Shower & bathroom waterproofing near me

Tiles and grout are not waterproof. Water soaks through grout lines and hairline cracks, and without a membrane underneath it reaches the wall, floor slab and the room next door. A proper tanking system behind the tiles is what actually keeps water in the shower.

Sometimes. If the leak is from failed grout or silicone, regrouting and resealing can solve it. If water is getting behind the tiles because there is no membrane, or the membrane has failed, the tiles must come off for a lasting fix. A specialist should test before recommending either.

Signs include bubbling or peeling paint on the other side of the wall, damp skirtings, musty smells, loose tiles and dark grout that never dries. Downstairs ceilings with brown stains are a classic sign in double-storey homes. The sooner it is caught, the less damage there is.

Yes. Level-access and walk-in showers have no tray or step to contain water, so the membrane must extend wider and the floor needs a correct fall to the drain. Linear drains also need careful sealing into the membrane. This is detailed work, so choose someone with walk-in experience.

Waterproofing a standard shower stall in South Africa usually costs R2,500 to R6,000 for the membrane system alone, and a full bathroom floor with shower runs R6,000 to R15,000. If old tiles must come off and new ones go down, the total can reach R25,000 to R45,000. Ask for each part priced separately.