Shower leaks are a common cause of flooding the neighbours in Israel. Unlike an obvious puddle, they often run under the tray and quietly cause damage for years. Here's where it usually leaks and what pros do about it.
Where leaks happen most often
- Joint between the wall and the tray — silicone cracks and pulls away, water gets under the tiles.
- Drain (shower trap) — the flange gasket loses elasticity.
- Mixer and shower head — internal cartridges and seals wear out over 3–5 years.
- Glass doors and seals — water splashes over and gets under the baseboard.
- Waterproofing under the tiles itself — the most expensive scenario: water goes into the screed and to the neighbours.
How to pinpoint the leak
- Dry the shower thoroughly and leave it unused for an hour. If a damp patch appears, the supply pipe is leaking, not the shower itself.
- Plug the drain with a stopper or wet rag, add some water and watch the level. If it drops, the problem is in the drain or waterproofing.
- Ask someone to shower while you watch the floor outside the stall and the wall joints — the water path is often visible.
What the plumber does
- Cuts out the old silicone, degreases the joint and applies sanitary (anti-mould) sealant — this fixes most "surface" leaks.
- Replaces the drain gasket or installs a new membrane drain.
- Repairs or replaces the mixer and internal seals.
- In severe cases — tile removal, re-waterproofing and re-tiling (for this you need a tiler).
How much it costs in Israel
- Joint resealing and silicone replacement — 250–450 ₪
- Drain replacement with removal of one tile — 500–900 ₪
- Concealed mixer replacement — 600–1,100 ₪
- Full shower waterproofing restoration (with re-tiling) — 3,500–8,000 ₪
- Full shower enclosure replacement (assembly and hook-up) — from 1,000 ₪ labour plus the enclosure cost
Preventing this in the first place
Silicone in a shower is a consumable. Refresh it every 2 years even if it looks fine. That's 250–400 ₪ of one-off prevention against a 5,000+ ₪ repair with tile removal five years later.
Frequently asked
How do I know the leak is under the tiles and not in a pipe?
If the floor only gets wet after you shower — it's probably the tray seal or drain. If the patch grows even without running water, a supply pipe is leaking.
How much does it cost to redo shower silicone?
Replacing silicone along all seams is 250–450 ₪ with a plumber. It's not tile work, it's preventative — worth doing every 1.5–2 years.
Do I need to redo all the waterproofing when there's a leak?
Not always. If the leak is at the drain or a joint, a local repair is enough. Full re-waterproofing is needed only if water is going into the screed and to the neighbours and thermal imaging shows a large wet zone.
The mixer is leaking inside the wall — what do I do?
This happens with concealed mixers: the internal cartridge or seals have failed. The plumber removes the decorative plate (without breaking the tiles) and replaces the cartridge — 1–2 hours of work at 600–1,100 ₪.