bathroom renovation - itile bathrooms nt

Basic Guide to Understanding Bathroom Renovation

Bathroom renovation is essential, especially if your shower room is deteriorated, broken down, or too old to use. However, some people continue to dismiss the idea of shower renovation because they believe it is a waste of money, has no benefits for them, or they don’t have any idea how to start remodeling their restroom. In this article, we will discuss the importance of renovating your washroom and provide some tips, with the hope that after reading this, you will consider renovating your bathroom.

What Exactly is a Bathroom Renovation?

bathroom renovation is the act of renewing; of creating something new after decay, destruction, or deprivation; of restoration. A restroom renovation, according to this definition, is the revamping or installing of bathtubs, showers, surrounds, tile, sinks, vanities, toilets, flooring, and even towel bars. This may be referred to as a shower upgrade by some contractors. 

Renovation is more concerned with restoring something old to good condition. It is a method of making huge changes to the layout or design of a room, as well as all major and minor improvements that help rebuild or increase the functionality of your washroom.

Importance Of Bathroom Renovation

bathroom renovation guide - itile bathrooms ntMaking a Lasting Impression

If your washroom is old fashioned and filthy, it will undoubtedly leave a negative impression that will make visitors think twice about returning to your home. Remodeling or renovating your shower conveys cleanliness and proper hygiene. Your restroom should be the last thing you need to be ashamed about.

Make Design Changes

Many people do minimal bath remodels to make a few minor adjustments and revive the look of the bathroom. Even if your restroom is still fashionable and up to date, it may be in need of renovations.

Better Accommodation For Elderly Relatives or For Yourself

As you get older, you may find that you need to implement changes to your restroom for better and easier accommodation. For example, you could add rails and a ledge to your shower so if an older relative, such as a parent, is moving in with you they won’t have a hard time using the shower room.

Tips In Bathroom Renovation

Choose The Appropriate Flooring

Pick a restroom flooring that is tough enough to withstand the rigours of daily bathroom use. Ceramic and porcelain tile, luxury vinyl planks, and vinyl tiles are popular bath flooring options.

Increase The Number of Mirrors in the Bathroom

Mirrors are useful in washrooms because they represent design features, visually expanding the space and adding light. Many residents like to add a second mirror above the shower room sink in addition to the main mirror above the sink. In smaller rooms, use huge mirrors that cover the full wall.

Adjust Room Size With Colour

Keep your colour scheme in the white-or-light shade scale to make a small shower room appear larger. Dark hues make the room appear tinier and more stuffy. Use white or light-colored lighting fixtures (that is, the toilet and bathtub). Never paint your washroom ceiling any shades other than white or off-white, as this appears to shrink the space even more.

Choose The Best Bathroom Renovators

If you want to achieve your ideal restroom look, you must hire a professional bathroom renovation specialist. Itile Bathrooms NT’s skilled team can tile and renovate your bathroom appropriately. We specialise in bathroom renovations in Darwin, Palmerston, and Humpty Doo, and our company has many positive reviews throughout the Northern Territory. Please contact us (0400) 729-303) if you require any bathroom work, and we will be thrilled to provide you with our unmatched service. 

Waterproofing on top of tiles - Itile Bathrooms NT

Waterproofing Membranes: Types, Importance, And Definition

Water ingress and pollutant vapor protection are high on the list of features to include in your structure to guarantee its authenticity. Water can cause significant damage to building structures. If the fundamentals are not appropriately waterproofed and protected, this damage can lead to significant cost loss and also safety hazards. 

They can, however, be avoided by using waterproofing membranes. Waterproofing membranes are beneficial to all commercial, industrial, and residential properties. They are a common pick for buildings because they provide many long-term advantages that can increase their overall stability.

What Does Waterproofing Membrane Mean?

A waterproofing membrane is a layer of water-tight material that is applied to an exterior to stop the leak or damage from water. It can be adhesive or simply placed on top of the layer being protected. This material is made from a variety of materials and comes in a variety of widths and layer thickness.

Waterproofing, whether for your building’s cellar or ceiling, will help prevent water from penetrating your foundation and protect your structure from water ingress. A waterproofing membrane is added to the concrete, making it stronger and more resistant to water ingress and easy to manage.

