Leaking shower repairs
A leaking shower rarely stays a small problem. Water that gets past the tiles soaks into walls, floor framing and neighbouring rooms, and in apartments it often ends up in the ceiling of the unit below. The tricky part is working out where it's coming from. It could be the tapware, the pipes in the wall, the waste outlet, failed grout and silicone, or the waterproofing membrane underneath. We test each possibility and fix the actual cause rather than just covering up the symptoms.
Common causes we find
Worn shower mixer or taps
Leaking cartridges and spindles can let water escape into the wall cavity behind the tiles.
Leaking pipe connections
Fittings behind the wall that weep every time the shower is used.
Failed waste outlet
The seal between the floor waste and the drain can break down, letting water under the tiles.
Cracked grout and silicone
Gaps in grout and perished silicone at junctions let water seep in.
Membrane failure
If the waterproofing under the tiles has failed, a more substantial repair is needed.
Signs your shower is leaking
Look for these around the bathroom and in the rooms next to it.
- Stains or bubbling paint on the other side of the wall. Hallways and bedrooms behind showers often show damage first.
- Loose, drummy or cracked tiles. Water under tiles weakens the adhesive so they sound hollow when tapped.
- Mould that keeps coming back. Persistent mould low on the walls or along the shower base.
- Rotting skirting boards or swollen door frames. Timber near the shower absorbing moisture.
- Water marks on the ceiling below. Very common in units and two-storey homes.
- A musty smell after showering. Trapped moisture in the walls or floor.
How we approach a leaking shower
We start by working out which part of the shower is leaking, because the fix is completely different depending on the source. We'll check the tapware and look for leaks in the pipework with the water on and off, then test the floor and waste area separately from the walls. This step-by-step approach means you're not paying to rip out a whole bathroom when the problem is a worn cartridge or a failed waste seal.
- Tapware or pipe leak: we replace the faulty part or repair the pipe, accessing it as neatly as we can.
- Waste or seal problem: we repair the outlet and reseal the affected area.
- Membrane failure: we'll explain what's involved and your options so you can make an informed decision.
In strata buildings, a leaking shower can affect common property and other lots. We can give you a written report on what we found.
Why Eastern Suburbs locals call us
- 100+ five-star Google reviews
- Licensed plumbers and gasfitters (Lic. 398171C)
- Free quotes, and a clear price before any work starts
- We test each part of the shower separately so you only pay to fix what's actually leaking.
Common questions
Can you fix a leaking shower without retiling?
Often, yes. If the cause is the tapware, pipework or the waste, it can usually be fixed without retiling the whole shower. Membrane failures are a bigger job.
My downstairs neighbour has a stain on their ceiling. What should I do?
Stop using the shower if you can, let your strata manager or landlord know, and get it checked. We can investigate and provide a report.
Is regrouting enough?
Sometimes, but grout isn't waterproof on its own. If water is already getting under the tiles, regrouting alone may not solve it.
Do you do full bathroom renovations?
We focus on finding and fixing the leak. If a full rebuild is needed, we'll tell you so and explain why.
We fix leaking showers in Matraville, Maroubra and Pagewood.