A shower replacement that turned out to be a waterproofing repair
Saint Albans, Christchurch
- Service
- Shower replacement
- Property
- 1950s home, original wet area
- Discovery
- Membrane had failed years earlier
The situation
The household wanted the shower swapped and nothing else. What they did not know was that the waterproofing beneath it had failed some years before, which is common in wet areas built to older standards and invisible until the lining comes off.
What happened
The enquiry flagged the property age and that the existing shower was original, which put the specialist on notice before the first visit. They opened up enough to check the membrane before quoting, rather than quoting a swap and revising once the wall was open.
Why it mattered
The job became a repair plus a replacement, which cost more than the household expected and less than it would have if they had found out mid-project. Finding it at quoting stage rather than day three is the whole point of asking about property age on the form.
