What Do You Use To Seal A Shower Floor?

Tiles and grout can be porous, so waterproofing them is key to bathroom maintenance. Our Shower Plug method is ideal for fixing leaking showers or preventing leaks from occurring in new showers. Sealing your leaking shower floor is a very simple task that can be completed DIY using materials available at your local hardware store. This process is as simple as painting a liquid onto the tiles and grout with a paintbrush. No tiles need to be removed, and any surface cracks (if any) can be filled with grout. If that sounds easy, follow this DIY guide, and your leaking shower tile problems will be solved. 

One of the common questions people ask when they are experiencing shower sealing and waterproofing problems is, “How do I seal my shower?” First, it is important to remember that tiles and grout are not 100% waterproof. However, if installed to Australian Standards, the waterproof membrane behind the tiles is. This is designed to allow any water that penetrates behind the tiles and grout to drain into the puddle flange installed at the shower base. So is your shower up to standard? Stop for a moment and read Perth Shower Repair’s essential guide to ensure your shower is up to standard before its next use.

To be waterproof, a shower must: 

• Shower Sealing Guide
• Be properly grouted
• Have a correctly installed waterproof membrane
• Be silicone seated behind tapware and fixings
• Have a correctly installed puddle flange
• Be silicon sealed along the shower floor and wall corners
• Have a properly silicone sealed shower screen

In our experience, many of the showers we attend have unfortunately either not had the proper drainage system installed or sealed properly, causing water issues down the track. A shower that is properly sealed should:

Waterproofing A Shower Checklist

Check Your Shower Grout

• Improperly grouted tiles can compromise shower sealing and waterproofing. When inspecting the grout in your shower, be on the lookout for:
• Crumbly, soft or powdery grout (an indication of poor mixing and application)
• Any holes in the grout (see picture above)
• Any signs of crumbling or decaying grout
• Any signs of cracking in the grout (especially along with the corners of your shower)

Check Your Shower Corners

Anywhere where the tiles change plane, such as interior corners or where the wall meets the floor, should be considered movement joints. It is highly recommended that these joints be sealed with a flexible material such as silicone to accommodate this movement. Grout has minimal flex and, more often than not, can crack along these joints due to minor structural movement, compromising shower sealing and waterproofing. To ensure your shower is sealed, it is important to check that these joints are properly sealed with silicone. When inspecting your shower, lookout for:

• Lack of silicone in shower corners
• Peeling or deteriorating silicone in your shower

Mould In The Shower Or Bathroom Is A Tell-Tale Sign.

• Note that mouldy silicone is not necessarily a waterproofing issue. If your shower has been silicone correctly, water should not get behind the back of the silicone. Surface mould can be cleaned. However, if water has got behind (due to poor quality or deteriorating silicone), mould can grow underneath the silicone bead. If this is the case, the silicone will need to be replaced.

Check Your Shower Tapware And Fixings

A properly sealed shower should have been silicone sealed behind tapware and other fixings where the tiles or waterproofing membrane have been exposed (e.g. screw holes for soap dishes or shower racks). If left unsealed, water could make its way behind non-sealed tapware and the tiles, leading to water damage issues. To check your tapware, remove the tap handle and fluid apron to expose the tap stud underneath. A properly sealed tap should look like the one below on the right.

Check Your Shower Screen

Like the shower corners, the join between the shower screen and tile surface or floor should also be considered a movement joint as they are two substrate types with differing movement potential. A properly sealed shower screen acts as a barrier preventing water movement to other areas of the bathroom. In our experience, applying silicone on the inside is less likely to lead to shower sealing issues down the track. Inspect all the corners of your shower screen where it meets the wall and floor to check if they are properly silicone and there is no obvious gaps or holes in the silicone.

Check Your Shower Drain

One of the key elements of shower waterproofing is a proper drainage system. This should include the correct installation of a puddle flange (see photo below). Any water penetrating the tiles and grout is designed to hit the waterproof membrane and drain through the puddle flange into the drain.

