When tile meets water in a Portland bathroom or wet room, the membrane underneath determines whether the assembly stays dry for decades or fails within years. We install Laticrete Hydro Ban liquid waterproofing and the 9235 fabric-reinforced system, paired with matched underlayments that prepare the substrate and bond chemically to the membrane above. One system, one warranty, no gaps between layers. Call for a free written estimate.
Matched Laticrete underlayments for substrate prep
Free written estimate with firm schedule
The substrate matters
Why Laticrete Waterproofing Stops Leaks
Tile and stone failures in wet areas rarely start at the surface. The real culprit is what sits beneath: a substrate that isn't flat, a membrane that isn't bonded, or incompatible products stacked on top of each other. Laticrete solves this by engineering the entire assembly as one system.
Hydro Ban is the liquid-applied membrane that seals walls and floors in showers, wet rooms and below-grade applications. The 9235 fabric-reinforced option adds reinforcement at corners, seams and movement joints where liquid alone won't hold. Beneath both sits a matched Laticrete underlayment that gets the substrate flat and ready, then bonds chemically to the membrane above.
This is the same one-system thinking we apply to our Sika waterproofing and Ardex repair work. When you choose all products from the same family, the warranty stays intact and the assembly performs as designed. See our basement waterproofing and polished concrete floor installs for the same principle in action.
On the job
Installation sequence
How Laticrete Waterproofing Gets Installed
Assess the substrate and use case
We evaluate the substrate condition, the wet-area application (shower, wet room, below-grade), and any movement or detailing challenges to decide between Hydro Ban liquid and 9235 fabric-reinforced.
Prepare and level with underlayment
A matched Laticrete underlayment is applied to bring the substrate flat and sound, creating a stable base for the waterproofing membrane to bond into.
Apply the membrane at full thickness
Hydro Ban or 9235 is applied to the manufacturer-specified thickness, with all seams, corners and transitions detailed and sealed. Flood testing is performed where the assembly requires it.
Set tile into Laticrete thinset
Tile or stone is set into a Laticrete thinset mortar that bonds into the membrane below, creating one continuous waterproofed assembly from substrate to finish.
Two products, one family
Choosing Between Hydro Ban and 9235
Hydro Ban is the liquid-applied waterproofing membrane for straightforward wet-area applications. It flows onto the substrate, seals it completely, and tile sets directly into a Laticrete thinset that bonds into the membrane. Fast, reliable, and proven in thousands of Portland showers and wet rooms.
The 9235 fabric-reinforced system adds a woven reinforcement layer at corners, movement joints and complex transitions where liquid alone may not provide enough structural support. We specify 9235 when the assembly has tight corners, multiple seams, or movement that demands extra durability. Both systems pair with matched Laticrete underlayments and thinsets, so the chemistry is engineered to work as one. Learn more about our Mapei waterproofing and Sika waterproofing options as well.
Hydro Ban vs 9235, tile assembly waterproofing, and matched underlayments in Portland.
Hydro Ban is a liquid-applied waterproofing membrane for showers, wet rooms and below-grade tile assemblies. It seals the substrate, then tile or finish sets into a Laticrete thinset that bonds into the membrane.
The 9235 fabric-reinforced system adds reinforcement at corners, movement joints and detailed transitions where liquid alone is not enough. We pick based on the specific assembly.
Usually yes. A matched Laticrete underlayment brings the substrate flat and bonds chemically to the membrane above, removing the layer-boundary failure mode you get from mixing brands.
Yes. Hydro Ban and 9235 are designed for shower assemblies and are widely specified for wet rooms, with proper detailing at drains, corners and curbs as part of the install.
We install Laticrete systems to the published manufacturer spec, with primer, membrane and tile-setting products from the same family, so the warranty is intact and the assembly performs.
Client reviews
What Portland Clients Say About Laticrete Installs
A shower that needs to stay dry, a wet-room floor, or a tile assembly in a tricky location, tell us the project and we will spec the right Laticrete system and send a written quote within one business day.
