A leaking shower tray or external tiled area doesn't always demand demolition. When water finds its way through porous grout or substrate, you need a way to stop it without lifting a single tile. Adheseal Showerseal penetrates deep, forming a clear, internal hydrophobic barrier. It inhibits water ingress without altering the surface appearance or requiring disruptive repair work.

Why this product exists

Adheseal Showerseal provides an economic alternative to traditional, invasive leak repair. It is a clear, deep-penetrating siloxane/silane solution engineered to create an internal hydrophobic barrier within porous substrates. This stops leaks from the surface inward, without the need for demolition or tile removal. It also resists high pH conditions found in new concrete and lime-based mortars, ensuring durability. This penetrative action makes porous surfaces hydrophobic, allowing the substrate to 'breathe' while preventing water damage and reducing efflorescence.

The numbers that matter

• Coverage: Expect approximately 5 square metres per litre. For a standard shower recess, 250ml to 500ml is often sufficient across three soaking coats. This allows you to plan material precisely for both large external areas and specific wet area repairs.
• Drying times: It is touch dry in 2 to 4 hours, and set in 4 to 8 hours per coat. Full cure for shower recesses allows use after 24 to 48 hours. This quick turnaround minimises downtime on site.
• Appearance: Dries clear with no gloss. This ensures the original aesthetic of tiles, masonry, or painted surfaces remains unchanged, making it suitable for visible architectural finishes.

What it's like to use

Prepare the surface by ensuring it is structurally sound, clean, and completely dry. Remove any loose or cracked grout, mortar, or existing sealants, then allow the substrate to dry thoroughly. The drier the surface, the better the penetration. Apply Showerseal evenly by brush, roller, or spray, ensuring thorough saturation. For walls, start at the top and work downwards, letting the liquid run evenly. Allow the product to cure for 24 to 48 hours before using the treated area. After Showerseal has fully dried, replace any removed sealants using a product like Adheseal S100 Sanitary Silicone Sealant to complete the waterproof system at movement joints and corners. Clean tools and skin with appropriate solvents or Adheseal Hand Wipes.

Where this product excels

• Remediating leaking showers: Stop water ingress through porous grout and tile beds without the cost and disruption of removing tiles. This is particularly effective for ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tiled areas.
• Protecting external tiled areas: Create a durable hydrophobic barrier on balconies, terraces, and decks, guarding against water damage and extending the life of the installation.
• Sealing masonry and stone: Make external concrete, render, brick, block walls, sandstone, and porous pavers hydrophobic. This prevents moisture penetration and significantly reduces efflorescence, maintaining the material's natural appearance.
• General water repellency: Treat painted surfaces and Fibre Cement (FC) sheeting to make them water repellent, preventing moisture absorption and associated damage.

Choose this when

• You need to stop leaks in tiled wet areas or external surfaces without resort to demolition.
• The primary issue is water penetrating porous substrates like grout, concrete, brick, or sandstone.
• You require a water barrier that maintains the original appearance of the surface, drying clear with no gloss.
• You need to reduce efflorescence on masonry while allowing the substrate to remain vapour permeable.

Don't use this when

• Not for: Bridging structural cracks or filling voids. These issues require flexible sealants or repair mortars before any penetrative treatment.
• Not for: Low-density, sandy, or friable substrates that cannot achieve sufficient 'build-up' for an effective water barrier. Test these areas first.
• Not for: A surface waterproofing membrane. This product is a penetrative sealer; for surface barrier waterproofing, consider a product like Everflex Aqua-Ban Waterproofing Membrane.
• Not for: Application during imminent rain or inclement weather without protection, as this will compromise effectiveness.