To check your drain, start by removing the metal drain cover. If your shower has a tiled grate, lift this out and locate the drain hole. Next, by running your finger around just below the opening of the drain, check to feel if there is a slotted gap between where the lip of the drain top meets the PVC pipe below. This can take a bit of practice to know exactly what you are looking for. If you are unsure, please do not hesitate to call Perth Shower Repairs to talk to the experts.

Tools And Materials

• Cleaning cloths
• Mask and gloves
• Masking tape – optional
• Mould cleaning agent
• Natural bristle brush or roller
• Shower plug tile and grout sealer
• Silicone sealant

FAQs About Using Seal On A Shower Floor

What Do You Seal A Shower Floor With?

Apply silicone caulk over the seams between the shower tiles. Apply a thin layer and use a caulk gun for best results. Also, note that the thickest layer of silicone must be along with the corners of the shower.

Should You Seal Shower Floor?

Typically, shower tiles require to be sealed because they contain grout, an extremely porous material. To avoid moisture build-up in the grout and tiles, it is always recommended to seal your shower tiles.

Is Silicone A Sealant?

Silicone is a sealant used mainly to bind surfaces such as metal, glass, and plastic together. As silicone sealants are more flexible, they are mostly used for DIY jobs to seal water from all kinds of surfaces.

What Is The Best Grout Sealer Australia?

• Aqua Mix – Sealer’s Choice Gold. Aqua Mix has been producing quality tiling solutions and problem-solvers for over 30 years, and I have been using their product for nearly as long.
• Miracle Sealants – Porous Plus Sealer.
• Black Diamond Coatings – Aqua-X Grout Sealer.
• Tuff Duck Granite Grout Sealer.

Is There A Permanent Grout Sealer?

WAXIE Grout Guard is a tough, permanent, high solid, water-borne sealer that penetrates deep into grout and repels soil and germs while improving slip resistance. This protection will dramatically reduce maintenance costs due to the ease of cleaning.

Do You Need To Seal Shower Floor Tile?

Like travertine and other natural stone tiles, Porous materials often require sealing, especially in high-moisture areas like showers or tub surrounds. Conversely, for porcelain and ceramic tiles, which are highly resistant to water, sealing may be optional, especially for a glazed finish.

Tips About Shower Sealing

So you’ve just found out your shower is leaking, and you want to reseal it. Fantastic! Poorly sealed shower trays are one of the most common causes of leaking showers. In this handy guide, you’ll learn ten tips about shower sealing to achieve a professional watertight seal.

Look For Signs Of Water Damage

If you’ve discovered your shower is leaking, it’s a good idea to inspect the property to find any signs of damage. Common signs of damage include gaps in floor and wall joints, watermark stains on the ceiling, paint bubbling on the walls, discoloured shower tiles and mouldy silicone. All of these warning signs are a good indication that your shower is leaking.

Watch Out For Damp Carpet And Unpleasant Odours

If water has entered the home’s substructure, the lack of insulation means the water won’t evaporate and will cause the wood to rot or decay. This will eventually affect the carpet and leave behind damp spots and an unpleasant odour and mould growth.

Replace Broken Or Cracked Tiles

Cracked, loose or exposed tiles can direct water to unwanted places in the home. Inspect each tile in your shower and replace them yourself or find a professional installer who can match the style of your current décor. Keep in mind this may not solve the underlying issue with your leaking shower. Therefore, it’s recommended you have the premise inspected by a licensed professional.

Make Sure The Area Is Clean And Dry

Now that you’ve inspected the premise, you’ll probably want to re-grout or reseal the shower. If you choose to do either of these jobs yourself, make sure the area is clean and dry. This will ensure any product you apply adheres correctly and will save you from the hassle of fixing a poorly done job.

Get A Free Pressure And Moisture Test

Most professional waterproofing companies offer a free moisture and pressure test. A moisture test will identify areas in the home that contain unusually high moisture levels, while a pressure test will search for defects in your home plumbing. By having these tests done, you’ll get professional tips on the right shower sealing solution for you.

