Oct
22
Shower Waterproofing and Why It’s SO Important

Waterproofing is one of the single most important things that must be done correctly when building, renovating or repairing a shower in your home. When waterproofing a bathroom, you must comply with Australian standards and building codes. This is easier said than done, if you don’t know what to look for the young apprentice of the day may be responsible for waterproofing and then the next day the tiler comes in and tiles over the work so you may not know it’s even a problem till it becomes a problem.

The waterproof membrane stops moisture and water from seeping into the walls or floors. Not having this done by a qualified professional can potentially lead to tens of thousands of dollars in costs later down the line. Not to mention save you the stress of possibly having to rebuild a major part of your home.

The Purpose of Shower Waterproofing

Shower waterproofing is the process of coating your shower with a waterproof membrane to stop moisture from seeping into the structure of your home.

Essentially, it stops leaks!

You may remember seeing a grey, pink or blue coating of sticky paint during construction or a remodel, this is the membrane.

The waterproof membrane acts as a barrier that sits between the walls and floor of your home and the tiles of your shower or bath. You may not be able to see it once the tiles are on but it forms the most essential part of any shower or bathroom build!

Shower Waterproofing Regulations

There are many regulations that surround waterproofing your shower; therefore, it is best to have your shower waterproofing performed by a professional. In Queensland, a qualified tradesman who holds a waterproofing license must waterproof your shower. If they do not carry a license they are performing waterproofing services illegally and should not be hired. So, this is an essential question to ask your repairer before they start any job in your home.

The regulations for how much waterproof membrane you need to use in your shower are as follows:

. The whole floor needs to be waterproofed
. The shower walls need to be waterproofed up to a minimum of 1800mm

If you have a shower niche that sits slightly higher than the minimum clearance for shower waterproofing then make sure that it is waterproofed entirely as this is a common area where water can seep into the walls of your home. 

The Dangers Of Incorrect Waterproofing

There are many ways that leaks can appear in your shower if the waterproofing is done incorrectly, the shower niche being one major example. A lack of waterproof membrane that is not applied to Australian standards may cause the following:

. Water damage and swelling in walls and floors
. Termites to enter the home
. Tiles to become loose, increasing the risk of more leaks
. Structural damage to the home

All of these issues can arise at any time, even if your shower is brand new. These waterproofing mistakes can cost you tens of thousands of dollars in home repairs, especially if you are unaware of the leak for a long time. Therefore, it is extremely important that you ensure that your shower is waterproofed correctly and that you hire a qualified and skilled professional to carry out the work.

On the QBCC website it states:

Whilst a QBCC waterproofing licence is not required where the value of the work does not exceed $3,300, a person applying, installing or repairing waterproofing including surface preparation, and apply or installing material or systems for preventing moisture penetration less than $3,300 may be required to provide a certificate stating that they are a competent person to undertake the work. A person that holds a waterproofing licence as a contractor would be considered a competent person.

If you find that the waterproof membrane in your shower needs to be repaired we can provide waterproofing services to your shower ensuring it is watertight and not leaking. We are qualified waterproofing technicians and hold all the current QBCC licences to provide you a professional result.

All you have to do is contact us on 13 000 LEAKY, and let us know how we can help.

May
22
The most common causes of leaking showers and balconies

Has your balcony or shower started leaking?

If you’re like most people when this happens you want answers. There are so many different reasons for a shower or balcony to start leaking that it would be easier if we split the two up. Let’s discuss a leaking shower first. There are only two reasons why your shower is leaking through to downstairs or adjacent rooms. Reason number one is the pipes or taps are leaking behind the walls. The picture below shows the damage that your leaking shower causes when left to long before being repaired:

When a pipe leaks, the water will be bound by gravity and the path of least resistance causing it to end up behind bathroom walls and the waterproof membrane. When leaking pipes are the cause of your problems, the repair bill can range from very small or quite expensive depending on where the leak is.

When we provide a quote on repairing a leaking shower the very first thing we do is a pressure test. This allows us to determine if leaking pipes is the problem. This is very important because there is no point in resealing a shower properly if the pipes are leaking behind the shower walls. This picture (below right) shows a pressure test being done on the pipes. 

We see leaking showers every single day and the symptoms are always the same – water making its way through the walls or floor to the downstairs or adjacent rooms. After talking to hundreds of people about their leaking showers and listening to all different diagnoses it is evident that on the surface there looks to be a host of potential reasons for water damage but the problem is actually beneath the surface.

The second common reason for a leaking shower is related to the waterproofing. Before tiling, a shower must be waterproofed correctly to ensure any water that happens to get through the grout still finds its way to the waste. Unfortunately, many showers have not been waterproofed correctly if at all.

If waterproofing has been done correctly years of use and shifting of the home over time can cause a waterproof membrane to fail. If this happens you have 2 options. Option 1 is to re-seal the shower. This can be done if the leaking has not been left too long causing damage to the walls and floor. By this stage, it really is quite impossible to reseal a shower properly. Option 2 is to rebuild the shower which is often the best way forward if you want to update your shower or bathroom.

Leaking tiled balconies differ from showers in that there are no taps, shower heads or pipework that can cause leaks. Below is a picture of pipework that has been fixed for a shower.

Balconies also leak due to poor waterproofing or no waterproofing at all. Balconies are exposed to the elements and therefore much harsher conditions than internal bathrooms. This means the floor joints and substructure must be of high quality to withstand this exposure. (Below Right) is a picture of the floor joints being fixed on a balcony. Balconies must also be able to withstand a lot more weight and movement. If not, the chances of the waterproof membrane failing under the balcony increases. Balconies also have sliding doors or windows which add to potential areas for water penetration and therefore leaking. If the balcony is leaking the problem can usually be fixed by re-sealing the entire area without having to remove all the tiles or spending thousands.

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