A water test or more commonly referred to a “flood test” is a quality inspection that can be performed on any shower installation before setting tile. It basically consists of plugging the waste line with a test plug and filling the base of the shower stall with water to check for leaks. If you are building a barrier-free shower, then you will need to provide a temporary dam at the shower entry threshold. You can quickly check the drain connection and test plug by filling the pipe and drain with water up to the top of the black ProTile™ integrated shower tray flange. If the pipe connection and drain pipe plug are watertight, then you can continue filling the assembly. The water level is noted and the assembly is left for a specified amount of time – 24 hours is customary in most communities that require flood tests. If there are no leaks, the shower passes the inspection and you can begin tiling; knowing that your assembly is watertight and secure.
Note: We recommend waiting a minimum of two hours after applying ProTile™ Sealant to begin water testing. This will allow the sealant to skin over and begin to cure. This will also ensure that no damage to the sealant will occur as it sits underwater during the test and that you get watertight performance at the seams under normal curing conditions (i.e., room temperature). If temperatures are lower (i.e., in the range of 50 or 60 degrees), then it is best to wait longer before starting your water test since cooler than standard temperatures will extend the curing time of the sealant.
