The Importance of Puddle Flanges & Waterproofing for All Tradesman
Let’s set the scene - You are a builder, plumber, waterproofer, or tiler working on-site to build a new house. The drainage pipes have already been installed and they are sticking up through the concrete floor in the bathrooms. Now it is the time to make the right decisions when it comes to waterproofing!
To reduce waterproofing problems in the future, the following steps can be implemented in your installation programs:
Firstly, to use or not to use a waterproofing puddle flange in the floor and shower drains?
The name says it all, it is called a waterproofing puddle flange for one reason - to transition the waterproofing to the drain as per the Internal Waterproofing Australian Standards Codes for Waterproofing requirement.
The Wondercap Waterproofing puddle flanges are designed to have the optimum area to adhere the waterproofing membrane to the surface of the flange before entering the drain.
The following risks by not using a puddle flange are just not worth it:
Waterproofing down inside the pipe of the drains relies on sealing across the horizontal top of the drain edge of around 3mm thickness before you waterproof down inside the drain.
This is the weakest point of the waterproofing and your whole job relies on a 3mm edge of waterproofing.
The 3mm edge of waterproofing is subject to the foot traffic of the trades during construction.
The 3mm edge of the waterproofing then comes into play with the tiling via bedding, troweling, and installing the tiles in and around the drain.
Is it worth taking the risk? To avoid high costs and lots of problems of removal or redoing of that brand new bathroom, it is a good idea to start with the Wondercap Waterproofing Retro Kit and Test Plugs. We do not want a repeat of some of the horrifying mistakes made in the past. The Wondercap products are made to provide all trades with total protection of the waste pipe from the initial stages of demolition to the bathroom area. The Retro Kit is optimally used for post-concrete poured constructions or timber floors and is ideal for renovations and repairs.
To take waterproofing a step forward, the Wondercap Company also offers test plugs that are designed to assist all trades for a convenient, budget-friendly method to maintain high standards for each project. As we have sadly seen in past catastrophes, waterproofing can make or break a project. Fortunately, it is often very simple to check that your waterproofing has been installed properly. Wondercap’s test plugs can test all jobs and allow the on-site managers to confirm for themselves.
P.S. Always remember to check your states waterproofing rules and regulations. The rules about who can do waterproofing differ slightly between different Australian states and territories. In both Queensland and NSW, the person doing the waterproofing in your home needs to carry a current waterproofing license. In other states, waterproofers must provide a statement of compliance once the job is done, indicating that the work they have done complies with Australian Standard AS 3740 – (Waterproofing of Domestic Wet Areas).
If you have any further questions about waterproofing or our products, please don’t hesitate to call us at (07) 5539 3665 or email us at info@wondercap.com.au.