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A conlfict of information between builder and tiler over newly built cloakroom with shower. The whole room has been plasterboarded and then skimmed. The tiler says the area where the shower enclosure is to go should have the plasterboard removed and replaced with aquaboarding and then tanked before wall tiles are fixed. The builder says this is completely unnecessary; the combination of the plaster, waterproof adhesive and then grouted tile will provide adequate protection again water penetration. Who's right (the builder's much bigger than the tiler!)

There is no need to treat a shower area in any special way. The tiles and grout create a perfect water seal, and no other addition is necessary and I remove showers every week that have been installed this way without any problem. Out of preference, it may be prudent to fit Aquapanel if it is a new build, simply because if the water does penetrate the tiles anywhere, the baseboard will not rot. However, Aquapanel will not stop water leaks, so if the shower is leaking, it is irrelevant. It needs fixing either way.

Tanking is only required in wet rooms where the whole room is in effect the shower and in particular, the shower base is not a tray, but individual tiles.

i agree that tanking is overkill.

if starting this job tomorrow i would definitely prefer aqua panel to plasterboard. but as it has been plasterboarded and skimmed i certainly would not change it.

provided the tiling is done to a good standard with a decent adhesive suitable for wet areas (ditto on the grout) properly silicone'd afterwards there should be no problem.

as plumbbob as pointed out a leak is a leak and damage will be done to some extent no matter what.

go ahead and tile, i will be fine if the finishing work is to a good standard.

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