Local North Shore plumbing
Waterproofing
The membrane is the only thing between the water and the building. Done properly, certified, and worth every hour it takes to cure.
- Upfront pricing, agreed before we start
- Our own licenced team, not subbies
- Since 2007 on the North Shore
The part nobody sees, and the one that causes the expensive problems
Poor waterproofing is one of the most common serious defects in Australian buildings, and it is almost never a case of the membrane wearing out. It fails because of how it was put in: the wrong order, not carried far enough up the wall, not bonded at the junctions, or falls that send water the wrong way.
It is also the one job where doing it cheaply costs the most. By the time it shows up as mould, a squelching floor or a stain on the ceiling below, the fix is not the membrane, it is the room. In New South Wales it has to be done by someone licenced to do it, and the rules were tightened because of how often it went wrong.
What we get called to
- Showers leaking into the room next door. The classic bathroom failure, usually at the junction between wall and floor.
- Balconies leaking into the unit below. Building movement works on a balcony membrane in a way it never does in a bathroom.
- Planter boxes. Wet soil held against a wall permanently, and often waterproofed as an afterthought. A very common source of leaks into apartments.
- Basements and garages cut into a slope. Below ground water, which is a different problem to rain and needs a different answer.
- Mould that keeps coming back. However often it is cleaned. That is water getting in, not a cleaning problem.
Who we work for
- Homeowners. A bathroom or balcony that is leaking now, or one being built that you want done properly.
- Strata and building managers. Balconies and planter boxes across a block, with a written finding and photos.
- Builders. Waterproofing on a new build or a renovation, certified, to the Australian Standards.
- Anyone mid-renovation. We would far rather look at the detailing before the tiles go on than after.
Common questions
Can I waterproof a bathroom myself?
No. In New South Wales it has to be done by someone licenced for it. There were enough failures for the rules to be tightened, which tells you how often it goes wrong even when people think they have done it right.
Does the bathroom have to come up?
Not always. Where the failure is limited, an epoxy treatment over the existing tiles can seal it, and that is much cheaper. Where the membrane itself has gone, the tiles come up and it gets done again. We look first and tell you which one you are dealing with.
Why do balconies fail more than bathrooms?
Because buildings move. Heat, cold and structural movement work on a balcony membrane and its junctions year after year, on top of the usual poor detailing at the edges and the door threshold.
Is the work certified?
Yes. It is done to the Australian Standards by licenced hands and you get the certificate, which matters when you sell the place or when a strata committee asks.
From the blog
Waterproofing, explained properly
Waterproofing a Laundry: Can I DIY?
In this article, we cover the key information to show you why waterproofing a laundry yourself could mean more cash down the track.
Read itWaterproofing Balconies: Australian Standards
In this article, we outline what you need to know when waterproofing balconies to Australian standards.
Read itWaterproofing Bathrooms: Australian Standards
In this article, we outline the Australian Standards for waterproofing bathrooms and why you’re better off avoiding the DIY approach.
Read itWord gets around
Neighbours telling neighbours. Give us a call and spread the word.
Leak you cannot find, or a job to do properly?
Failed waterproofing shows up as damp walls, bubbling paint and stained ceilings below. Book a site visit and we will find out what is actually happening.
Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm. We call back within 24 hours, guaranteed.