01
The assembly, not just the finish
Schluter explains that water can pass through grout joints and mortar. The waterproofing system therefore needs its own continuity behind or beneath the finish, with a compatible drain and transitions. Grout fills tile joints; flexible sealant is selected for designated joints that must accommodate movement. The designer and selected system instructions must establish where each belongs, not a generic substitution of caulk for grout.
Schluter · water management in tiled showers02
Ownership and maintenance
Plan access to clean the drain and inspect seals. Cleaning chemicals should be compatible with the tile, stone, grout and sealant together. A grout sealer is not a repair for failed waterproofing. When a leak appears, establish its source before replacing visible joints; plumbing, membrane and enclosure issues can require different remedies.
03
What the proposal must include
Require demolition and substrate assessment, complete waterproofing assembly, drain connection, niches/benches, penetrations, tile layout, enclosure attachment and protection of finished work as separate scope items. Ask what documented testing or inspection is required by the chosen system and local authority. This page supplies no testing duration or installation prescription.
04
Resolve before procurement
Resolve drain position, curb or curbless design and enclosure anchoring before waterproofing is concealed. Curbless ambition introduces floor elevation and drainage coordination; it is not achieved by deleting a curb from a standard detail. Record the selected system and completed concealed-work evidence for handover.