If there’s one thing you should expect from a shower surround, it’s that it won’t leak. Unfortunately, leaks happen way too often. This could be attributed to the fact the average 60”x96” ceramic tile shower back wall has 96 leak points. Shower failures are a big problem for property and maintenance managers; repairs are urgent due to the frequent use of showers and the potential catastrophic damage to wall interiors. Most of the time they require some sort of tenant displacement or inconvenience creating a frustrating situation for all parties.

But what if you had access to a PVC tile panel solution with a proven watertight seal? In this article, we'll fill you in on the third-party testing done to prove this watertight claim, the mechanisms contributing to the seal, and more.

Note: The watertight seal applies to our Shower Surround Pro Kit and Tub Surround Pro Kit. The watertight seal is accomplished when the appropriate substrate is in place, tile is applied, and grouting and caulking have been completed.

"Watertight seal" isn't a term to be thrown around loosely. It indicates that water won't leak through the tile panels post-installation. To validate the application's watertight seal claim, we partnered with Home Innovation Research Labs. The company has been around since 1964 and is a National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) subsidiary. Behind the brand is a knowledgeable team of professionals, including electrical, mechanical, and structural engineers, architects, former builders, contractors, and more. 

Home Innovation Research Labs conducted two tests on the Shower & Tub Surround Pro Kits. The tests were rigorous and hyper-targeted to evaluate the Shower Surround water resistance while being continuously sprayed with water or entirely submerged under water. Here's a brief explanation of both tests.

To prove the water resistance of the shower and tub surround application, Home Innovation Research Labs conducted an official water resistance test per ASTM D2247‐15(2020) "Standard Practice for Testing Water Resistance of Coatings in 100% Relative Humidity." In this test, the panels were mounted onto an approved bathroom substrate, grouted, and submerged under water. Per the parameters of this test, caulking was not required as it does not test a transition to the pan/tub or a corner but rather the surface of the tile and the tongue and groove seal.

In addition to the first test, Home Innovation Research Labs conducted a continuous water spray test. It's conducted in accordance with the CSA B45.5:22 / IAPMO Z124‐2022 "Plastic Plumbing Fixtures" Section 5.18 Field‐Installed Tiling‐Flange Seal Test. During the test, the researchers set up a continuous water spray and sprayed a wall (outfitted with tile panels) for 30 minutes straight.

Not only did it not leak during the battery of testing, but the surface also showed no signs of discoloration, cracking, crazing, erosion, delamination, or other distress that may affect performance. These results serve as irrefutable proof that our tile panels and the tongue and groove connection for shower and tub surrounds will not leak when properly mounted, grouted, and caulked.

We put the tile panels to the test and they passed with flying colors. Now, let's get into exactly why these panels resist water. It's mostly in their unique and proprietary tongue and groove design, which automatically creates a grout channel that doesn't let water in.

Our tile panels are designed to fit together systematically. As such, there are two different panel designs that come in a kit:

• Panels with a channel on the bottom edge and a tab along the top. They are to be used on the bottom or middle rows when installing.
• Panels with a squared-off top edge. They are to be used on the top row during installation.
  

During the installation process, it's essential to know that the panels for the middle and bottom rows of the shower or tub surround are identical in design. Just know that the panels with the squared-off top edge are to be installed on the top row only.

Channels should always be facing down, and tabs should always be facing up. Installing the panels in this fashion ensures that a seal is created, making water unable to pool or penetrate.

Moreover, our tile panels boast multiple lines of defense to strengthen the seal. They include:

• Grouting. 1st line of defense.
• Vastly reduced number of potential leak points vs. a ceramic tile installation.
• PVC substrate. The PVC is waterproof and covers a large majority of the wall.
• Tongue and groove joints. As briefly mentioned earlier, these joints meet to form a strong seal.
• The substrate you're installing over. The appropriate substrate will adhere securely to the tile panels, reinforcing the watertight seal.

A few specifications must be met for tile panels to deliver on that watertight seal promise.

To get a watertight seal with Six3Tile, installers should:

• Install them on a proper substrate. You can install the tile over moisture-resistant drywall, cement backer board, or existing ceramic tile. The surface should be smooth and solid. Visit this blog to learn about substrates and adhesives you can use to ensure a watertight seal.
• Install them according to the provided instructions. Our Pro Kit installation instructions are available via PDF on our website, or you can read them on our website. Read and follow those instructions to the letter for the best results.
• Apply trim to cover any exposed edges. 
• Apply grout in the grooves of the tile panels. You'll use non-sanded grout only and employ the same method you would when grouting traditional ceramic tile. Be sure to follow the grout manufacturer’s instructions.
• Caulk the base and any corners. Use a silicone-based caulk for this. Sufficient caulking around the base of the shower or tub pan is essential to getting a good seal. Caulk is also recommended in the corners. Be sure to follow the caulk manufacturer’s instructions.