Bathroom Leak Repair
Bathroom & Shower Leak Repair in Perth
We find where water is escaping your wet area and repair it at the source, with non-invasive options available in many cases.
A leaking bathroom rarely announces itself in the bathroom. It shows up as a damp skirting board in the hallway, a bubbling paint line on the other side of the shower wall, or a musty smell that never quite clears.
Our work starts by establishing where the water is actually getting through. Once that is understood, we can advise whether the leak is suited to a targeted surface repair, or whether it needs a different kind of remedial work.
Free silicone replacementIncluded
Every shower repair includes removal and replacement of perished silicone at the wall, floor and corner junctions at no additional charge, where the assessment finds it is needed. It is not quoted as a separate item and it is not added to the price. Sound silicone is left alone rather than replaced for the sake of it.
What to look for
Signs You May Have a Bathroom leak Problem
Any one of these on its own is worth a look. Two or three together usually means it is time to act.
Damp patches outside the bathroom
Staining or dampness on the other side of a shower wall, in an adjoining hallway, or on a skirting board.
Lifting or bubbling paint
Paint blistering or peeling on a wall that backs onto a shower is a classic sign of sustained moisture.
A musty smell that persists
A damp smell that does not clear with ventilation often means moisture is sitting somewhere it should not be.
Cracked, missing or crumbling grout
Grout that has eroded, cracked or fallen out of the joints leaves a direct path for water.
Perished or mouldy silicone
Sealant that has gone hard, split, lifted at the edges or blackened is no longer doing its job.
Swollen or lifting flooring nearby
Timber or laminate flooring that has cupped or lifted near a bathroom wall suggests water is tracking out.
Common causes of bathroom leaks
Most of the leaking showers we are called to have one of a small number of underlying causes. Identifying which one you have is what determines the repair.
- Grout deterioration: cracked, missing or eroded grout in the shower base, wall joints or floor
- Failed silicone: perished, split or mould-affected sealant at wall-to-floor and internal corner junctions
- Movement joints: the junctions where the shower base meets the wall, which flex and eventually open up
- Penetrations: around taps, mixers, waste outlets, shower screens and screw fixings through the tiled surface
- Shower perimeter: water tracking under the screen or over the hob where the seal has failed
- Waste and drain junctions: where the tiled surface meets the floor waste
- Failed or absent waterproofing membrane beneath the tiles (this one cannot be resolved from the surface)
What we check
An inspection is about ruling causes in and out. We look at the whole wet area rather than only the spot where water appears.
- Condition of grout throughout the shower base, walls and adjoining floor
- Condition and adhesion of silicone at all internal junctions
- Tile condition: cracked, drummy or lifting tiles that suggest movement below
- Seals around tapware, mixers, wastes and screen fixings
- The shower screen, hob and door seal
- Falls to the waste and evidence of pooling water
- The adjoining rooms: where the water is emerging, and the pattern of staining
- Whether the symptoms are consistent with a surface defect or something below the tiles
What the repair may include
The scope depends entirely on what the inspection finds. A written quotation sets out exactly which of these are included before any work starts.
- Removal of deteriorated grout and installation of replacement grout to affected joints
- Full removal and replacement of perished silicone at wall, floor and corner junctions
- Re-sealing around tapware, wastes, screens and other penetrations
- Repair or replacement of failed movement joints
- Application of a suitable surface sealer where the substrate and tile type allow it
- Treatment of mould-affected joints prior to resealing
- Advice on where further investigation is warranted, with a clear explanation of why
Can it be fixed without removing tiles?
Many leaks can be repaired without removing existing tiles, depending on the condition and source of the leak. An inspection may be required to determine whether a non-invasive repair is suitable.
In practice, a large share of leaking showers are caused by defects at the tiled surface, namely grout, silicone and joints, and those can be addressed without demolition. That is the outcome we aim for, because it is faster, cheaper and far less disruptive for you.
What we will not do is tell you a surface repair will work when the evidence points elsewhere. If the symptoms suggest a failed membrane, a plumbing fault or structural movement, we will say so and explain what we think the appropriate next step is, even when that is work we do not carry out ourselves.
Recent work
Bathroom Leak Repair We Have Carried Out
Photographs of our own completed work. Every job is different, so treat these as an indication of finish rather than a like-for-like match with your property.
Timber-look tiled shower with a linear strip drain, with even grout joints across the floor and up the walls.
Get an Estimate
Answer a few questions about your bathroom leaks and see an indicative range immediately. No contact details required to see the result.
Can you fix a leaking shower without removing tiles?
Often, yes. Many shower leaks are caused by defects at the tiled surface, such as deteriorated grout, perished silicone, failed junctions or unsealed penetrations, and those can be repaired without demolition.
It depends on the condition and the source of the leak. An inspection may be required to determine whether a non-invasive repair is suitable. Where the evidence points to a failed waterproofing membrane, a plumbing fault or structural movement, a surface repair will not resolve it and we will tell you that rather than proceed.
How do I know if my grout is causing the leak?
You often cannot tell from the surface alone, which is why we assess before quoting. That said, grout is a strong candidate when it is visibly cracked, crumbling or missing, when the silicone in the corners has perished, and when the dampness outside the bathroom lines up with the wettest part of the shower.
Grout is less likely to be the cause when the leak happens only while the taps are running, when it appears regardless of whether the shower has been used, or when there is no visible defect in the joints at all. Those patterns point elsewhere.
How long does bathroom leak repair take?
Most targeted repairs to a single shower or wet area are completed within a day. A full regrout of a shower including silicone replacement is also typically a one-day job.
Larger scopes, multiple areas or work that turns out to need additional preparation can extend beyond that. Your written quotation sets out the expected duration before work starts.
How long before I can use the shower again?
As a general guide, allow at least 24 hours after grouting and silicone application before the area is wet again. Silicone in particular needs time to cure properly, and using the shower too early is the most common cause of a premature failure.
The exact time depends on the products used, the temperature and the humidity on the day. We give you specific written curing times for your job before we leave.
Do I need an inspection?
For straightforward regrouting, clear photographs and measurements are often enough for us to quote accurately.
For a leak, an inspection is usually the right call. Identifying where water is actually getting through is what determines whether a non-invasive repair is appropriate, and that is difficult to establish from photos alone.
Related services
Balcony Leak Repair
Surface remediation for leaking tiled balconies, covering joints, perimeter seals and grout, with honest advice when the problem sits deeper.
View serviceRegrouting
Removal of tired, cracked and mould-affected grout and installation of fresh grout and sealant for showers, floors, walls and balconies.
View service
Next step
Need Bathroom Leak Repair in Perth?
Send us photos and a short description. We will tell you what we think is happening and what the next step should be.