Waterproofing is the least glamorous part of a bathroom renovation and the most critical. Get it wrong and you’ll be tearing out beautiful new tile within a few years. Get it right and your bathroom will last decades without water damage, mould, or structural problems.
Water is relentless. Even small amounts of moisture that get behind tile or around a shower base will slowly damage the subfloor, wall studs, and drywall beneath. By the time you see mould or feel soft spots in the floor, significant damage has already occurred. Proper waterproofing prevents all of this.
The shower floor is the highest-risk area. Traditional methods used a mortar bed with a rubber or PVC liner. Modern waterproofing systems use sheet membranes, liquid-applied membranes, or foam shower bases with pre-sloped surfaces that integrate with the drain. These newer systems are faster to install and more reliably waterproof.
Cement board is water-resistant but not waterproof — it still needs a membrane applied over it before tile. Sheet membranes like Schluter Kerdi or liquid-applied products like WEDI or Mapei Aquadefense are applied to the walls and corners before any tile goes up. Corner and seam tape must be applied carefully — this is where leaks originate.
For some applications, waterproof wall panels (like Wetwall) can replace tile entirely. These panels are installed over existing walls and provide a fully waterproof surface with no grout lines to clean. We carry these at Vanity Mart and they’re increasingly popular for shower surrounds and bathroom walls.
Waterproofing is only as good as its installation. We always recommend hiring a tile installer who is trained and certified in the waterproofing system being used. Make sure to ask your contractor which system they use.
Ready to visit us?
We carry a full selection of waterproofing products and waterproof wall panels at Vanity Mart. Visit our Waterloo showroom at 1-90 Frobisher Drive or call us at 519-886-3240 for guidance on what your project needs.
