Wedi

Wedi – Waterproofing Solutions

Who are Wedi?

Wedi are a premium-quality German manufacturer of waterproofing solutions. Founded over 30 years ago in 1983, they have a genuine pedigree and myriad of industry-leading specialist knowledge, offering a broad yet very well-developed product range. They have a head office in Germany and operate in the headquarters in Manchester.

What is Wedi board?

Wedi offer a multitude of solutions for various applications, Wedi board is a lightweight but tough, 100% waterproof tile backer board, which allows you to create waterproof spaces in bathrooms and wet rooms ready for tiling.

What is Wedi board made of?

Wedi board itself is made from a core of XPS (a rigid extruded polystyrene) which is coated with cement impregnated fabric. This serves 2 main purposes, the XPS core is completely rigid and 100% waterproof, it’s so tough it continues to function even when damaged. The outer layer coating of cement is the perfect porous base ready for an adhesive, providing a robust and steady base layer. In addition to its 100% waterproof properties Wedi board is also immune to fungal growth offering exceptional hygiene and long term cleanliness.

Why use Wedi board?

There are multiple applications in the modern home for Wedi board. Primarily you can use it to create a wetroom, or a waterproof shower tray area. You can build anything from the entire room, to individual sections such as walls with storage recesses, seating, and waterproof countertops for basins. Wedi even supply products to create entire enclosures, or simply the shower tray area.

Advantages of Wedi:

• 100% Waterproof, guaranteed by Wedi
• Simple and quick to install – plumber friendly
• 10 year warranty for long lasting product confidence
• Can be used on floorboards or cement floors
• Fungus and mould resistant
• Tray packs can be cut to size offering a bespoke solution for almost any space
• BAA certified and CE labelled

Other applications for Wedi board include sound proofing, and insulation properties. These can be extremely beneficial with Wedi board helping to retain around 40% of the heat in the room you can get the most out of your radiators, even opt for a slimmer or smaller towel rail. You can also use Wedi in conjunction with underfloor heating, reflecting the heat back up into the room instead of losing heat down into the ground and floor cavities, again maximising energy use and saving money.
The Wedi Nonstep Pro boards dampen sounds such as water splashing from a large overhead shower and significantly reduce the sound of footsteps from permeating the property. Install them under Wedi Fundo flor elements. The material is durable and recyclable, tested successfully for compliance with sound insulation requirements it offers an impressive improvement of up to 30 dB. Not tiling the area? The Nonstep Plus has an additional 5mm rubber mat, suitable for laminate or parquet flooring.

How to install Wedi

Comprehensive fitting instructions are included with all products, in addition Wedi have an abundance of high quality fitting and advice videos on their dedicated YouTube channel. These are included on our product pages for convenience and clarity prior to purchase. Installation is quick and simple with most tray systems including an integrated waste.
You will either be installing on to screed (concrete) or floorboards. Generally speaking once the board is set in place with the relevant Wedi plinths and substructures in place you would seal the joints with the dedicated Wedi Fundo Sealing Set. This creates a 100% waterproof joint. You are then ready to tile! Channels and grates are quick and easy to install into their matching tray systems. Each product line has a dedicated installation video. Make sure you order your Wedi sealing set and Wedi 610 sealant adhesive.

How thick is Wedi board?

Board varies in thickness from a slim 4mm up to 50mm, waste areas on trays are reinforced with additional board and drain substructure supports. Plinths are available to raise shower bases. The structural integrity and rigidity of the material mean it is tough and robust but lightweight and space saving.

Wedi board for showers

You have a lot of choice here, there are a few questions to ask yourself to get the right Wedi product for your installation. The steps are:

1. Select your tray
2. Select your drain
3 Select the sealing set
4. Any additional products

In order to select your tray you need to first ask yourself: are you installing on to wooden floorboards, or a solid concrete floor.

Wooden Floors: The following is a suitable suggestion installation on wooden floors / floorboards:Wedi Fundo Ligno Shower Base. At least 44mm is required for the space above the drain body to house the shower element, at this stage you need to cut out enough room for this and the drain element. Measure carefully at this point and allow enough room as per the instructions. After this you install the dedicated supporting substructure (Wedi Fundo Ligno drain substructure element) at this point you connect the drain to your drainage pipework and reinsert the removed flooring around the recessed drain where required (or use the Wedi Fundo Ligno drain substructure element, see below). Next, infill the recess, most fitters use a sand and cement mortar mix, smoothing it level with the top of the drain body, leaving 20mm to accommodate the support plate which is on the underside of the Wedi board round the waste hole (for added strength). Now insert the O-ring (from above) and screw in the sealing collar. Pre-treating any wooden surfaces with a primer add a flexible cement based tile adhesive over the whole surface area of the underneath of the actual Wedi Shower element board. This is now ready to be installed into the recess, making sure it is all level now seal the entire outer perimeter with the: Wedi Fundo Sealing Set. Leave this to set for 12 hours, then tile! Tip. You can cut down on time by using the Wedi Fundo Ligno drain substructure element. This is a pre-formed foam element especially designed to support the drain.

Screed or Concrete Floors: The following is a suitable suggestion for installation on screed or concrete floors. Wedi Fundo Primo Shower Base. Leave a suitable recess in the screed / concrete floor. Join up your drainage pipework, infill the recess with a sand and cement mix smoothing it to a level leaving 43mm between the top of the drain body and what will be the final floor level. Put the O-ring into the groove, now screw the clamping collar into the main sealing collar. Now you’ll need to apply a flexible tile adhesive to the underneath of the shower element board, put this into the recess making sure it is all level. At this point you’ll need to seal the whole of the outside perimeter with Wedi Fundo Sealing Set. Leaving this to set and dry for 12 hours will ensure it’s ready for tiling on to. Tip. To save time on filling with mortar (around the pipework in the first steps) purchase the: Wedi Fundo Primo Easy Set. This helps install to the right height quickly: Glue the Easy Set onto a level subflooring, fix together the individual pieces with Wedi 610 adhesive, position the drain unit into the recess. Once this has dried fix in your connecting pipework. See Wedi’s fitting videos for clarification.

How to install Wedi shower niche

You may have seen various images of bathrooms in magazines or on our website with tiled walls featuring alcoves for storage and decoration, and wondered how these are created. These kinds of shapes can be built with Wedi’s prefabricated elements. Wedi offer a preformed Wedi niche solution that can simply be tiled onto, this is guaranteed 100% waterproof as part of a Wedi system, so you don’t have to worry about your desired design feature compromising the integrity of the waterproofing structure on your shower wall. Individual niches are available in 4 sizes, in addition Wedi have developed an all in one wall section with a preformed niche. Tip. Ask your tiler to trim the opening with a metallic strip for a clean cut modern edge.

Aesthetic and Time Saving Considerations

The Wedi Fundo Top (Primo and Plano) is a fantastic product, which is very easy to install. It cuts down time on tiling and grouting, and comes in 4 attractive finishes: White, Beige, Anthracite, Grey. Simply install the Fundo Top on top of the Fundo Primo base, or the Plano Top onto the Plano Floor element (Primo on Primo, Plano on Plano). Both are 6mm thick, watertight and joint free.

Have questions about which Wedi is suitable for you? Contact our sales team directly by phone or email today!