Prevent internal water damage by protecting the hidden weak point in a wet area
Tiles, acrylic liners and waterproofing systems protect the main surfaces of a bathroom, but tapware still needs to pass through those surfaces.
A typical shower has at least two wall penetrations, one for the mixer and another for the outlet. These sit in an area exposed to regular spray and moisture, yet the penetrations themselves can be overlooked when a bathroom is designed or built. The Wetwall Caddy provides a proprietary flanged waterproofing solution that supports compliance with NZBC Clause E3, while maintaining the access opening required by the tapware manufacturer for servicing and warranty purposes.
Water can enter the wall cavity through unsealed or incorrectly sealed penetrations, plumbing connection leaks, or hardware failure within the tapware itself. Once behind the tapware and faceplate, that moisture can remain out of sight in materials that were never intended to manage ongoing water exposure.
Wet Area Environments - Overview:
Wetwall Caddy supplies moulded shower mixer wall caddy units that seal tapware penetrations in wet area walls, made in New Zealand for residential and commercial builds.
- Moulded ABS shower mixer wall caddy fixed to framing in about ten minutes
- Standard shower pack includes large mixer caddy, small outlet caddy and packer
- Pipe entries sit above water level, pushing captured water out the front
- Custom units printed to order for unusual tapware or pipework set-outs
- Supports E3 internal moisture requirements while the waterproofing membrane still applies
- Waterproofers and tilers finish to a defined edge, cartridge access kept clear
What is going on behind my wall? How a shower mixer wall caddy helps prevent mould
- Water can track behind faceplates via unsealed or incorrectly sealed penetrations and into the wall cavity
- Hidden moisture can affect framing, linings, insulation and fixings
- Wetwall Caddy directs water back out the front where it can be seen
Shower mixer wall caddy units are made in New Zealand and delivered throughout New Zealand and internationally.
Hidden water damage can develop before you see it
Once moisture reaches the wall cavity, the problem can remain hidden for some time.
Repeated exposure can affect timber framing, wall linings, insulation and fixings. Visible warning signs such as swollen linings, damaged grout, movement in tiles, staining or musty smells may not appear until the surrounding materials have already been affected.
In apartments and multi-level buildings, water can also move beyond the original wet area into adjoining rooms, floors or ceilings below.
What hidden shower leaks can cost
Moisture trapped in a wall cavity causes mould behind the lining and decay in framing timber. Behind plasterboard, damage often shows as a V-shaped pattern spreading from an unsealed penetration.
Once swollen linings, lifting tiles, dark shadowing or a musty smell appear, the framing is already affected, and repairs mean stripping tiles, linings, tapware and timber to reach the source.
Insurance Council of New Zealand figures from about 2009 showed over 45,000 plumbing leak claims yearly. Replacing a shower averaged $11,000, against a payout cap near $3,000. In apartments and multi-level buildings, water reaches rooms below.
Planning a bathroom or multi-level project? Get in touch.
Once swollen linings, lifting tiles, dark shadowing or a musty smell appear, the framing is already affected, and repairs mean stripping tiles, linings, tapware and timber to reach the source.
Insurance Council of New Zealand figures from about 2009 showed over 45,000 plumbing leak claims yearly. Replacing a shower averaged $11,000, against a payout cap near $3,000. In apartments and multi-level buildings, water reaches rooms below.
Planning a bathroom or multi-level project? Get in touch.
Why sealant alone is not the whole solution
Sealant has an important role in a finished wet area, but relying on sealant alone around tapware does not provide the same permanent cavity protection as a purpose-built wall penetration system.
Movement, servicing and ageing can all affect seals over time. The mixer also needs to remain accessible so cartridges and other components can be serviced without breaking tiles or opening the finished wall.
Wetwall Caddy creates a defined enclosure around the penetration while maintaining front access. It also gives plumbers, waterproofers and tilers a consistent point to finish and seal to.
Keep water in front of the wall, not inside it
The Wetwall Caddy is fitted to the framing before the wall is finished. The mixer or outlet sits within the Caddy, while the flange seals around the penetration to help protect the wall cavity from water ingress.
If water gets behind the tapware faceplate, the design directs it towards the front access opening rather than allowing it to disappear into the framing. This means water can become visible where it can be investigated instead of remaining hidden inside the wall.
Wetwall Caddy works alongside the wider wet area waterproofing system rather than replacing it, and can be used with both tiled and acrylic lined installations.
They are the wall lining penetrations cut for the shower mixer and outlet. These holes sit behind the faceplate where pressurised spray can reach them but nobody can inspect them once the shower is finished.
The caddy captures water around the penetration and directs it out the front access hole as a visible drip, instead of allowing it to run into the concealed wall cavity.
No. The membrane is still required. The Wetwall Caddy is an accessory to shower wall cavity waterproofing and provides a defined finishing point for membrane and sealant work.
Yes. It suits tiled and acrylic showers and can be used in wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundries, apartments, hotels, hospitals, aged care, schools, sports facilities and commercial showers.
Wet Area Environments - Summary:
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What: Moulded ABS shower mixer wall caddy units fixed at framing stage to seal pipe penetrations, discharge water out the front and prevent internal water damage.
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Where: Made in New Zealand and delivered throughout New Zealand and internationally.
- Who for: Builders, plumbers, specifiers, waterproofers, tilers and owners of homes, apartments, hotels, hospitals, aged care, schools and commercial buildings.