I'm installing a shower bench and I'm concerned about waterproofing it correctly. The structure is just a frame made of 2x4s, and the membrane seems to be hanging between them. I worry that any water reaching that membrane will just get trapped in the low points. The builder thinks it's fine, but I believe we need to add a sloped piece of plywood first to properly direct water away. Plus, with the shower head spraying right into this corner, it feels like a potential disaster waiting to happen. Am I being overly cautious here? What's the best way to ensure this bench remains waterproofing?
4 Answers
Have you considered using a product like Schluter-KERDI? It provides both structure and waterproofing in one go. I totally agree with you that a stable, sloped foundation is crucial. When we did our floating bench, we made sure the brackets were pre-sloped to avoid any water issues. Best to play it safe rather than risk potential damage later!
You should definitely have plywood for support, then waterproofing, and ideally, use one solid piece of tile to avoid any grout lines that can trap moisture. Mistakes at this point can lead to much bigger problems down the line.
Definitely needs to be slightly tilted so water drains into the basin. You don't want any standing water on that bench. Just keep in mind it can't be too sloped; otherwise, it might mess with the shower wall glass installation. A squeegee might help manage any water that collects on the bench to prevent mold and mildew.
From what I see, it looks like it could be waterproof during construction, but I would honestly never trust it fully. If you get a single piece of granite that's properly sloped, that might work, but I would always recommend erring on the side of caution right from the start!
Agreed! Maintaining a slight slope is key, plus keeping things dry is a must. Mold thrives in damp spots!