Understanding a leaking shower in Perth
Most leaking showers can be repaired once the source is found. Water usually escapes through cracked grout, failed silicone at the corners and screen, a broken membrane under the tiles, or the plumbing itself. The right fix depends on which of these it is, so a leak inspection comes before any quote for work.
Signs water is escaping the shower
Look outside the recess, not just inside it. Swollen or flaking skirting boards, bubbling paint or stains on the far side of the wall, loose or hollow sounding tiles, mould along joints, and a musty smell that lingers after the room dries are all common clues. Marks on a ceiling below an upstairs shower point the same way.
Why leak diagnosis decides the repair
Visible damage often shows up some distance from where water gets in. Regrouting a shower that leaks through a split membrane only hides the problem, while stripping tiles for what is really a perished silicone joint costs far more than it needs to. Checking the grout, sealant, drain and pipes in turn narrows down the cause first.
Repair levels, from reseal to strip-out
At the lighter end, old silicone and grout are cut out and replaced, sometimes with an epoxy grout that resists water better than cement grout. Where the membrane has failed at the floor or hob, removing those tiles, applying a new membrane and retiling is usually the lasting answer. Some jobs sit in between, with only one section lifted.
Not knowing the cause is normal
You do not need to tell grout failure from membrane failure before asking for help; that is what the inspection is for. What helps most is a clear picture of the symptoms: where the damage shows, how long it has been there, whether it gets worse after long showers, and roughly how old the bathroom is.
Next step: photograph the leak signs
Take photos of the shower floor, the corners, the base of the screen and any damage on nearby walls, skirting or ceilings. Note which room sits behind or below the shower. With that in hand, licensed and insured local contractors can judge whether it looks like a reseal job or something deeper.
Leaking Shower Repair Services We Offer
✓Reseal and Regrout
For leaks through worn grout or perished silicone where the membrane underneath is still sound. The tiles stay in place.
✓Partial Strip-out
Lifting the tiles around one failed section, such as the floor waste or hob, so the membrane can be repaired locally.
✓Full Strip-out and Rewaterproof
When the membrane has failed across the recess, it is stripped back, a new membrane is applied and the shower is retiled.
How it works
- 1
Describe the symptoms
Share where the damage shows, how long it has been there and photos of the shower and nearby walls. Guessing the cause is not required.
- 2
Leak inspection and diagnosis
The grout, silicone, floor waste and pipes are checked in turn to find where water is actually escaping, rather than where the stain appears.
- 3
Agree the repair scope
Ask for a written scope that says which repair level is proposed, from reseal to strip-out, and what it includes before any work begins.
- 4
Repair and recheck
The repair is carried out and the shower checked before normal use. Ask how long new grout, sealant or membrane needs before the shower runs again.