Shower Repair in Nerang Reveals Insect Infestation and Subfloor Damage

Shower Repair in Nerang Complex – The Situation

When a leaking shower starts in one townhouse, it’s often not long before the neighbours experience the same. That’s exactly what’s happened at this Nerang complex, where we’ve now repaired five showers in the past year — all with similar issues caused by failed waterproofing from the original builder.

This time, the property manager Stephanie got in touch after the tenant reported water leaking through the ceiling into the kitchen below. The unit was on the second floor, and the signs were clear: waterproofing had failed.

The discoloured grout and pooling water at the shower base confirmed it — and unfortunately, insurance wouldn’t cover it. Like we often see, water damage caused by failed tiles or grout is considered a maintenance issue, not an insurable event (more on that in this article about insurance and tile leaks.

What We Found

We recommended a floor + first row shower retile — a common solution we provide for owner-investors on a budget. This gives us access to repair the waterproofing and substrate without needing to replace all the wall tiles.

But once we started removing the tiles, the job got interesting.

• The subfloor was dangerously thin, having been soaked over a long period

• The timber beneath had started to rot and needed to be replaced immediately to maintain safety on the second floor

• And then came the surprise: as we opened up the grout joints, hundreds of ants started pouring out

We paused work and called a pest inspector to confirm: not termites (thankfully), but brown ants, attracted by the constant moisture behind the tiles.

Video below!

Our Solution

We acted quickly and thoroughly:

• Removed and replaced the subfloor to restore structural integrity

• Installed fresh cement bedding and new waterproofing membrane

• Retiled the shower base and first row of walls

• Applied our proprietary FlexiShield™ epoxy grout and seal to lock out moisture

• Reinstalled the existing shower screen to save the owner further costs

We also left the grout open for a short time to allow trapped moisture to dry out before sealing, ensuring the ant issue wouldn’t return.

The Outcome

• ✅ New white tiles blended with the existing wall

• ✅ Subfloor made safe and waterproofed to code

• ✅ Ants gone, waterproofing restored

• ✅ 10-year warranty provided

• ✅ No need to replace the full shower or shower screen

All completed in under a week with minimal interruption to the tenant and a smooth outcome for the property manager and investor owner.

Get Expert Advice

If you’re a Gold Coast property manager or owner dealing with a leaking shower, especially in a complex with repeat issues, we can help. Our team has repaired hundreds of showers across the region and knows how to get it done with minimal fuss — even when there’s a surprise behind the grout.

📞 Call us today on 0401 481 775 or use our online quote form, or email us

We’re happy to take a look and give you peace of mind.

July 23, 2025

Nerang, QLD

10 Years

1 Week

$6,000