Hiring a waterproofer to seal your bathroom

If you've had trouble around the home with leaking sinks and faucets in the bathroom, it might be time to call in an expert waterproofer. Steve Chehade is here to help you understand what you'll need.

What are the signs of a waterproofing problem in the bathroom?

The first thing would be discoloured grout or grout joints falling out between the tiles. The back of the adjoining room, the paint and the carpet can all become stained. In the worst case scenario, if it's an upstairs bathroom, the Gyprock can discolour and blister from the water.

Which areas of a bathroom must be waterproofed?

Shower recesses and the remainder of the floors in the bathroom. The walls in the shower recess should be done up to 1.8 metres high and the entire base should be waterproofed.

What does the process involve?

Waterproofing is all about preparation, so we make sure the surface of the wall and floor is clean and of sound structure. Then it's a process of priming the walls, sealing them and applying the waterproofing itself, to Australian standards of course.

Is waterproofing something people can try to do themselves?

I wouldn't recommend it. When houses are under construction, local councils will require certification of the waterproofing, which we do. If you're doing a general bathroom renovation and the council's not involved, we still wouldn't recommend it because cutting corners or using cheap materials means that if anything goes wrong you'll have to go back to square one and redo everything.

Is the trend of walk-in showers making it harder to waterproof bathrooms?

That actually requires a different sort of set-up. That's when we use larger and wider flashing angles in the bedding itself, before the shower is tiled, so we can contain the water. And you definitely have to waterproof the whole bathroom floor. There's ways around it, but professionals will know what they're doing.

How long does waterproofing last?

With all the preparations and the coats, most manufacturers will give you a seven-year warranty on their products, and most membranes will last for double that life. That's the general rule, but when written it wouldn't be more than a seven-year guarantee.

Contact a waterproofer in your area to help you seal your home: