Start with a question.
If you already have something specific to figure out — how a pitched roof should be insulated, what a material or tool is actually for — start there.
Demo — Insulating a pitched roof
See a connected Detail pageIndependent construction knowledge
Understand how things are built.
BUILT IN DETAIL explains how construction and renovation work actually gets done — the reasoning behind a solution, not just a list of steps. Start with a real question, or begin with an idea and work back to the technical detail behind it.
SHEET 01
Entry points — two plates, one register
Whichever way you start, you end up in the same place: understanding what's actually involved before you commit to a decision.
Start with an idea.
If you're earlier in the process and exploring what's possible, start with a concept and work toward the technical detail behind it.
Demo — A bathroom concept
See the technical bridge
SHEET 02
Positioning — what this is, and isn't
- NOT—01A retailer
- NOT—02A contractor marketplace
- NOT—03A forum
It exists to explain how something should be built, independently of who ends up supplying the materials or doing the work. Where a decision depends on your specific situation or country, that's stated directly rather than smoothed over.
SHEET 03
How this content is put together
Technical content is checked against reliable sources rather than written from a single opinion, and anything involving structural, electrical, gas or waterproofing risk is clearly marked for professional review — it's never presented as a substitute for a qualified assessment of your specific situation.
Sourced & verified
Professional-review routing
Jurisdiction labelled, separate from locale
Detail — waterproofing
Waterproofing a shower drain correctly.
A shower drain that isn't waterproofed correctly can let water track into the floor or wall structure without being visible at first — which is why this detail matters more than its size suggests.
SHEET 05
Section B—B — the build-up, in principle
PLATE B—B
01Tile / finish surface
02Waterproof membrane — continuous, no gaps at joints or drain
03Screed, laid to fall toward drain
04Substrate
05 — Drain fitting, compatible with membrane system
The build-up, in principle
In general terms, a waterproofed shower floor needs: a fall (slope) directing water to the drain; a continuous waterproof membrane or tanking layer across the floor and up the adjoining walls to a sufficient height, with no gaps at joints, corners or drain connections; and a drain fitting compatible with that membrane system. Movement joints and substrate preparation also affect long-term performance. This describes the general principle, not a step-by-step specification for any particular product or standard.
SHEET 06
Approval block
Jurisdiction
Pending sourcing — NL / DE / FR / UK
Specific regulatory requirements for wet-room waterproofing in the Netherlands, Germany, France and the UK are not yet confirmed for this page and are not stated here. This section exists to make that limitation visible, not to imply a universal rule — jurisdiction-specific detail will be added once sourced and reviewed.
Professional review
Required before work begins
This page explains the general principle behind correct waterproofing. It does not replace a qualified assessment of your specific installation, substrate, drain type or local regulatory requirement. Waterproofing failures are difficult and costly to diagnose after tiling is complete — for anything beyond a straightforward, like-for-like replacement, professional input before work begins is strongly advisable.
Related — the bathroom concept
This detail sits behind the inspiration content for the bathroom concept shown on this site.
02 A bathroom concept: layout, materials, light This link is substantive — the detail above explains the build-up behind exactly this kind of installation, not a decorative cross-reference.
SHEET 08
Material schedule — non-transactional
Ref
Item
M—01Waterproofing membrane system
M—02Drain fitting
M—03PPE
M—04Substrate preparation tools
Presented for context and planning only — not a substitute for the professional assessment above, and not a specification for your particular job.