Full tear-out and disposal
We remove the old tile, backer board, pan, and any damaged framing, then haul it away. The tear-out is where we find the real extent of the water damage, and we show you what we find before we rebuild.
Membranes, backer board, and tile done code-correct.
Bathroom waterproofing Pocatello ID that stops leaks cold
If your shower pan weeps or grout keeps cracking, bathroom waterproofing Pocatello ID is the fix that protects the whole room. We tear out failed pans, install a bonded waterproofing membrane over cement backer board, and flood-test before a single tile goes down. Homeowners across Bannock County call us because we find the source, not just the symptom. One visit, a dry floor, and a shower that holds water where it belongs.
Careful work. Honest options.
About this service
bathroom waterproofing Pocatello ID done to TCNA standards
Bathroom waterproofing Pocatello ID is the layer of membrane, backer board, and sealant that keeps water inside the shower and out of your framing. It is not paint-on sealer from a big-box shelf. We build a continuous waterproof assembly: cement backer board fastened to the studs, seams taped and mortared, then a bonded sheet or liquid membrane rolled and cured to a uniform thickness. Every penetration, from the shower valve to the drain flange, gets sealed with the manufacturer's banding. That is what stops the slow drip that rots subfloor for years before anyone notices.
Pocatello homes built before 1990 often have copper pans or greenboard behind tile, and both fail. Winter freeze-thaw swings along the Portneuf River corridor push moisture through hairline cracks, and a single leaking shower valve can soak a ceiling below in one season. If you are searching for bathroom waterproofing near me Pocatello, the honest answer is a full assembly replacement, not a patch. We scope it, price it, and get it done.
- ✓ Stops hidden leaks
- ✓ Blocks mold and mildew
- ✓ Protects tile investment
- ✓ Raises resale value
What's included
What our waterproofing service includes
Every waterproofing job starts with a tear-out and inspection, then we build the assembly back correctly. The inclusions below are standard on a full shower waterproofing job. Tile and fixture replacement are quoted separately based on what you choose.
Cement backer board install
We hang new cement backer board with the correct fasteners and spacing, tape and mortar the seams, and keep the walls plumb. No greenboard or drywall goes behind a wet wall on our jobs.
Membrane and banding
A bonded sheet or liquid membrane covers the entire wet area, with manufacturer banding at every seam, corner, and penetration. This is the layer that keeps water out of your framing for good.
24-hour flood test
We plug the drain, fill the pan, and let it sit for 24 hours. If the water level holds, the assembly passes. We photograph the test and include it with your job records.
Drain and valve sealing
The drain flange and shower valve are the two most common leak points. We seal both with the manufacturer's system and check the connections before the tile goes on.
How it works
How our waterproofing process runs
We remove tile, backer board, and the old pan down to the studs and subfloor. A moisture meter and visual check tell us how far the damage spread. If framing is soft, we sister the studs before anything goes back. This is the step that decides the rest of the job.
We hang cement backer board with the correct fasteners and spacing, then tape and mortar the seams. A laser level keeps the walls plumb so the tile lays flat. No greenboard, no drywall, no shortcuts behind a wet wall.
A bonded sheet or liquid-applied membrane goes over the entire wet area, including the pan, curb, and six inches up the walls. We band every seam and penetration with the manufacturer's system. This is the waterproofing membrane Pocatello ID homeowners are actually paying for.
We plug the drain and fill the pan with water for 24 hours. If the level holds, the assembly passes. If it drops, we find the breach and fix it before tile. This test is non-negotiable and we photograph it for your records.
Porcelain or ceramic tile goes down over the cured membrane with the right thinset. We grout, then seal with silicone caulk at every change of plane. A final walkthrough shows you the drain slope and how to keep the assembly dry between uses.
STEP 01Tear-out and inspection
We remove tile, backer board, and the old pan down to the studs and subfloor. A moisture meter and visual check tell us how far the damage spread. If framing is soft, we sister the studs before anything goes back. This is the step that decides the rest of the job.
Tools & methods
Tools and methods we use
Moisture meter
We use a moisture meter to read the water content in framing and backer board before and after tear-out. It tells us how far the damage spread and whether the cavity is dry enough to rebuild.
Wet saw
A wet saw cuts porcelain and ceramic tile cleanly without chipping the edge. Clean cuts matter at the shower curb and drain, where a tight fit is part of the waterproofing.
Laser level
A laser level keeps the backer board plumb and the tile lines straight. A plumb wall is easier to waterproof and looks better when the tile is set.
