Waterproofing
Waterproofing
Quality beneath the surface. Waterproofing protects your home for decades — installed to Australian Standards, never compromised, and the most important work you'll never see.
Overview
Waterproofing
Exceptional bathrooms begin before the first tile is installed. Waterproofing is the work that protects your home for decades — and because it disappears beneath the finish, it’s the stage most easily rushed, undervalued or skipped.
We never compromise on the work hidden beneath the tiles. Correct preparation, the right membrane system, reinforced junctions and proper curing are what protect your investment long after the project is finished. It’s invisible, and it’s the most important stage of the entire build.
Behind the tiles
Behind the Tiles
What you never normally see — the complete waterproofing process that sits beneath every finished surface and protects your home for decades.
01
Substrate Preparation
The surface is made flat, sound and dry. Movement joints are planned and any cracks addressed before any membrane is considered.
02
Surface Inspection
The substrate is checked for integrity, moisture and suitability — because no membrane performs on an unsound surface.
03
Priming
The correct primer is applied to bond the membrane to the substrate. The right primer depends on the surface and the membrane system.
04
Corners & Junctions
Internal corners, junctions and penetrations are reinforced first — these are the points where water most often finds a way in.
05
Membrane Application
The membrane is applied in the correct number of coats, to the correct coverage, extending up walls and across the floor as required.
06
Curing
The membrane is allowed to fully cure before any tiling begins. Rushing this stage is one of the most common causes of failure.
07
Flood Testing
Where applicable, the area is flood tested before tiling so any issue is found and fixed while it is still easy to reach.
08
Tile Installation
Only once the membrane is fully cured and tested does tiling begin — the waterproofing is protected, and the finish is laid over a sound base.
Why it matters
The Most Important Work You’ll Never See
Waterproofing is invisible once a project is finished — and because you never see it, it’s the stage most likely to be rushed or undervalued. It is also the stage that protects everything above it.
Why failures happen
Most waterproofing failures come from poor preparation, rushed curing or missed junctions — not the membrane itself.
Why repairs are expensive
Failed waterproofing means removing tiles, fixtures and finishes to reach the membrane beneath — often the entire room.
Preparation matters more than tiles
The surface beneath the membrane decides whether the membrane performs. No membrane can compensate for a poor substrate.
Protection for decades
Correctly installed waterproofing protects your home for the life of the bathroom — quietly, and without a second thought.
Standards
Installed to Australian Standards
We follow the appropriate Australian Standards for waterproofing wet areas. The detail matters to us; the takeaway for you is simple reassurance that the work beneath your tiles is done properly.
Wet areas
Internal wet areas are waterproofed to the standard the area demands.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms, ensuites and powder rooms — including full-height shower waterproofing.
Laundries
Laundries and utility wet areas, where water is part of daily use.
Balconies
External balconies and decks over living spaces, where applicable, with falls and drainage planned in.
Internal wet areas
Any internal area exposed to water or moisture, assessed and waterproofed appropriately.
Installed to Australian Standards
Protects your home for decades
Full wet-area coverage, corners and junctions reinforced
Correct curing before any tiling
Flood testing where applicable
Where this is used
Suited to considered spaces.
Bathrooms
Ensuites
Laundries
Wet Areas
Balconies
Why Wells Brothers
The standard clients return for.
Exceptional Craftsmanship
Every surface installed with measured precision and respect for the material.
Premium Materials
We work only with quality stone, tile and installation systems.
Luxury Finishes
A finishing standard suited to the most considered architectural homes.
Reliable Project Delivery
Disciplined scheduling that protects the programme of the wider build.
Featured projects
Bathrooms we've finished.
A selection of completed bathrooms — photography that speaks to the standard.
Inspiration
Bathroom design inspiration.
Themes we're regularly asked to deliver — explore the ones that speak to your project.
Our process
The project journey.
A clear, architectural approach from first conversation to final review.
01
Preparation
Substrate made flat, sound and dry; movement joints and cracks addressed.
02
Surface Inspection
The substrate is checked for integrity and moisture before priming.
03
Priming
The correct primer is applied to bond the membrane to the surface.
04
Membrane Installation
Membrane applied in the correct coats and coverage, corners and junctions reinforced.
05
Curing
The membrane is allowed to fully cure before any tiling begins.
06
Final Inspection
The completed waterproofing is inspected — and flood tested where applicable.
07
Tile Installation
Tiling begins only over a fully cured, sound waterproofing system.
Common mistakes
Common Waterproofing Mistakes
These are the mistakes we never make — and the reasons waterproofing fails when they are made. Best practice, not criticism.
Insufficient membrane coverage
Membrane applied too thin or in too few coats to form a continuous, reliable barrier.
Incorrect falls
Floor falls not laid to direct water to the drain, allowing it to pool and eventually find a way through.
Poor junction detailing
Corners, junctions and penetrations not reinforced — the points where leaks almost always begin.
Rushing curing times
Tiling over membrane that has not fully cured compromises the bond and the barrier itself.
Tiling over poor preparation
No membrane can compensate for an unsound, damp or cracked substrate.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
For balconies, decks, podiums and any wet outdoor area — yes. We install waterproofing systems engineered for exposure and substrate movement, with falls and drainage resolved during set-out.
Outdoor membranes must tolerate UV, thermal movement and standing water, and they must tie correctly into the building's structure. We detail movement joints and drainage outlets so water is managed, not trapped.
Good to know: a tiled outdoor surface is only as reliable as the waterproofing beneath it.
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A correctly installed system should last the life of the tiled surface. We use quality membranes applied to manufacturer and Australian standards.
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We apply waterproofing systems that meet and exceed Australian Standard AS 3740, with full attention to junctions and penetrations.
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Yes. Waterproofing is itemised within our quotes so there is no ambiguity about what is included.
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Areas we service
Across the Mornington Peninsula.
From coastal homes to architectural builds, Wells Brothers delivers premium tiling throughout the region.
MorningtonMount ElizaMount MarthaRyeRosebudSafety BeachDromanaFrankstonRed HillMornington PeninsulaSorrento
Tiling advice & ideas
From the journal.
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Let's begin
Build It Right From the Beginning.
Exceptional bathrooms begin beneath the surface. If you're planning a renovation or new build, we'd be happy to discuss the right waterproofing solution for your project.