Multi-Apartment Project with Maxim Built x wedi

Wedi case study

Maxim Built, led by General Manager Lee Corcoran, recently undertook a multi-residential apartment development featuring 21 apartments with 35 bathrooms and 21 laundries. With multiple wet areas spread across numerous tight, high-traffic rooms, the team needed a waterproofing system that could deliver the reliability and speed that traditional methods simply didn’t offer.

The Challenge

In multi-apartment builds, bathrooms are some of the most complex and risk-prone rooms. With multiple trades such as plumbers, electricians, tilers, and cabinet installers, all working in tight areas, the likelihood of accidental damage to waterproofing is high.

Traditional waterproofing methods present several issues:

• Vulnerability during construction: Membranes can be easily pierced by dropped screws, sharp tools, or general trade traffic, often without anyone noticing.
• Dependence on drying times: Screeding and membrane curing introduce delays that can slow the construction process.
• Limited warranty protection: Teams must rely on tiler or waterproofer warranties, which often don’t cover all types of failures.

And in a multi-residential environment, even a single waterproofing failure can lead to major consequences:

• Leaks into the apartment below
• Significant remedial and repair costs
• Major delays and increased defect risk across the project.

These challenges made it clear that a more reliable and resilient method was required for this project.

Why Maxim Built Chose wedi

Warranty & Product Assurance

Maxim Bulit’s General Manager, Lee Corcoran, first encountered the wedi system through a Bowens webinar. The system’s long warranty stood out immediately to him.

‘By using wedi board, we’ve guaranteed a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty for all bathrooms on this project.’ Lee said. ‘This is over and beyond the guarantees that we get from tiling waterproofers.’

It covers damage from leaks and anything affected below the system, which is ideal for apartment complexes. Additionally, the system remains fully waterproof during construction, meaning dropped screws or tools don’t compromise the warranty or the integrity of the system.

This gave Maxim Built’s team confidence that once fit-off was complete, no “hidden leaks” would surface. After further discussions and technical reviews, the team decided to implement wedi across all 35 bathrooms and 21 laundries for this project.

On-Site Experience Using wedi

Installation Efficiency

The lightweight nature of wedi components made handling and placement significantly easier than traditional alternatives. It also reduces installation time.

‘We don’t have to cart our barrels full of screed,’ said Lee. ‘We also don’t have to wait for waterproofing membranes to dry before we can do the screeds, and then the membrane over the top.’

Faster Program
Because wedi boards can be installed immediately, tiling was able to begin just two days after installation, providing a noticeable acceleration in program timelines.

wedi Training & Support
wedi provided on-site training to Maxim Built’s team, allowing them to carry out the installation themselves. This not only gave them complete control of the build but also ensured consistency and quality across all 35 bathrooms.

Outcomes

• Major time savings across wet area construction
• Reduced risk of membrane damage and costly waterproofing failures
• Greater project certainty through 10-year warranty
• Improved workflow
• Less downtime and fewer delays.

wedi provided a faster and more dependable waterproofing solution for Maxim Built’s multi-apartment projects. Its strong warranty, installation efficiency, and significant risk reduction made it the ideal choice.

For more information about wedi products, shop online or speak to your account manager for further details. Bowens runs wedi workshops throughout the year, so keep an eye out for an opportunity to learn more and get wedi certified.