How to Waterproof a Shower Stall
One of the most important rooms in a home to waterproof is the bathroom because it is exposed to water on a daily basis from sinks, toilets, showers and steam. Of all the places in the bathroom, the shower puts out water that hits the most surface area. Leaks, cracks and sealing issues in the shower stall can result in expensive water damage and major repairs. To combat this, it is best to waterproof your shower stall as best you can. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Caulk
- Cement wallboard or green board
- Nails
- Hammer
- Grout
- Grout float
- Sponge
- Silicone grout sealant
- Small foam paintbrush
Instructions
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Attach waterproof wallboard to the walls behind the stall with nails and a hammer. Cement boards are best for bathrooms. Drywall has no water repellent at all, and green board is only resistant to water. Cement boards repel water, and also resist mold.
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Seal fiberglass or other shell stalls with a bead of silicone or other waterproof caulking. Apply a bead along any seams inside the stall as well as along the edges that bump up against the walls and floor of the bathroom. Run your finger along the caulk to spread it into the seams. Don't press too hard, or you will create weak spots or holes in the caulk. A shower shell that is seamless on the inside is less likely to leak.
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Fill tile shower stalls with a tile caulk called grout. Wipe the grout caulk material over all the tile with a grout float, and force it into the cracks. Wipe the tiles clean after the grout has dried with an only slightly damp sponge. Make sure there are no holes or bubbles in the seams to ensure that there are no leaks.
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Apply a sealant to the tile seams after they have dried for a couple of days. Grout is not waterproof. Use a small paintbrush to coat the grout with the grout sealer. For showers, it is best to use a silicone based grout sealer.
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References
- Photo Credit Shower image by Semfamily from Fotolia.com