Replace The Tile Grout

Grout is a silicone-based product used to seal joints between shower tiles. Over time, tile grout will degrade and need to be replaced. Of course, you can choose to remove and reseal the grout yourself. But if you want to save time and have it done right the first time, hire a licensed professional. They’ll know how to correctly perform the procedure and form a 100% seal to extend the life of your shower.

Remove Old Grout Before Applying The New

You can apply new grout over an existing layer, but the results are usually not good. That’s because the old grout won’t adhere properly to the new layer and will struggle to maintain a 100% seal.

Replace Wall And Floor Joint Strips

Building movement places a lot of stress on your home. When it comes to your wall and floor joints, the silicone strip that keeps them connected may fail and expose the substructure to water breach. Be sure to replace these strips regularly and check other bathroom areas such as tiled surfaces, benchtops, splashbacks, and movement joints.

Reseal The Shower Tray

Need a new application of silicone sealant on the shower tray? Use a high-quality sealant designed for bathrooms and has anti-fungal additives. Make sure you choose a sealant that’s non-abrasive to your kind of shower tile. If you’re resealing the shower tray yourself, be sure to follow the instructions and prepare the surface, apply the silicone evenly along with the tray, and wipe the excess silicone away with a paper towel. Should the shower continue to leak, you should seek advice from a professional?

Hire A Professional Leaking Shower Expert

Suppose you don’t have the time, tools or resources to fix your leaking shower properly. In that case, a licensed professional can offer you professional tips about shower sealing and a cost-effective solution. Whether you need grout stripped from the wall and replaced, cracked tiles need repairing, or you need sealant applied to the entire floor area – a licensed professional will ensure your shower is 100% sealed in every aspect.

Reasons Why Sealing Ceramic Floor Tiles Is Almost Always A Bad Ideas

Thinking about sealing your ceramic floor tiles? If you are, this info might save you a fortune and help you avoid a heap of frustration. However, before you do anything, it’s important to know why you want to seal and if sealing will solve your problem long term.

Cleaning – Are You Wanting To Seal The Ceramic Tiles Because Of Difficulty Cleaning The Surface?

Ceramic floor tiles can be difficult to clean with traditional methods like a mop and bucket. Our instinct to solve this problem is to use stronger cleaning chemical products, more of them and more often. But this path often makes the problem worse with more chemical residue, faster re-soiling and cleaning becoming more difficult. Regardless of the cleaning challenges, it is safe to say that sealing ceramic floor tiles is not the best solution. Ceramic floor sealers are hit and miss, they need a lot of maintenance too, so the hope of achieving a maintenance-free ceramic floor with a floor sealer, in my experience, doesn’t happen.

The best thing to do is treat this problem as a cleaning issue and investigate better cleaning methods such as floor scrubbers, floor care cleaning chemicals, professional mopping systems, microfibre and advanced agitation methods. You will need to find a sustainable process that includes chemical, agitation and extraction/soil removal that suits your level of traffic and cleaning frequency. You may also need to do a restoration clean before restarting your maintenance program and testing different process combinations.

In frustration, you might feel like you’ve tried everything to clean this #$%&* floor and failed. Thinking outside the mop and bucket box is often where the solution lies. You might have to invest some money, but it will be much cheaper than sealing. Your floor’s cleaning answer will cost more than a cheap mop, bucket and chemical, though, and there may be some trial and error along the way.

Looks – Wanting To Seal Your Ceramic Floor Tiles For A Better Appearance?

Looks are one of the biggest reasons many people try to sell their ceramic floor tiles. Just remember, ceramic floor tiles are not made to be sealed. If your floor surface is dull and you want it glossy, or if it’s glossy and you want it dull, there is no permanent solution other than re-tiling. Despite what some floor sealer salespeople may say, choose to seal, expect that you will have to reseal often. The look you get may not be ideal, and floor sealing applicator marks can be difficult to avoid, especially in open areas with a lot of light, regular buffing will be needed. The overall cleaning and maintenance will take longer and be more expensive. Friends, proceed with caution.

Slip Problems? Sealing For A Better Slip Coefficient?

