My mom is remodeling her bathroom, and she's worried that the shower wasn't waterproofed properly. The tiles are uneven, and the grout lines look messy, which she can tolerate. However, her main concern is the lack of waterproofing beneath the tiles. When she asked the installer about it, he claimed that the grout he used is waterproof, so no other waterproofing layer is necessary. He seems knowledgeable and was one of the more expensive options, but not the highest. Given how much she's already spent, she wants to avoid spending more unless it's absolutely essential. Here's a link to the project details: https://imgur.com/a/nxkuk9Y
3 Answers
So, a bit of context: there used to be more leniency about installing tiles directly on concrete board, which was considered acceptable decades ago. While it’s not the most modern method, if the installer has been doing this for a long time, it could still potentially work fine. I wouldn't say ripping it out is necessary right now, but it's certainly not the way I would prefer it done.
No, the shower isn’t waterproofed correctly. There should definitely be a waterproof layer under the tiles, like a membrane or a paint-on solution such as Redguard. Water will find its way through eventually, especially if there's no waterproofing under the tile. Also, those niches need proper waterproofing between the exposed wood and the tiles to prevent issues.
It's possible they put a waterproof membrane behind the cement board, which can be effective too. The main concern is the niche—if that’s been tiled without waterproofing, then it's a problem. Otherwise, the installation might not be ideal but could still hold up well.