Why is my shower leaking?
/01The usual suspects
Showers almost always leak at the joints, not through the tiles. Grout between tiles cracks, turns porous or falls out. Silicone in corners shrinks, splits or lifts. Neither lasts forever — constant water, cleaning chemicals and building movement wear them down over years.
/02Movement joints fail first
Watch the places where two surfaces meet: wall-to-floor junctions, internal corners, around the hob, beside the screen and at tap penetrations. These joints move every time the building does, which is why they should be sealed with flexible silicone. When they're grouted rigidly or the silicone has perished, water finds the gap.
/03It's not always the membrane
A leak doesn't automatically mean the waterproof membrane behind the tiles has failed — and fresh grout alone can't fix a membrane that has. The honest answer comes from inspection: moisture readings, the condition of tiles and joints, and where the damage is appearing. For more on tracing the path water takes, read our guide to water leaking through tile.
/04Signs it's time for a specialist
Mould that returns days after cleaning, swollen skirting boards, staining on the ceiling below, or a previous patch that didn't hold — all mean the leak is established. Our shower repair work across Melbourne starts with a free inspection so you know the cause before you spend a dollar.
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Free inspections anywhere in Melbourne, fixed written quotes, and most jobs done in a single day — backed by a written 5-year waterproof warranty.