Shower Leaking (I think?)

iwilldoitthistime

Hi

I have a built in en-suite shower which I think is leaking. I have vinyl on the floor at the moment and it keeps getting wet and mouldy underneath. the shower tray is elevated and has a plinth below it.

Ive looked at the seal on the shower tray (where it meets the tiles) and am going to replace it as it looks a bit worn (the shower has been in for about 4 years).

When I lift the vinyl, the floor is boarded (house 4 years old) and it isnt very level - Im not sure if this is because it has blown with the water? The floor feels solid to the touch, and has a shiny type look to it (not sure if this is a waterproof coating?)

Questions - Could it be condensation between the vinyl and the floorboards? The room is south facing and is always warm.
- If I get someone in to look at the problem, should I get a plumber or joiner?

Any ideas welcomed.

thanks

googler

Is there any chance it's caused by you splashing outside the shower, either from within whilst showering, or whilst you step out and dry off?

If the shower is on a plinth, and the edge sealant faulty, you'd either see water on the ceiling below, or some sign of it at the edge of the plinth, I would have thought.....

phill99

It won't be condensation.it may very well be a leak. You need to take the plinth off and run the shower to see where it is leaking from. It may well be the seal but could also be the waste leaking.

iwilldoitthistime

thanks for the responses. There is no mark on the ceiling below (I think, but as its over the garage I will go and check when it stops raining!).

How does the plinth come off? Does it just lever off from one end? The wall is plastered right up to it at one end, and the other end is against skirting board?

thanks

iwilldoitthistime

Ok - Ive managed to get the plinth off. The water is coming from the front corner (not the hinged side of the door). The frame of the front of the cubicle is screwed onto the tiled wall in a couple of places, but there is a gap between the frame and the wall. I guess the water must be getting into the gap and running down the side of the tray.

The staining on the floor isnt too bad, so I dont think its panic stations.

So - do I need to unscrew the frame from the tiles and reseal inside, or could I mastic down the gap to stop the water getting in there?

Suggestions welcomed!

ListysDad

First things first.

If the silicone around the base of the tray can be lifted then its not doing its job. Patently the numpty who installed the enclosure didn't do that correctly.

If the silicone has lifted then remove it all and I really do mean ALL of it. You do it by using a sharp wood chisel at a shallow angle and lifting it all. When you rub your finger over it will show up any that's left; remove that too so there really is nothing left. Dig what you can out of any crevices and also dig out any loose grout. If you can't get rid of it all mechanically, it does take a knack, then use a silicone eater.

Once its all gone leave it to dry for a minimum of three days. This is because if you try and silicone on top of damp it won't take and you'll be back to square one.

Once dry, clean the joint area with meths and a clean cloth. Then, using good quality silicone, put a narrow bead down whilst sort of forcing it into any crevices and smooth off ONCE.

Regarding the profile (the bit of the frame attached to the wall) clean that up same as mentioned. Once clean and dry run a bead down the wall but DO NOT run it internally horizontally. NO tray should be sealed internally only externally on the horizontals.

Lastly, whilst on your hands and knees cursing, have a VERY close look at the grout between tiles. If there is ANY cracking, even hairline cracks, give the tiles a knock with your knuckles and hear whether they 'clack' or sound solid with the wall and just thud. If they clack they have lost their adhesion with the wall and you'll need to get it sorted before it starts leaking - and it will. That job will need to be done before you start resealing as you'll make it a lot harder (more expensive) if you don't.

iwilldoitthistime

Thanks Listysdad. I have taken all the silicone off around the tray so will leave it to dry out before I go any further. I will report back in a few days when Ive resealed it!

thanks again.