Waterproofing is not a feature — it's a requirement. It's what separates a 25-year shower from one that fails in five.
Water doesn't care that the tile looks nice. If the substrate isn't sealed properly — at the corners, joints, curb, and floor-to-wall transition — it will migrate behind the tile and into the structure. By the time you notice discolouration, loose tile, or a musty smell, significant damage has usually already occurred.
We've seen showers that lasted 3 years and showers that lasted 30. The difference is almost always the waterproofing layer.
Every tiled shower we build — whether it's a $7,000 alcove update or an $18,000 custom walk-in — receives the same waterproofing standard. No exceptions. No upsell. It's built in.
We will not install tile in a shower without first waterproofing it properly.
We recommend the waterproofing system that fits the substrate, tile format, and shower type. All three are industry-approved and tested.
Rolled or brushed on directly over cement board. Covers the entire wet zone — walls, floor, and all transitions. Fabric tape reinforces corners and seams. Our most-used system.
A thin, bonded, sheet-applied waterproofing membrane embedded in unmodified thin-set. Part of the Schluter-KERDI system — excellent for all shower types including steam.
For barrier-free showers, we install a mortar pre-slope to the drain, then apply a full liquid membrane over it. The slope ensures proper drainage without a curb.
Each layer has a job. Together they create a system that reliably keeps water where it belongs — in the drain.
Grout cracks at movement joints. Every inside corner and floor-to-wall joint in a shower is a movement joint. We always use siliconized caulk at these joints, matched to the grout colour. Grout at movement joints is one of the most common causes of shower leaks in otherwise well-built showers.
We're often called in when something goes wrong with another contractor's shower. Here's what we find most often.
Grout shrinks and cracks when corners move. Once a corner opens, water wicks behind the wall every day.
Water doesn't only come from the floor — it splashes onto walls, wicks into unsealed corners, and migrates at the curb.
Standard drywall and OSB swell, delaminate, and rot when wet. Cement board is required for shower walls and floors.
Standing water on the shower floor means improper slope. Every floor needs a slope of ¼" per foot toward the drain.
The drain collar must be fully integrated with the waterproofing membrane. A drain that isn't properly sealed is an open path for water to reach the subfloor beneath.
Tile set with less than 95% back coverage (in wet areas) creates voids where water collects, causing freeze-thaw damage and eventual failure.
Whether you're building a new shower or concerned about an existing one, we can assess the situation and give you an honest recommendation.