[ITEM 3] QUESTION: Bathroom renovation: how to prepare walls/floor for tiles and waterproofing?

High-quality preparation of walls and floors for tile laying and waterproofing in the bathroom determines how flat the finish coating will be and whether it will be possible to avoid dampness in the house. In the process of bathroom renovation, an important rule applies: first, you need to completely deal with safety and all hidden engineering, such as electrical wiring, water supply pipes, and ventilation, and only then proceed to finishing and decor. This order of work eliminates situations where a freshly renovated surface has to be chased to lay a forgotten cable or pipe.

Surface preparation begins with the complete dismantling of the old coating, whether it is Soviet tiles, peeling plaster, or old paint. After that, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the base from dust, dirt, and adhesive residue, as well as check the walls and floors for cracks and irregularities. Use a building level to identify level differences. If significant deviations are found, it will be necessary to apply leveling cement plaster to the walls and pour a self-leveling screed on the floor, since tiles require a perfectly flat base for reliable adhesion.

The next critically important step is the installation of reliable waterproofing, which will protect floor slabs and neighbors from leaks. To do this, follow this procedure. First, apply a special deep-penetration primer to the prepared and dedusted surface to improve adhesion. Then cover all wall and floor joints, as well as the areas around the bathtub and sink, with elastic waterproofing tape. After that, apply coating waterproofing based on bitumen-polymer or cement-polymer mastics in two layers with a perpendicular application direction and let the material dry completely.

After completing all preparatory procedures and the complete drying of the waterproofing layer, you can proceed directly to laying ceramic tiles. Be sure to use high-quality moisture-resistant tile adhesive corresponding to the type of your tile and base. Apply adhesive to both the base and the back of the tile to ensure maximum contact without voids. Thorough adherence to each of these steps guarantees the durability of the finish and protects your bathroom from the destructive effects of moisture.