Slip problems may occur when the incorrect ceramic floor tile is chosen for an application. Unfortunately, if you find yourself in this situation and are searching for an answer, the bad news is there are very few successful long term solutions available.

• Firstly, non-slip treatments which etch or microscopically texture floors can be used but may in some instances affect the look of a tile by making it dull. These treatments are extremely dangerous to use (using crazy acids) and make the floor surface very difficult to clean.
• Secondly, non-slip sealers may be used. We do not recommend any sealing of ceramic tiles. When using a non-slip floor sealer, you need to expect reapplication to be often required, and a new cleaning problem can be created.
• Thirdly, the ultimate solution is to re-tile with a suitable tile or surface for the application.

Staining – Trying To Fix A Tile Staining Problem?

Genuine ceramic floor tiles do not stain, so sealing will not improve stain protection. Sealing grout, however, maybe a good decision that will help you reduce floor maintenance. Using a product like Pro Seal Ultra is ideal for grout.

Damage – Wanting To Seal A Ceramic Floor Tile To Fix Or Cover Some Damage?

Ceramic floor tiles are very durable and difficult to damage. However, all-ceramic floor sealers are softer than the actual ceramic tile. That means a sealed ceramic tile surface will damage faster than the plain tile. It will also need more maintenance to achieve a consistent look. There is often an expectation that floor sealers are as tough as tiles, but that’s not true. Protective coatings are also referred to as sacrificial coatings. They are there to do a job and be reasonably easy to repair and replace while protecting the original surface.

Adhesion – Wanting To Seal Your Ceramic Floor Tile Surfaces Because An Existing Floor Sealer Is Peeling Off?

Sealers or coatings do not adhere or stick well to ceramic floor tiles. Even if you can find a sealer to adhere to the surface, it will most likely peel or wear very quickly, usually in 2-12 months.

Maintenance – Tired Of The Hard Work Keeping Your Ceramic Tiles Looking Clean And Attractive?

A sealed ceramic floor tile requires more work and cost to maintain and clean than the plain tile itself. This is because the sacrificial floor sealer coatings are softer and will be more affected by traffic, spills, and daily wear and tear. This means regular repair and replacement of the sealer will be required. While many people try, very few succeed in sealing ceramic floors and getting the results they want. Even when a floor sealer is successfully laid in a few cases, it almost never lasts, and expectations are disappointed. Everyone who tries to seal ceramic floor tiles has very good reasons for doing so, but whether they do it themselves or have a professional complete the work, the same problems come up time and time again.

Conclusion

Ceramic tiles were never made to be sealed, but there is a strong argument for sealing those porous grout lines that tend to collect and hold ugly dirt and soils. It’s best not to use a coating for this but instead a penetrating or impregnating sealer like Pro Seal Ultra. This acts on a porous hard surface as a fabric protector does on a couch. You can’t see it, but it repels moisture and stains. There is some wonderful grout sealing application tools that make this job easier. And if you get some grout sealer on the tile surface with the right product, it should just wipe away easily if you remove it immediately.

Are epoxy floors a good idea?

Extremely safe – Epoxy is a very safe coating for your hard floors. It’s slip resistant, shock resistant, and less abrasive than concrete and other types of industrial flooring. It’s also water resistant, and will protect your floor from any spills, including harsh chemicals that would harm other types of floor.

What are the disadvantages of epoxy flooring?

Cons of Epoxy Flooring

• Strong Application Fumes. During the epoxy application process, wet epoxy gives off an unpleasant smell. …
• Long Curing Time. …
• Slippery When Wet. …
• Economical Flooring Choice. …
• Resistant to Damage. …
• Weather-withstanding. …
• Aesthetically Pleasing. …
• Protects and Decreases Wear & Tear.

How long do epoxy floors last?

10 to 20 years   Long-Lasting, Environmentally-Friendly Floors Epoxy floors typically last 10 to 20 years and can last even longer with the proper maintenance and touch-ups. When it finally comes time to replace your floor, there will be no need for removal, and no need to throw away your old flooring.