How much do you need to waterproof in a laundry?

[evelync]

We want to renovate our laundry but also don’t want to completely rip up the entire thing and start again.

Most of all we hate these terracotta tiles which run throughout most of our house.

We would like to rip out the bottom wall ones and just putting skirting board around but if we were to damage the plasterboard in the process of removing these tiles, would we need to waterproof the walls after replacing the plasterboard?

Also a portion of wall above the laundry sink/tub is currently tiled and we want to replace these tiles as well. Does this section of the wall need to be waterproofed as well?

 

[EricL]

Hello @evelync 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about renovating your laundry. 

Before you begin, I suggest having a look at the rules and regulations of your local council regarding waterproofing in your laundry. Some states require a registered water proofing agent to put the waterproofing on. 

One option I would like to suggest is to paint the tiles instead of taking them off. This will save you from having to repair the plasterboard. But if you are keen on replacing the tiles, just be prepared to repair the damage on the plasterboard. In regards to the tiles above the laundry tub, it's likely that the plasterboard will get damaged there as well.

I recommend having a look at the Craftright 380mm Wrecking Bar. It's an excellent demolition tool and comes in handy when lifting tiles. 

Here are some handy step-by-step guides:

• How to tile a bathroom wall
   
• How to grout wall tiles

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[matteo917]

Hello Eric, I’m into programming to renovate bathroom and laundry. Would like to install wet are VJ panels to 120cm high around the bathroom and laundry. Currently have a 20 cm tile skirting board. I would like to remove this and replace with Vj and apply a wood skirting. To I have to waterproof the dry wall behind the VJ where the tile skirting was? 

[JacobZ]

Hi @matteo917,

Yes, you would need to waterproof the junction between the floor and walls in your bathroom and laundry, as they are deemed to be wet areas under the National Construction Code.

Have a read through the National Construction Code (NCC Part 10.2 Wet area waterproofing) for further information.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[matteo917]

Hi Jacob, 

I can I waterproof it not removing the floor tiles? Should I just waterproof against the floor tile to the plaster wall? 
thanks 

[JacobZ]

Hi @matteo917,

Unfortunately, no, you could not waterproof over the tiles. Wet Area EasyVJ panels can't be installed over existing tiles, so you'd have to remove the tiles anyway.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[matteo917]

Hi Jacob, I understand this. I’ll only remove the tile skirting board replacing it with VJ  and not the floor tiles. Should I waterproof where the skirting tiles was?

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @matteo917,

It's not really possible to just waterproof the wall alone because you have to waterproof the junction between the wall and the floor which involves installing Bond Breaker Joint Band at the junction, then coating it with waterproofing membrane that extends out onto the floor and up the wall.

There's a good chance there is already a waterproof membrane underneath those tiles, but if not, I would suggest speaking with a water proofer to see what they would suggest.

Jacob