Is It Necessary To Understand Waterproofing Membranes?

Sometimes the waterproofing element is deliberately excluded from home or bathroom renovation. Those who include them often make the mistake of choosing inferior quality. As a result, many residential and business properties encounter water damage every year as a result of ineffective waterproofing. A high-quality foundation waterproofing membrane serves as the all-important protective layer in between concrete and the surrounding earth. It prevents water penetration and can even keep dangerous chemicals out of the structure.

Because concrete and shotcrete are composite material, once the structure has established, it may break or leak due to water exerting pressure on the below-grade establishment. If the building is in a contaminated area, dangerous situations can be formed when methane gas or vapor from contaminated soil and/or groundwater drifts through concrete discrepancies. There’s no denying that waterproofing is essential in protecting your property and its worth.

Waterproofing Membranes Of Various Types

Sheet-Based: These waterproofing membranes arrive in rolls and are applied to solid surfaces, like the foundation of a building. They can be produced from a variety of components such as HDPE, butyl, PVC, bentonite, or composite materials.

Liquid Membranes: Are usually sprayed or rolled onto surfaces to achieve a smooth, joint-free membrane. Because they are joint-free, liquid membranes are frequently chosen, but it is critical to understand the thickness needed for your building conditions.

Self-adhesive Modified Bituminous Membranes: Asphalt, polymers, and tackifiers are used to make self-adhesive modified bituminous membranes, which may also consist of mineral stabilizers. Mineral granules, coatings, films, or even other opaque substrates are commonly used to surface products intended for outdoor use. A release film or paper protects the self-adhesive layer, which is excluded during installation.

Polymer-Modified Bitumen Membrane: Polymer-bitumen roll-fed sheet membranes are by far the most commonly used materials for creating the waterproofing layer. These materials can also be used as a protective layer and as an underlayment for pitched roofs. The material is resistant to temperature fluctuations as well as high mechanical loads, ensuring long-term, dependable, and efficient waterproofing.

EPDM Membrane: It is an elastomeric waterproofing membrane that has been planned and executed from high-quality EPDM rubber. It is resistant to weathering, heat aging, ozone, UV rays, acids, alkalis, and oxygenated solvents and has a great specific strength, elongation, and tear strength. The setup is simple and, more importantly, secure.

Thermoplastic Roof Membranes: Distinguish themselves from other promotional roofing systems. It is a polypropylene-ethylene-propylene blend that is frequently reinforced with polyester. To attain the expected physical properties, TPO sheets can incorporate UV absorbers, colorants, flame retardants, or other additives.

Bitumen Membrane: Hot melt liquid bituminous rubber blends structural waterproofing systems with an interlaid reinforcement.It could be used in ceiling and podium deck implementations to have a smooth waterproofing membrane for high green roofs and podiums. Sometimes they are recommended for winter applications due to their low temperature laying ability.

Polyurethane Membrane: These products include a fiber-enhanced one-component water-based polyurethane membrane. They are intended for use in a variety of waterproofing applications in which the membrane will be coated with tiles, screeds, concrete beds, etc.

Polypropylene Membrane: This is a highly effective and long-lasting waterproofing material widely used during building projects. It is a popular waterproofing material for concrete flat roofs.

PVC and TPO Membranes: These are two types of highly flexible sheet membrane systems that can be used to secure any concrete structure. To meet the most stringent requirements, it could be constructed as a standard single-layer compartment system all the way up to an active control system.

Professional Help

When applying waterproofing membranes to a substrate, care must be taken. It is critical to understand which substrates work and which do not work well with waterproofing membranes. It is also necessary to consider the environment in which the waterproofing membrane will be applied. Some membranes are very sensitive to moisture during the application phase and will be ineffective if not applied properly. 

Allowing waterproofing membrane experts to do their work is the most certain way to complete your project. In the Northern Territory, you can rely on iTile Bathrooms NT to handle this for you. You can be confident that you will hire trustworthy individuals with years of proven experience in this field. Give us a call at +61 0400 729 303 and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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Tips on Avoiding Waterproofing Membrane Repair

A water-tight layer of material applied on a surface to block water leaks and damage is called waterproofing membrane. They are made up of liquid applied or pre-formed sheet membranes. To stop water seepage, they can be laid around any structural foundation.

