you need to push epoxy resin inside with a toothpick. care should be taken that epoxy fills the space in the hairline cracks. remodelling and renovation differ on the aspect of scale. when the change is done on a larger scale, like changing the whole theme of the bathroom, it is known as remodelling. and if the scale is small. like, just changing the fixtures, or only the tiling, etc. then it is known as a bathroom renovation. the most expensive head under the expenditure list is the retiling part. although retiling gives a perfect look and feel, it is the priciest one too. other expense heads that play a significant role are bathtubs, sinks, etc. no, not always. if the renovation is at a smaller scale, then, it is ok to plan as you progress. agility in planning can work better in this kind of project. but, if you are planning a large scale project or a very luxurious one, then you should plan ahead of time. the first thing is research. read magazines and interior design blogs. you can also head towards good tv shows about interior design. all this will give you a vision of how you want your bathroom to be. once you have designed your bathroom, make some arrangements for keeping your bathroom stuff until the project is complete. these are the few preparations i should take care of before starting your bathroom renovation. bundaberg tiling pro is a respected and reputed firm of the city’s tiling industry. we have been delivering waterproofing and tiling projects for some years now. and our experience has taught us to be diligent with our work. we take pride in our quality of workmanship, and we have in-depth knowledge of our field. also, we assure you that there will be no nasty surprises during or after the project.