The waterproof effect of the t-shaped shower room is directly related to the bathroom experience. The cooperation between the waterproof strip and the water-retaining stone base is the core of anti-leakage. From material selection, installation process to daily maintenance, each link needs to be closely connected. The following will elaborate on how to achieve efficient cooperation between the two and create a strict waterproof system.
First of all, the adaptability of the material is the basis for achieving efficient anti-leakage. As the first line of defense for shower room waterproofing, the water-retaining stone base must have excellent water resistance, high strength and anti-deformation ability. At present, the common water-retaining stone base materials on the market are natural stone, artificial stone and PVC. Natural stone such as marble and granite can resist water erosion for a long time with its hard texture and good durability, but it is heavy, expensive, and has strict requirements on cutting process during installation; artificial stone is made of a mixture of resin and stone powder, which is not only diverse in shape and highly customizable, but also has excellent waterproof performance and high cost performance; although PVC material is light and low in cost, it is easy to deform in a humid and high temperature environment for a long time, which is suitable for temporary or budget-limited scenes. Waterproof strips are mostly made of EPDM ethylene propylene rubber or silicone. EPDM rubber has strong weather resistance and can maintain good elasticity and sealing in various environments; silicone material is soft and can fit tightly to the surface of glass and stone base, effectively filling small gaps and reducing the risk of leakage. When making actual choices, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the matching according to the use environment, budget and aesthetic requirements to ensure that the two complement each other in terms of material performance.
Before installing the water retaining stone base, ground pretreatment is a key step. The ground must be thoroughly cleaned to remove dust, debris and oil stains to ensure that the base is flat, dry and solid. If the ground is uneven, even a slight height difference may cause the stone base to not fit tightly to the ground, thus forming a water seepage channel. Therefore, cement mortar or self-leveling materials must be used for fine leveling to strictly control the error within 3 mm. During the installation process, evenly apply high-strength waterproof glue or cement mortar to the bottom of the stone base to ensure that the stone base is seamlessly connected to the ground. Then lay and compact the stone base according to the designed position, and use the level and vertical gauge to calibrate repeatedly to ensure that its horizontality and verticality meet the standards. At the connection between the stone base and the wall, a gap of 5-8 mm should be reserved, and mildew-proof and highly elastic silicone glue should be used to fill and seal to form a stable waterproof boundary. In addition, the height setting of the water-retaining stone base is also particular. It is generally required to be 3-5 cm above the ground, which can effectively prevent the overflow of shower water and will not affect the convenience of entering and exiting the shower room due to excessive height.
The installation of the waterproof strip needs to be precisely adapted to the water-retaining stone base to form a second waterproof barrier. For a t-shaped shower room with a slide rail, an embedded waterproof strip can be used. A groove is pre-opened at the bottom of the glass, and the waterproof strip is embedded in it to ensure that the waterproof strip is tightly combined with the glass. This method not only has good sealing performance, but is also beautiful and hidden; for a shower room without a slide rail design, an external waterproof strip is suitable. The waterproof strip is fixed to the edge of the glass with 3M glue or a special buckle. During the installation process, it is necessary to ensure that the waterproof strip covers the contact surface between the glass and the stone base throughout the entire process, especially at the T-shaped corner, which is a key part prone to leakage. The waterproof strip needs to be spliced at a 45-degree angle and firmly bonded with special glue to ensure that the joint is flat and tightly sealed. At the same time, the connection between the waterproof strip and the wall should not be ignored. It needs to be carefully sealed with silicone glue to prevent water vapor from penetrating into the wall through the gap.
To further enhance the waterproof effect, auxiliary waterproof measures can be added between the water-retaining stone base and the waterproof strip. For example, waterproofing membranes can be laid on the surface of the stone base, extending them from the ground to the wall for more than 30 cm to form a continuous waterproof membrane, effectively blocking the path of water penetration through the gap between the stone base and the wall; or waterproof coatings, such as polyurethane waterproof coatings, can be applied to the inside of the stone base. After drying and curing, a tough and seamless waterproof coating will be formed on the surface of the stone base, significantly improving the waterproof performance. In addition, it is also very important to reasonably design the slope of the floor inside the shower room. It is necessary to ensure that the ground is naturally inclined in the direction of the floor drain. The slope is generally controlled at 2% - 3%, so that the water flow can be quickly gathered and discharged into the floor drain, reducing the pressure of accumulated water on the waterproof system, and avoiding the failure of waterproof strips and water-retaining stone bases due to long-term immersion in accumulated water.
Maintenance during daily use is an important guarantee for maintaining the effectiveness of the waterproof system. The status of the waterproof strips needs to be checked regularly to see if there is aging, cracking, deformation or shedding. Once the waterproof strips are found to be hard, lose elasticity, or are damaged, they should be replaced in time to avoid leakage due to the decline in the sealing performance of the waterproof strips. When cleaning the waterproof strip, avoid using sharp tools or corrosive cleaning agents to prevent scratching or damaging the surface of the waterproof strip. Use a mild cleaning agent and a soft damp cloth to gently wipe it to keep it clean and elastic. For the water-retaining stone base, it is necessary to regularly clean the surface of the scale, stains, hair and other impurities to prevent the accumulation of impurities from causing the gap to expand and affect the waterproof effect. If the sealant between the stone base and the ground or wall is found to be cracked or moldy, the old glue should be removed in time, and the sealant should be re-applied after cleaning to ensure the integrity of the seal.
In some special use scenarios, targeted protective measures are also required. For example, for families who frequently take high-temperature showers, high temperatures will accelerate the aging of materials. Therefore, high-temperature resistant waterproof strips and sealants are required to ensure that the materials can still maintain good elasticity and sealing in high-temperature environments without deformation or failure; in areas that are in a humid environment for a long time, in addition to regular maintenance of waterproof strips and water-retaining stone bases, moisture-proof boards can also be installed around the stone base to further reduce the erosion of water vapor on the wall and extend the service life of the wall. In addition, it is recommended to conduct waterproof tests on the entire shower room regularly. By injecting water into the shower room, observe whether there is water seepage around the stone base, the wall and the ground joints, timely discover potential leakage points, and take corresponding repair measures.
Through the careful selection of suitable materials, strict and standardized installation processes, effective auxiliary waterproof measures, meticulous daily maintenance and protection for special scenes, the waterproof strips and water-retaining stone base of the t-shaped shower room can achieve close and efficient cooperation, forming an all-round, multi-level anti-leakage system, creating a dry, comfortable and safe bathing space for users, effectively avoiding problems such as wall mold and floor damage caused by leakage, and improving the overall use experience and service life of the bathroom.