This material is essential in all structures given the extreme type of climate here in Australia. Not only must it stand the extreme weather conditions, it should also tolerate strong chemicals and building movement.

Importance of Waterproofing Membrane

About 80% of building damages are connected with water-related concerns. There are instances that shower waterproofing is not included at all in the construction process. Sometimes, if they are part of the planning and construction process, poor materials are used or service is barely satisfactory.

An excellently built residential or commercial space always considers the best waterproofing components. Here are the things you are risking when you take this for granted:

Safety
Property damage brought by poor or lack of waterproofing can affect a structural integrity. If this happens, the property is no longer safe to use.

Protection against leaks and water damage
If there is a water leak, it can damage flooring material like carpets, as well as furniture. This is a domino effect that can grow further if not given attention early on. Moreover, the seepage can stain walls and ceiling and can affect a property’s aesthetics.

Reinforces building structure
Since waterproofing membrane prevents leaks, the lifespan of a building is further strengthened because rust, rot, and corrosion defects are prevented at the onset.

Increased property value through a low maintenance costs
Property damage brought by the absence of or poor waterproofing can be costly. But it cannot happen if quality waterproofing is in place. As a result, your property value can increase because it is well maintained and durability is secured.

Avoid a failed waterproofing project by using a quality material. The industry’s most preferred material is Remedial Membrane’s clear waterproofing membrane. Here are the reasons why:

  1. It is built to withstand rigid movements.
  2. It is a clear flexible membrane that can be applied on an existing surface.
  3. It is engineered not to blush or whiten when exposed to hot and cold water.

The most important tip is to make sure that you hire an accredited Remedial Membrane installer to handle your waterproofing projects. The company allows anyone to purchase the product. However, warranty is only given if it is installed by an Accredited Installer that has completed its training program.

iTileNT is an Accredited Installer of Remedial Membranes. When you hire us, you are not only assured of quality materials, but quality service as well. Our expertise goes along well with our commitment to deliver the best waterproofing projects for you.

We have more than 20 years of experience in providing a full range of demolition, waterproofing, and tiling services in Darwin, Palmerston, and Humpty Doo. Contact us today for your inquiries and our team would be glad to assist you:

Phone: 61 400729303
Email: info@itilent.com.au
Address: 15 Wulagi Crescent, Darwin NT 0812, Australia

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What is Remedial Waterproofing on Bathroom Tiles?

Remedial waterproofing is an approach to control and manage the water in residential and commercial properties. This is the solution that prevents leaks from seeping through a shower floor into another room or a balcony floor into the room below.

It is important to detect any water issues early on to prevent bigger problems. Done right, it can restore, protect, and preserve a property’s value.

Types of Services

  1. Shower waterproofing 

The cost to remove the shower area in a bathroom is expensive. Tiles have to be removed so that the waterproofing can be installed correctly. Plumbing and shower screens have to be removed and reinstalled. Moreover, shower base has to be screeded. This project can cost $4,000 in total. It can take up to 5 working days to complete the job. It also translates to 5 days without access to the bathroom.

Remedial membrane waterproofing can be installed in one day and costs $1000.

The 2-part polyurethane clear waterproofing kit is designed to go on top of tiles. For preparation, surface areas to be waterproofed should be cleaned. Then, grout and silicone are applied. Lastly, the clear waterproofing membrane . 

  1. Crack Repair and Resin Injection –

Any concrete structures normally have visible cracks, which can give way for water entry. Once this happens, the property’s structural integrity can be at risk. The common solution in this case is resin injections. It is a process that involves high-pressure injections of epoxy or activated polyurethane on the cracked area. Packers and epoxy adhesives are commonly used in this case.

To repair cracks or structural damage, injection that uses epoxy and polyurethane-based membranes is effective. For cracks that need structural repair and the crack area needs reinforcement, an epoxy-based product is most recommended. Meanwhile, for the cracks in which repair is needed to stop leaks, the polyurethane-based solution is the best.

remedial waterproofing by itilent, darwin, au

Maintenance Checks

Regular maintenance checks are important to prevent any property damages. They are also important to preserve a property’s structural integrity and value. These checks will give you an idea if you need this maintenance.

