Best way to repair underfloor (tile) bathroom plumbing?

ben501

I came downstairs this morning to find a puddle on the kitchen floor. Once I’d woken up enough to investigate, I decided it’s from the bathroom sink drainpipe. This is based solely on its position compared to the place where the water came through the ceiling.

The bathroom floor is tiled in all exposed areas, so checking under the floorboards won’t be easy. Add to that, I think the tiles were fitted on ply, which was laid on top of the existing floorboards.
The sides of the bath are also tiled, so I can’t just remove the bath panel to try and look underneath either.

Before I start contacting plumbers and listening the sharp intake of breath, does anyone have experience or advice on the subject, in particular the best, or most likely route to fixing it?
I have heard suggestions that it can be easier to access the plumbing by making a hole in the ceiling below, rather than lifting tiles. (Artex ceiling, so probably not that easy to patch & match either)

Another thought, due to my inexperience, Is this likely to be something I can claim for through my insurance? I have combined building/contents, and the premium even after claiming, is likely to be less that the cost of repairs.
The bathroom was only fitted about 12 months ago, so I will be contacting the fitter, but I’ve no idea if this would be covered under any warranty.

martinsurrey

ben501 wrote: »

I came downstairs this morning to find a puddle on the kitchen floor. Once I’d woken up enough to investigate, I decided it’s from the bathroom sink drainpipe. This is based solely on its position compared to the place where the water came through the ceiling.

The bathroom floor is tiled in all exposed areas, so checking under the floorboards won’t be easy. Add to that, I think the tiles were fitted on ply, which was laid on top of the existing floorboards.
The sides of the bath are also tiled, so I can’t just remove the bath panel to try and look underneath either.

Before I start contacting plumbers and listening the sharp intake of breath, does anyone have experience or advice on the subject, in particular the best, or most likely route to fixing it?
I have heard suggestions that it can be easier to access the plumbing by making a hole in the ceiling below, rather than lifting tiles. (Artex ceiling, so probably not that easy to patch & match either)

Another thought, due to my inexperience, Is this likely to be something I can claim for through my insurance? I have combined building/contents, and the premium even after claiming, is likely to be less that the cost of repairs.
The bathroom was only fitted about 12 months ago, so I will be contacting the fitter, but I’ve no idea if this would be covered under any warranty.

you are making a big assumption,

If the floor was over boarded, the leak could be anywhere, and just coming through a hole in the boarding or down the joins.

no easy fix I'm afraid, if you go through from below, you'll need to replace a ceiling and its a pigs job getting through ceiling, then floor boards, then ply to find the leak, but from above, you'll be repacing floor and side panel.

I suggest getting it done from above, and when everything goes back in get it done properly, with access points, that way if it happens again its an easy fix.

maninthestreet

I had a similar problem a few months ago - the artex may contain asbestos.
You will need to get it tested - this cost me £108. Mine did have asbestos, and it cost me almost £500 for an asbestos specialist to cut a 1 foot square hole in it.

ben501

Curiosity got the better of me. Having placed a bucket under the hole, I tried turning the bathroom tap on to see if it stated dripping again, but nothing.



Not content to just leave it alone, I got a screwdriver, reached up and poked around. Water then started to trickle out. Something must be plugging the hole, and last night the pressure got too great, some leaked through.