For a tiled bathroom and shower, these are some of the key points as far as the Building Code for the wet area is concerned:

• Bathrooms and showers need to be designed to meet the NZ Building Code. No surprises there. You will need consent to build a wet area. It will also require inspection. For bathroom repair and renovation that may not be necessary depending on the scope of the work.
• Tiles need to have an absorbance of no more than 6%, but 3% or less is preferred. Your tile specialist should be able to tell you which tiles tick that box.
• Shower enclosures must go from top to bottom and be at least 1800mm tall when measured from the floor. They also need to measure at least 300mm above the shower rose.
• A waterproof membrane behind and underneath shower tiling is non-negotiable, even if the product states it is 100% waterproof (the only exception are steel-trowelled or polished concrete substrates). This is very specific to the NZ Building Code and doesn’t necessarily apply to identical products used in other countries.
• Waterproof membranes can only be installed by or under the supervision of approved applicators. The same rules apply to plumbing and drainage.
• Not all waterproof membranes are created the same: temperature, humidity, the use of underfloor heating, potential for movement and the complexity of the install are all determining factors in which waterproof membrane should be used.

Do the potential of a leaky bathroom and all the dos and don’ts that come with the NZ Building Code cause stress? There really is no need.

The Warmup Tiled Shower System

When you design a new home or sink your teeth in the renovation of an existing house, getting a design signed off is a bit of an ordeal at the best of times. Especially when the market isn’t free from products that do not meet the NZ Code requirements. (There’s no need to explain the cost and frustration that comes with this.)

But the Warmup Tiled Shower System makes it incredibly easy. With luxury, comfort, budget and practicality high on the list of priorities, Warmup designed an integrated Tiled Shower System that is BRANZ appraised.

Not only is the system completely waterproof; the components and installation are also 100% guaranteed. Thanks to the latest technology and the superior insulation boards, the system can be installed in one day; ready for tiling after 24 hours. That’s hours shaved off a time-consuming and messy job that many builders loathe. For the client, the considerable cut in man-hours, makes tiled showers quite a bit more economical than initially thought.

The Warmup Tiled Shower System is completely customisable with personalised sizes and shapes and is suitable for both concrete and timber flooring.

The system integrates the following quality components to create a durable wet room for new or existing homes:

• Marmox easy to install insulation backer board
• Warmup Undertile Sheet Membrane (for use within the shower and bathtub to comply with the NZ Building Code)
• Marmox preformed shower tray
• Warmup undertile heating
• A Tranquility shower drain made from high-grade stainless steel completes the quality setup.

It’s important to note that the system must be installed by an accredited Warmup wetroom installer, and Warmup provides a 15-year warranty on products and installation, and undertile heating comes with a life-time warranty.