Can you tell what’s wrong from photos of the damp patch?

Photos help us understand the symptom and prepare for the visit, but the source of a leak usually cannot be confirmed from images alone. A site assessment is used to recommend the repair scope.

Do I need to redo the whole bathroom to fix a leak?

Not always. Some leaks are contained and can be addressed locally; others indicate the waterproofing system needs rebuilding. The assessment determines which, rather than assuming the largest scope.

What warranty applies to waterproofing?

Any workmanship or waterproofing warranty is stated in the project quotation with its coverage, duration, conditions and exclusions. Manufacturer warranties apply according to the product terms.

Waterproofing & leak repair

A damp wall or a leak below is a system problem—not just a sealant problem.

Water marks on the next room, a complaint from the flat below, or a patch that keeps coming back are rarely fixed for long by re-sealing the surface. The water is finding a path; the repair has to address that path.

OnGround assesses the likely source before choosing a repair. Depending on what the assessment finds, the right answer may be a focused repair or a fuller waterproofing rebuild.

Design visualisation of a bathroom floor at the waterproofing stage, with the membrane applied over the screed and the drain and pipe penetrations detailed before tiling. — Design visualisation — final design depends on site dimensions and selected materials.

Why leaks come back

The waterproofing layer has failed

Below the tile and adhesive sits the layer that is actually meant to stop water. Once it is breached at a joint or penetration, the surface above can look fine while water travels.

Slopes and drains move water the wrong way

If the floor no longer falls cleanly to the drain, water stands and finds weak points. Re-tiling without correcting the slope repeats the problem.

Penetrations are the weak points

Mixer bodies, drains, waste pipes and floor traps are where most leaks start. These critical details need specific treatment, not a general coat.

How OnGround approaches it

Assess the source

We review the symptom, the affected areas and the likely path before recommending scope. Photos help us prepare; the site visit confirms.

Treat the critical details

Where waterproofing is included, preparation and detailing at penetrations and junctions are treated as carefully as the open field.

Test before covering

The agreed test process (for example a flood or pond test where applicable) is completed and recorded before tiling closes the work.

Record the hidden stages

Waterproofing-stage and test photographs can form part of the project record, because this work disappears behind the finish.

Apartments: the flat below

When a leak affects a neighbour, the problem is also a relationship with the building. We plan association coordination, access and shut-offs so the repair is done once, cleanly, with the common areas protected.

Common questions

Can you tell what’s wrong from photos of the damp patch?: Photos help us understand the symptom and prepare for the visit, but the source of a leak usually cannot be confirmed from images alone. A site assessment is used to recommend the repair scope.
Do I need to redo the whole bathroom to fix a leak?: Not always. Some leaks are contained and can be addressed locally; others indicate the waterproofing system needs rebuilding. The assessment determines which, rather than assuming the largest scope.
What warranty applies to waterproofing?: Any workmanship or waterproofing warranty is stated in the project quotation with its coverage, duration, conditions and exclusions. Manufacturer warranties apply according to the product terms.

Get the source assessed before you re-seal again.

Tell us where the damp or leak is showing and share a few photos. We’ll arrange an assessment to recommend the right repair scope.

Book a Bathroom Assessment Check Your Bathroom's Condition

Last reviewed 24 July 2026 · Reviewed by the OnGround Renovation Team