Below are the areas that are commonly included in the checks:

  • Mould
  • Rusted door frames
  • No Drainage on shower floor
  • Dampness
  • Bathroom grouts/silicone
  • Balconies
  • Living space (particularly if they are near any water source)


Work with Waterproofing Experts

Waterproofing projects need adequate expertise to implement it the best way possible. We understand the budget concerns when these tasks are carried out. But in most cases, if you try to do it yourself because you think it will cost you less, it may actually cost you more.

The most certain way you can get your project done is to let the experts do their work. In Darwin, you can trust iTile Bathrooms NT to do this for you. You are sure to hire trusted people with years of proven experiences in this kind of work. Give us a call at +61 0400 729 303 or contact us and let’s help you the soonest.

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What Is Flexible Waterproofing Membrane?

You may have heard about waterproofing membrane or clear waterproofing remedial membrane. Then, there’s this flexible waterproofing membrane. How does it exactly differ from the rest? What are its benefits for commercial and residential spaces? In this article, we’ll give light about this subject so you’ll know this waterproofing system can benefit your place and your family.

Waterproofing Membrane

For those who are not familiar with construction terms, waterproofing is an act of protecting a structure from water ingress. A waterproofing membrane, meanwhile, is a thin layer of water-tight construction material laid over a surface.

The membrane is continuous to block water or any liquid to pass through it. Let’s take for instance a flat laundry area that is made of pure slab. The waterproofing membrane can be installed on top of the slab and under the finish tiles. But you have to remember that the tiles and membrane should be placed above a filler sloped material. This will prevent unnecessary water flows into sumps and drains. There should be no amount of water left as puddles above the tiles. Over time, they can seep into the slab so avoid puddles by any means.

Back in the day, there were different approaches to implement it. Some of which were bituminous, metallic sheet, poly-urethane based, and many more.

Over the years, the way the construction industry handles waterproofing projects has improved. Innovation in construction materials produced the most durable items in any projects today. Flexible membrane waterproofing system is a part of the modern techniques in the industry.

Importance of Waterproofing

waterproofing membrane

Space interiors are not safe from moisture and humidity. They will always find its way to leak or flow, which can cause serious damages. That is why a proper waterproofing system is beneficial. Take a look at its key advantages:

  1. Leak and water damage protection

Prevent the occurrence of damaged furniture, carpeting, and traces of moisture that stain ceiling or walls.

  1. Safety

Waterproofing prevents the development of cracks, molds, mildew, and paint removal. Apparently, waterproofing protects a structural integrity.

  1. Fortify a building structure

By blocking any moisture that can lead to rust, rotting, or corrosion structural defects, waterproofing membrane can extend the lifespan of a structure.

  1. Healthier space

If a space has a proper waterproofing system, no foul smell can develop from leaks. Any health issue can then be prevented.

  1. Low maintenance cost, high property value

An excellent waterproofing can bring ultimate reduction in maintenance cost, while boosting a property value.

Where to Apply

You can apply waterproofing membrane in:

1. Roofs and balcony
2. Tank area
3. Plant room
4. Podium
5. Retaining wall
6. Containment area

Flexible Waterproofing Membrane vs. Crystalline Waterproofing System

A concrete-based system, insoluble crystals act as blocking agent against waterways. This is commonly applied on small garden, bathroom, and basement.

Meanwhile, flexible waterproofing membrane involves liquid and powder components. The liquid serves as an acrylic emulsion and the powder part forms chemicals and fillers with polymer-modified cement. A slurry is then formed from the combination of the components. It is then applied on an area that requires waterproofing.

Excellent Application of Flexible Waterproofing Membrane

Many people think that the idea of waterproofing is nothing but an unnecessary expense. But since you now know what waterproofing can do for your property, it is best to do the project excellently. What best way can ensure its excellent application than trusting an excellent team to do it?

Our team at iTileNT is an expert contract for commendable flexible waterproofing membrane application. They are not just tilers or property renovation specialists. The team is thoroughly trained to properly do any waterproofing projects. Get in touch with us now and let’s discuss how we can help you.