Back to Brick, Waterproofed and Re-Tiled

Tiling & Waterproofing — Melbourne

An older bathroom stripped back to brick, re-waterproofed to AS 3740 and re-tiled, with the bath and shower curtain replaced by a framed glass shower.

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Project Snapshot

The Job at a Glance

PropertyEstablished home

LocationMelbourne, VIC

ServiceTiling & waterproofing

AreaBathroom wet area

The Brief

An Old Wet Area, Back to Brick

The original bathroom had cream tiling, brass tapware and a bath behind a shower curtain. Once the tiling came off, the walls were back to bare brick and render.

That is the point where a wet area either gets waterproofed properly or causes problems later, so nothing went back on until the membrane was cured and inspected.

Before & After

Same Wet Area, Rebuilt

Original bathroom with cream tiling, a bath and brass tapware — Before — cream tiling, a bath and brass tapware.

Finished shower with white tiling, a framed glass screen and chrome fittings — After — a framed glass shower with new tiling throughout.

Wet area stripped back to brick and render before waterproofing — Stripped back — bare brick and render behind the old tiling.

Waterproofing membrane applied to the shower walls and floor, taped at the edges — Waterproofed — membrane applied to floor, junctions and walls.

The Finished Rooms

Stage by Stage

Waterproofing membrane applied to the shower walls and floor — Waterproofed to AS 3740 before tiling

Wet area stripped back to brick and render — Stripped back to brick and render

Scope of Work

What the Project Involved

Strip out the old wet areaCream wall tiling, bath, curtain rail and brass tapware removed back to brick.
Prepare the surfacesWalls and floor made good so the membrane had a sound substrate to bond to.
Waterproof to AS 3740Membrane applied to floor, junctions and shower walls, cured and inspected.
Tile and fit outNew tiling through the wet area, with a framed glass screen and chrome fittings.

Our Approach

Waterproofing First, Tiling Second

01Strip backOld tiling, bath and tapware removed, exposing the brick and render behind.

02Prepare surfacesSubstrate repaired and prepared so the membrane could bond correctly.

03Apply the membraneFloor, junctions and shower walls waterproofed to AS 3740, cured and inspected.

04Tile and finishWet area tiled, sealed at the junctions, and finished with a glass screen and chrome fittings.

Common Questions

Questions About Tiling & Waterproofing

What does waterproofing a shower involve?

The substrate is prepared, then a waterproof membrane is applied to the floor, wall junctions and shower walls to the height required, left to cure, and inspected before tiling begins.

Is a waterproofing certificate provided?

Yes. Wet areas are waterproofed to Australian Standard AS 3740 and a compliance certificate is issued on completion, along with a 5-year warranty on the waterproofing.

Can you re-tile a bathroom without replacing everything?

In many cases, yes. If the layout works and the fixtures are sound, stripping the old tiling, re-waterproofing and re-tiling gives a new finish without a full rebuild.

How long before tiling can start after waterproofing?

The membrane needs time to cure, typically a day or two depending on the product and conditions. Tiling over a membrane that has not fully cured risks the whole wet area, so it is never rushed.

Start Your Renovation

Need Tiling or Waterproofing?

Tell us about your wet area and we’ll arrange a site assessment, then send a clear, itemised quote.

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