Shower Waterproofing for Tile Showers
Tile and grout are the finished surface of a shower, but the waterproofing system behind and beneath them is what protects the structure from repeated water exposure. We install waterproofing as part of new tiled showers, shower rebuilds and bathroom remodeling projects, with attention to the pan, walls, curb, niches, benches, corners and drain connection. Skipped, damaged or incomplete waterproofing can allow moisture to reach the substrate and surrounding structure, which can eventually require significant repairs or rebuilding. This is shower construction and rebuilding work — not cosmetic leak patching, grout repair or caulking.
Shower Wall Waterproofing
Walls get a continuous bonded membrane or waterproof board system with every seam, corner and fastener detailed. Transitions from wall to pan and wall to curb are where leaks start, so those get the most attention.
Shower Pan Waterproofing
Pans are sloped to the drain and waterproofed as a single connected surface tied into the drain assembly and up the walls. Where the specific system and design allow, we verify the pan holds water before tile goes down.
Waterproof Shower Niches & Benches
Niches and benches are openings and shelves inside a wet wall, so they carry the same membrane continuity as the rest of the assembly, with a slight slope built in so water drains instead of sitting.
Curbs, Corners & Shower Transitions
Curb transitions, inside and outside corners, the wall-to-pan joint, plumbing penetrations and the drain connection are the details that decide whether a shower stays dry. Each one is sealed as part of the same continuous system rather than treated as a separate patch.
Schluter Waterproofing Systems
We install Schluter waterproofing components — bonded membranes, boards, seals and drain assemblies — on projects where they're specified or appropriate, following the manufacturer's installation instructions. Other quality waterproofing systems are used where the project calls for them.
Proper Preparation Before Waterproofing
Before membrane goes up, the substrate has to be sound, flat and correctly fastened. We replace damaged backing, correct framing, flatten walls for large-format tile and confirm the plane is true, so the waterproofing bonds properly and the tile installation that follows sits flat.
Where waterproofing fits in a project
Waterproofing is one stage of a larger build. See our complete shower remodeling services, or if you're planning to replace a bathtub with a tiled shower, read about our tub-to-shower conversion work. Waterproofing is completed before our tile installation begins, and the same assembly is built when we handle a full bathroom remodel. You can see the range of our work as a tile contractor or browse recent projects.
