Leaking Shower Repairs and Waterproofing on the Northern Beaches
If water is getting out of your shower into the wall, floor or the room below, the waterproofing membrane under the tiles has usually failed. Waterproofing a bathroom costs $805 to $4,025 in Sydney, about $1,600 typical, but fixing a failed shower usually means taking the tiles up first. One licensed local renovator will find the cause and quote the fix.
Updated November 2026
Leaking Showers & Waterproofing prices
- Waterproofing$805–$4,025 (about $1,600 typical)
- Tiling, supply and lay (floor and walls)$3,225–$8,600
- Demolition and disposal$1,150–$3,450
Published Sydney price ranges, not a quote. Your price is confirmed in writing before any work starts.
Get my free quoteSigns it is time for leaking showers & waterproofing
- Hollow-sounding or lifting tiles in or near the shower
- Mould, bubbling paint or swelling on the other side of the shower wall
- Stains on the ceiling below the bathroom
- Rotting skirting boards or door frames outside the shower
- Grout that keeps cracking no matter how often it's redone
How do I know if my shower is leaking?
Signs include tiles that sound hollow or are lifting, grout that keeps cracking or going black, swelling or rot in skirting boards and door frames outside the shower, mould or peeling paint on the other side of the wall, and stains on the ceiling below.
Some leaks are from the tapware or pipes in the wall rather than the membrane. A plumber can pressure-test the pipes to rule that out.
Re-grouting versus re-waterproofing
Re-grouting and resealing can stop water getting through cracked grout when the membrane underneath is still sound. If the membrane has failed, sealing the surface only hides the problem. The tiles in the shower area need to come up, the membrane replaced to AS 3740, and the area re-tiled.
Why waterproofing is licensed work
In NSW, waterproofing work over $5,000 needs a waterproofing licence, and it must meet AS 3740, the Australian Standard for waterproofing domestic wet areas. Ask for the waterproofing certificate at the end of the job and keep it with your property records.
Leaks in units
In a unit, a leak into the apartment below usually involves the owners corporation, because waterproofing is often common property. Tell your strata manager early. Any fix that involves new waterproofing needs strata approval.
How much does leaking showers & waterproofing cost on the Northern Beaches?
| Job | Typical Sydney price |
|---|---|
| Waterproofing | $805–$4,025 (about $1,600 typical) |
| Tiling, supply and lay (floor and walls) | $3,225–$8,600 |
| Demolition and disposal | $1,150–$3,450 |
Published Sydney price ranges (GST incl.) from whatsthedamage.com.au, not our quote. How much tiling has to come up, and whether the leak has damaged framing or floors, decide your price. See every job in the Northern Beaches bathroom renovation cost guide.
The standard we ask of every renovator we refer you to
The renovator does the work, not us. Ask for each of these in your written quote and contract.
- A renovator licensed in NSW for the work, with public liability insurance (certificate on request)
- Waterproofing by a licensed waterproofer to AS 3740, with a certificate you keep
- Plumbing and electrical done by licensed plumbers and electricians
- A written, itemised quote: demolition, waterproofing, tiling, fixtures and labour listed
- A written contract for any job over $5,000, with a deposit of no more than 10%
- Home Building Compensation cover for jobs over $20,000, before any deposit
- Photos of the waterproofing before it is tiled over, and a walk-through at handover
Photos of the waterproofing, and a written scope
Waterproofing is hidden under the tiles once the job is done. You get photos of the membrane before tiling and the waterproofing certificate, plus a written scope before anything starts.
Licensed, insured renovator, public liability certificate on request
A bathroom done properly, by licensed trades
A bathroom that looks good but leaks behind the tiles means paying twice. That's why every job we pass on goes to a licensed, insured Northern Beaches renovator who agrees to this standard before they get the work.
Licensed for the job
In NSW, bathroom renovation and waterproofing work over $5,000 needs a contractor licence, and plumbing and electrical work need a licence at any price. Jobs only go to renovators who hold the right licences and insurance.
Waterproofing done properly
Waterproofing is the cheapest part of a bathroom and the most expensive to get wrong. It is done to AS 3740 by a licensed waterproofer, flood-tested where appropriate, and photographed before it is tiled over.
An itemised price first
You get the scope and price in writing, broken down by stage, before work starts. Under NSW law, any variation to the contract should be agreed in writing.
Contracts and insurance
A written contract for jobs over $5,000 with a deposit capped at 10%, and Home Building Compensation cover over $20,000, as NSW law requires.
Strata handled up front
In a unit, a bathroom renovation needs owners corporation approval. The renovator should help with the paperwork your strata manager asks for.
A realistic timeline
You get a start date and a stage-by-stage timeline, including curing time for waterproofing, so you know how long you'll be without a bathroom.
Left clean
Ask for demolition waste to be taken away, dust controlled, and the house left clean at the end of each day and at handover.