Caulking gun
We use a caulking gun with silicone caulk at every change of plane, around the drain, and at the valve penetration. Silicone stays flexible where grout would crack.
Oscillating multi-tool
An oscillating multi-tool cuts backer board and trim in tight corners around the shower valve and drain without damaging adjacent framing.
Grout float
A grout float presses grout into the tile joints evenly. Proper grout coverage, combined with the waterproof membrane behind it, keeps water out of the assembly.
Real results
Before and after.
Waterproofing
Leaking shower pan rebuilt in Highland
A 1990s tiled shower had been leaking into the ceiling below for months. The copper pan had pinhole leaks and the backer board was soft around the drain. The homeowner had already tried re-grouting twice.
After: We tore out the pan and lower wall, replaced the soft framing, and installed a new sloped pan with a bonded membrane. The 24-hour flood test held. New porcelain tile and silicone caulk finished the job, and the ceiling below stayed dry.
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Waterproofing
Greenboard shower replaced in Old Town
An Old Town Pocatello home had greenboard behind the shower tile, and the tile was starting to move. A moisture meter read over 25 percent in the wall cavity, and mold was visible at the corners.
After: We removed the greenboard and moldy backer board, treated the framing, and installed cement backer board with a sheet membrane. The new tile was set over a flat, waterproof substrate. The wall cavity dried to under 15 percent before we closed it.
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Waterproofing
Tub-to-shower conversion in Pocatello Creek
A homeowner wanted a walk-in shower in place of a tub. The old tub surround had a failing caulk line and soft drywall at the deck. The drain location had to move for the new shower.
After: We relocated the drain, built a sloped pan, and installed a bonded membrane across the floor and walls. The flood test passed, and new large-format tile went down over the cured membrane. The shower is curbless and drains without pooling.
Book this service → Problems we solve
Waterproofing problems we solve in Pocatello
Most shower failures start small and hide behind tile. These are the problems we see most often in Pocatello homes, and what happens if they are left alone.
Ask a pro →Shower pan leaking into the ceiling below
We tear out the failed pan, inspect the framing, and rebuild with a new sloped pan and bonded membrane. A 24-hour flood test proves the new pan holds before tile goes down.
Cracked tile grout and mold in the corners
We remove the affected tile and backer board, treat any mold, and rebuild with a waterproof membrane and flexible silicone caulk at every change of plane. The new assembly keeps the cavity dry.
Greenboard or drywall behind shower tile
We replace the greenboard with cement backer board and a bonded membrane. This is the correct assembly for a tiled shower and it is what we install on every waterproofing job.
Leaking shower valve soaking the wall
We replace the valve, seal the wall penetration with the membrane system, and restore the waterproofing assembly. If the framing is wet, we dry it and sister any soft studs before closing the wall.
Proof you can check
Licensed, certified, and tested
- TCNA Tile Installation Certification · Tile Council of North America
- EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm · U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- State of Idaho Plumbing License · State of Idaho
- OSHA 10 · Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Most shower waterproofing jobs run $1,200 to $3,500 in 2026, depending on size and whether we replace the pan. A full tear-out with new backer board and membrane sits at the higher end. Tile and fixtures are separate. We give you a written range after we see the shower, not a phone guess.
Pocatello's freeze-thaw cycles and older housing stock make moisture intrusion worse than in milder climates. Water behind tile freezes, expands, and cracks grout, then rots framing. A proper membrane keeps the cavity dry and stops the cycle before it starts. It is the difference between a shower that lasts 20 years and one that leaks in three.
A standard shower takes two to four days of on-site work, including the 24-hour flood test. Larger master baths or jobs with framing repair run five to seven days. We schedule the tear-out and the tile set as separate days so the membrane has time to cure properly.
A bonded sheet membrane over cement backer board is the most reliable system for a tiled shower, and it is what we install most. Liquid-applied membranes work well for smaller niches and complex shapes. Both beat greenboard and mastic every time. We match the system to your shower's layout and the tile you choose.
Ready when you are
Get bathroom waterproofing Pocatello ID done right
We flood-test every pan and photograph the result, so you know the shower holds before tile goes down. Call us for a written scope and a start date. If your shower is leaking now, we will tell you what it takes to stop it.
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Request an appointment
Contact our Pocatello bathroom crew
Call us or send a message and we will get back to you the same business day. We schedule estimates Monday through Friday and can usually get to a Pocatello address within a few days. Tell us what is going on with the bathroom and we will tell you what it takes to fix it.
Call anytime+19863369053Email the officeinfo@bathroomremodelpocatelloid.com
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