Leaking Tiled Shower Repairs - Greater Wellington
Small leak, big trouble. If you're dealing with a shower leak, whether it's a slow drip or visible water damage, it won't fix itself. We provide complete shower leak repair and tiled shower rebuilds throughout the Wellington Region including Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua and the Kāpiti Coast — leak-free and built to last.
Regrouting vs. Full Shower Rebuild: What's Really Needed?
Many homeowners try regrouting or resealing their shower when they first notice a leak. While fresh grout and silicone can improve appearance temporarily, they won't fix the underlying problem if your waterproofing membrane has cracked, perished, or was never installed correctly in the first place.
If water has already reached the framing or subfloor, surface-level repairs simply mask the damage while it spreads. Our approach is to diagnose the full extent of the leak, remove the affected materials, rebuild the shower with proper waterproofing to NZ standards, and replace with premium materials — giving you a leak-free shower that lasts.
Does your tiled shower leak or need constant repairs?
We specialise in full tiled-shower rebuilds that fix the cause, not just the symptoms. Patch jobs rarely last; when membranes fail or grout cracks, water gets into framing and subfloors. Our team diagnoses the leak, rebuilds correctly, and waterproofs to NZ standards for a durable, healthy bathroom.
Signs Your Shower is Leaking:
- Persistent dampness or unexplained wet patches near the shower.
- Musty odours, mould on grout or walls.
- Cracked/loose tiles, missing grout, swollen skirtings or architraves
- Water stains on nearby walls/ceilings or rooms below
Why You Should Act Now:
- Leaks quickly spread into timber, linings and subfloors
- Mould and mildew harm indoor air quality.
- Property value takes a hit with water damage history.
- Early intervention is almost always cheaper than a full structural repair later.
Common causes of leaking tiled showers:
Waterproofing Failures
- Failed or improperly installed waterproofing membranes
- Missing upstands at wall-floor junctions
- Inadequate membrane coverage around drains and corners
- Membrane punctures during tile installation
Tile & Grout Problems
- Cracked, loose, or hollow-sounding tiles
- Porous, missing, or deteriorating grout
- Inadequate grout coverage or incorrect mix ratios
- Movement joints not properly addressed
Sealing & Junction Failures
- Shrunk, cracked, or missing silicone sealant
- Poor sealing around fixtures and penetrations
- Movement at wall-ceiling and wall-floor junctions
- Inadequate expansion joints in large tiled areas
Plumbing & Drainage
- Worn mixers, loose connections, and pin-holed pipes
- Poor drainage falls leading to water pooling
- Failing shower bases or damaged waste outlets
- Leaking behind wall-mounted shower fixtures
Structural & Design
- House movement and settlement stressing grout lines
- Inadequate substrate preparation
- High-pressure shower heads forcing water through gaps
- Poor original design without proper waterproofing considerations
Maintenance & Wear
- Aging materials beyond their service life
- Lack of regular maintenance and resealing
- Using harsh cleaning chemicals that degrade seals
- Previous poor-quality repair attempts
- Failed or improperly installed waterproofing membranes
- Missing upstands at wall-floor junctions
- Inadequate membrane coverage around drains and corners
- Membrane punctures during tile installation
- Cracked, loose, or hollow-sounding tiles
- Porous, missing, or deteriorating grout
- Inadequate grout coverage or incorrect mix ratios
- Movement joints not properly addressed
- Shrunk, cracked, or missing silicone sealant
- Poor sealing around fixtures and penetrations
- Movement at wall-ceiling and wall-floor junctions
- Inadequate expansion joints in large tiled areas
- Worn mixers, loose connections, and pin-holed pipes
- Poor drainage falls leading to water pooling
- Failing shower bases or damaged waste outlets
- Leaking behind wall-mounted shower fixtures
- House movement and settlement stressing grout lines
- Inadequate substrate preparation
- High-pressure shower heads forcing water through gaps
- Poor original design without proper waterproofing considerations
- Aging materials beyond their service life
- Lack of regular maintenance and resealing
- Using harsh cleaning chemicals that degrade seals
- Previous poor-quality repair attempts
Our leak-free shower solution:
Free consultation & diagnosis
We inspect, find the root cause, and outline options to suit your budget and timeline.
Careful strip-out & assessment
Remove tiles/grout/base to expose framing and plumbing; replace any rotten timber.
Rebuild & waterproof
Install backer boards and custom shower pan; apply quality membranes to meet NZ standards.
Plumbing upgrade
Replace faulty pipes/valves and install quality mixers. Optional low-flow head.
Premium re-tiling & finishing
Correct falls, premium adhesives and grout; all junctions correctly detailed and sealed.
Flood test & sign-off
Pressure/flood test before handover. Up to 5-year workmanship warranty.
We stand behind our work with an up to 5-year workmanship warranty and handle all required permits, inspections and (when applicable) building consent. Your satisfaction - and a leak-free result - are our top priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Pricing & Quotes
Costs vary by shower size, tile choice, membrane scope and any structural/plumbing repairs. After inspection, we provide a fixed-price quote so you know exactly what to budget for.
Serving Greater Wellington
- Wellington City - Seatoun, Hataitai, Kilbirnie, Island Bay, Karori, Johsonville, Newtown, Khandallah
- Lower Hutt & Upper Hutt - Eastbourne, Petone, Wainuiomata, Stokes Valley, Silverstream, Te Marua
- Porirua - Whitby, Tawa & the wider basin
- Kāpiti Coast - Paekākāriki, Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Otaki