Why waterproofing matters more than the tile
Most “bad tile jobs” are actually bad waterproofing jobs. Once water gets behind the tile, it rots subfloor, soaks studs, drips into ceilings, and feeds mold. Waterproofing is the single most important part of any tile shower, and it is the part the homeowner never sees.
Systems we install
We install both sheet membrane systems (Schluter-Kerdi style) and quality liquid membrane systems. Both work when installed correctly. The right choice depends on the build, framing, and shape of the shower.
- Sheet membrane systems on walls, floor pan, niches, and benches
- Liquid applied membranes with reinforcing fabric at seams and corners
- Pre-sloped foam pans with bonded drains
- Reinforced inside and outside corners
- Sealed pipe penetrations
- Sloped niche sills so water drains out, not in
Where waterproofing is required
Every wall of the shower, the floor pan, the curb, the niche, the bench, and any wall within splash zone of the tub. We treat the entire wet area as one connected system, not a patchwork of products.
When an existing shower can not be saved
If a shower is already leaking, regrouting or recaulking is rarely a permanent fix. The membrane behind the tile is what failed, and you can not fix a failed membrane from the outside. In those cases the shower needs to be opened up and rebuilt correctly.
