Tile and grout don't make a shower waterproof. The waterproofing layer under the tile does, and we build it with LATICRETE HYDRO BAN over a sloped mortar bed, then flood test it before any tile goes on.
Why the layer under the tile matters
Water slowly passes through grout joints and some tile. If the layer underneath is not waterproof, that water reaches the board, the framing and the floor below. Most shower failures start there, long before you see a stain. See Why showers fail for the common causes.
How we waterproof a shower
- Slope first. A custom-sloped mortar bed carries water to the drain so it never sits under the tile.
- One continuous membrane. LATICRETE HYDRO BAN is a liquid-applied membrane, so corners, seams and the drain area are covered in one layer.
- Flood test. We flood the shower floor before tiling, so a problem is found while it is still easy to fix.
- Silicone where it moves. Corners and change-of-plane joints get LATICRETE LATASIL silicone over LATICRETE 9118 Primer, not grout.
You can peel back every layer in the interactive shower cutaway.
Part of a bigger project?
Waterproofing is usually part of a full shower or bathroom build. See our bathroom renovations and curbless shower installation pages, or try a look first. Our free Before & After Renovation Visualizer lets you upload a photo of your bathroom and see a visualization of a new look in seconds. It is a guide to help you decide, not a final design.
