Bathroom waterproofing - Buddhist Monastery, Newbury, Regional Victoria
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Problem
A newly built Buddhist monastery in Newbury, Victoria, required 36 bathrooms to be waterproofed. Due to the cold, high-altitude alpine climate, unique challenges presented. Overnight temperatures dropped to as low as -2°C, resulting in concrete slab surface temperatures between 2-3°C each morning. Waterproofing could only commence once substrates reached 5°C or higher.
Installing the waterproofing system required close coordination, portable heating setups, and precise timing to ensure product adhesion and compliance to Australian Waterproofing Standards.
The situation
- Substrates needed to reach 5°C or higher to begin waterproofing.
- Prefabricated shower trays required high attention to detail and careful sealing and membrane termination.
- Precision caulking was essential to achieve a clean, watertight finish at the tray junctions.
Urgency factors
- Tight timeframe due to ongoing construction program and accommodation costs for the waterproofing team, who were based in Trentham during the project.
Solution
Install a compliant waterproofing system across all shower walls and bathroom floors using modern membrane technology.
Insert waterstops at all disabled-access bathroom entry points, and 1,500mm from the shower rose due to the absence of a shower enclosure. Insert waterstops at the perimeter of the enclosed showers.
Use portable heaters in each cottage to raise substrate temperatures to the required level for successful membrane application and curing.
Recommended solution
Recommended solution Demolition of planter boxes, correction of slope to drain, substrate preparation and implementation of a waterproofing system using a polyurethane liquid membrane.
Materials and methods
- Gripset 38FC liquid-applied membrane (2 coats at 600 microns wet film thickness)
- Gripset GP primer for substrate preparation
- Gripset Elastoproof bond-breaking bandage
- Waterstops installed to contain water in both enclosed showers and unenclosed shower bathrooms
- Modified polyurethane caulking fillet
- Leak control flanges pre-installed
- All works completed in accordance with NCC and AS 3740:2021 Waterproofing of domestic wet areas
Implementation process
- Preparation: Heated, cleaned and vacuumed substrates to ensure proper adhesion.
- Detailing: Applied sealant around shower trays and installed Elastoproof bandage at all critical junctions.
- Priming: Applied Gripset GP primer to all surfaces.
- Waterstops: Installed waterstops in compliance with Australian Standards.
- Waterproofing: Applied two coats of Gripset 38FC membrane, ensuring compliant thickness and full coverage.
- Quality assurance: Inspected each bathroom to confirm membrane integrity and correct installation of waterstops.
Challenges Overcome
- Managing extremely cold substrate temperatures requiring heating and staged application.
- Coordinating sequencing across multiple cottages under strict time constraints.
- Maintaining membrane performance and curing standards in suboptimal weather conditions.
Results
All 36 bathrooms were successfully waterproofed and tiled, achieving complete watertight performance. Comprehensive warranty provided upon completion.
Long-term benefits
- Fully leak-proof bathrooms ensure durability and longevity.
- Protection of structural elements from moisture-related damage.
- Peace of mind for residents and monastery caretakers.
Additional value delivered
Resident satisfaction and confidence in the quality of waterproofing for a newly built monastery community.
Service: Bathroom waterproofing, building envelope protection, caulking
Application: Liquid membrane: Gripset 38FC
Solution: Waterproofing 36 bathrooms across four newly constructed cottages, including one disabled-access bathroom per cottage.
Time to complete: 2 weeks
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