This is a common question asked by tenants, homeowners and business owners who have just moved into an existing property.
As the new resident of a home or commercial premise, you are the latest in a long line of previous tenants. Unless you have a detailed history of the property itself, you may not know when the waterproofing system was last maintained… and if it has been maintained at all.
Fortunately, there are simple ways you can check the status of your shower or bathroom. And you don’t need a lot of technical knowledge or fancy tools to get the answer, either. So let’s find out how you can tell if your bathroom has been waterproofed or not, shall we?
Check Your Bathroom Tiles
Bathroom tiles come in all shapes, sizes and materials depending on where they are used. Keep in mind, bathroom tiles are not totally waterproof. But they are specially designed for wet environments and to repel water so it travels straight down the drain.
If the tiles becomes cracked or loose, it leaves the surface exposed to water penetration.
Be sure to inspect your bathroom and shower tiles closely. Inspect tiles in the shower floor and walls, the general standing area, tiles near the bathtub and around the basin. If you see any signs of damage have the tiles immediately repaired or replaced.
Top Up or Replace the Grout
Next, you need to inspect the tile grout.
How do you know if your grout is in good condition? Check the material to see if it’s mouldy, crumbly or has holes. Touch the grout to find out if it’s soft and powdery… or hard like it should be. Don’t be fooled, even the slightest signs of damage can increase the risk of a leak if left for too long.
Depending on the condition of the grout, you will need to either top-up or replace the grout entirely.
Still asking yourself, “How do I know if my bathroom is waterproofed?” Get in touch with Shower Sealed on 1300 519 133 for expert advice and support.
Check the Shower Wall and Floor Junctions
Do you know the number one cause of shower and bathroom leaks? Building movement.
This phenomenon is caused by gradual shifts in the foundation of the property. The resulting movement places stress on the building and leads to all kinds of deformations. To resist the effects of building movement, durable silicone is placed where the shower wall and floor section meets.
If the silicone fails, it exposes the gap in the junction and – you guessed it – there goes the water! Be sure to top-up or replace your old, worn-out and mouldy silicone to keep the waterproof barrier strong.
Inspect the Shower Fixtures
Have you ever looked behind your shower taps and showerhead before? To create space for the tap head studs and showerhead drain, holes are drilled into the wall. These holes must be sealed with silicone to stop water from breaching the surface.
To find out if your showerhead fixtures are sealed, you will need to disassemble them. If there is no silicone or the silicone has become worn out, top it up with new silicone.
Time to Call the Experts
Still asking yourself, “How do I know if my bathroom is waterproofed?”
Then it’s time to figure out the final piece of the puzzle: the waterproof membrane. The most common cause of waterproof membrane is poor workmanship. But if the membrane is 10 years or older, it may have simply worn out with age.
In this case, you will need to call a waterproofing expert to remove the tiles and inspect the condition of the membrane. Shower Sealed will be happy to assess your shower and give you a free no-obligation quote. With our years of experience and technical knowledge, we guarantee to find the exact source of your leak.
Get in touch with Shower Sealed on 1300 519 133 for expert advice and support.
