Shower waterproofing
Shower Waterproofing in Wollongong
The waterproof membrane under your tiles is what really keeps water inside the shower. When it fails, new grout and silicone won't hold for long. We strip the shower back, apply a new membrane properly and retile.
- Licensedwaterproofing
- Homesand businesses
- Free quoteno obligation
Inside a shower
What's Under Your Shower Tiles
A tiled shower is a set of layers. Each one has a job, and the one that keeps water out of your house is the one you never see.
- Tiles and groutThe surface you see. It sheds water, but it isn't waterproof on its own.
- Tile adhesiveHolds the tiles to the membrane and the bed below.
- Waterproof membraneThe layer that actually keeps water in, across the floor and up the walls.
- Bond breakerLets the membrane flex in the corners so it doesn't split.
- Screed laid to fallShapes the floor so water runs to the waste instead of sitting.
- The wasteThe membrane has to seal into the drain, or water gets around it.
- Silicone in the cornerA flexible joint where the wall meets the floor.
When it has failed
When a Shower Needs Rewaterproofing
Signs the membrane has gone
- The leak comes backAfter new grout and silicone, the damp returns.
- Damp with no surface causeWater in the wall or the ceiling below, but the joints look fine.
- Loose or hollow tilesAcross the floor, not just one or two.
- Damage next doorSwollen timber or damp plaster beside the shower.
What we do
- 01Strip outTiles and the old bed come out, back to a sound base.
- 02PrepareThe surface is prepared so the new membrane bonds.
- 03Corners and wasteBond breakers in the corners, and the waste sealed in.
- 04MembraneApplied across the floor and up the walls.
- 05CureLeft to cure properly before anything goes on top.
- 06RetileNew bed, tiles, grout and silicone, then a final check.
A leak that keeps coming back after new grout and silicone is often a membrane problem.
Where to start
Just the Shower, or the Whole Bathroom?
If only the shower leaks, we waterproof the shower. If you're renovating, the whole room is done at once.
Shower waterproofing
The shower recess: its floor, walls, hob and waste. The usual fix when a shower's membrane has failed and the rest of the bathroom is fine.
Bathroom waterproofing
The whole room: floors, the shower, around the bath and the doorway. Done during a renovation, before any tiles go down.
- LicensedWaterproofing handled by licensed tradespeople.
- Large or smallFrom a single shower to commercial wet areas.
- 25+ yearsOf waterproofing across the region.
Shower Waterproofing Questions
The questions we're asked most about waterproofing a shower.
Ask us a questionHow do I know the membrane under my shower has failed?
Common signs are a leak that keeps coming back after new grout and silicone, damp in the wall or the ceiling below with no obvious cause at the surface, and loose or hollow tiles across the floor. We confirm it with an inspection and a water test.
Can a failed membrane be fixed without removing the tiles?
No. The membrane sits under the tiles and the bed, so replacing it means stripping the shower back. If the membrane is still sound, a regrout and reseal may be all you need, and we'll tell you which applies.
Will I need new tiles?
Usually, yes. Tiles rarely come off whole, so we'll talk through tile choices when we quote. You're welcome to choose your own.
How long does rewaterproofing a shower take?
Longer than a regrout or reseal. The membrane has to cure properly before it's tiled over. We'll give you the timing for your shower with the quote.
Do you waterproof balconies and other wet areas?
Yes. We waterproof showers, bathrooms, laundries and balconies, for homes and businesses. Tell us what you have and we'll talk it through.
Is shower waterproofing different from bathroom waterproofing?
Shower waterproofing covers the shower recess: its floor, walls and waste. Bathroom waterproofing covers the whole room during a renovation. Bathroom waterproofing
Tell Us About the Shower.
Photos of the shower and any damage nearby help Paul work out whether the membrane is the problem before he visits.
- Free, no-obligation quotes
- Send photos so we can come prepared
- 25+ years of local wet-area experience
