Help! Damp on the wall

starkiwi26

Thanks Furts.
The builder showed me from my loft, there is no membran installed, and also could see some lights from the roof tile. He didn't close the door to the loft, I had to close it myself after he left, but as I popped my head up with lights to see and think thoroughly, I didn't see any watermark and I am going to monitor again during heavy rain.
Personally I seriously suspect the problem is the leakage of the plumbing feeding to the shower.

starkiwi26

I had a check on my shower cubicle, when the water drain, I can hear dripping at the ceiling below. I am almost 100% confirm there is a leak at waste water drain at the shower cubicle. So, I have 2 problem, damp problem and waste water leak at the same place same time.
As this is drain water leak, I think it is covered under Homeserve plumbing insurance (75p/month)?
But the problem is, by looking at my shower cubicle, how do I access to the waste water drain? cut the ceiling downstair and access from there?
Would Homeserve actually cut the ceiling and repair the waste water drain?

Davesnave

There are many thousands of older houses without membrane under the tiles, and no problems.

So, monitor the area closely as you've said you'll do. If there is an ingress of water from the roof, it won't require a whole strip-back and refit with a membrane, just a local repair.

From the pictures you've posted it's not clear, but could the external wall where your shower is have been battened and covered with plasterboard to hide the wires and pipes? It looks like it by the way you have pushed the plaster in so easily.

If so, could there be a small leak in the gap between the outer wall and the tiled/plastered wall?

EDIT: Our posts crossed. I now see you have decided it's a leak from the drain. Leave it to whoever does the work to decide how to access it.

starkiwi26

Davesnave wrote: »

There are many thousands of older houses without membrane under the tiles, and no problems.

So, monitor the area closely as you've said you'll do. If there is an ingress of water from the roof, it won't require a whole strip-back and refit with a membrane, just a local repair.

From the pictures you've posted it's not clear, but could the external wall where your shower is have been battened and covered with plasterboard to hide the wires and pipes? It looks like it by the way you have pushed the plaster in so easily.

If so, could there be a small leak in the gap between the outer wall and the tiled/plastered wall?

EDIT: Our posts crossed. I now see you have decided it's a leak from the drain. Leave it to whoever does the work to decide how to access it.

I think there are 2 problems here. Because I already stopped using the shower for 2 weeks, still see wet wall. and when the water flow, I can hear dripping sound at the ceiling. So, there are 2 problems here.
a) damp - from external wall? from leaking plumbing? -still not confirmed
b) leaking waste water drain - I am fairly sure on this, because
I will call Homeserve tomorrow and ask them. Since they cover for drain water leakage, they must have cover this, and have a method to access to fix this leakage.

starkiwi26

I have a question if to get Homeserve to fix the drain leakage. I don't know what shall I expect from the insurance.
If they cut my ceiling or remove the floor or anything, would they fix it back nicely after they fix the leakage? Or is it my responsible to fix them?

starkiwi26

Found this in my policy.
I assume Homeserve will do what it take to repair the leak and reinstate it?

starkiwi26

The insurance didnt cover to reinstate the wall, but at least they trace and fix the leak for me.
It is just over Christmas, I am on tight budget now, cannot afford to hire a trader to fix the wall. but I think I can just put a plaster board to cover up, put up the paint, it will look neat and tidy still

although the insurance fix it with plastic plumbing (not copper), but at least they fix the problem.



The plumbing that leak



The photo at the loft

Furts

Make sure you get the loft area insulated - at least where the pipes are. If not then in a short while with low temperatures and your leak could be back.

Was there any insulation there before Homeserve did their work? Can you re-use this?

starkiwi26

I didnt go up the loft, the engineer went up and did all the work.
I can pop my head into the loft but my ladder is not high enough to go up the loft and I am not confident enough to climb into the loft.
The photo is the engineer showed on his tablet. apparently, he didn't insulate my plumbing...
Urgh... This is bad, how do I insulate them? It is too minor to get a trader to do this for me...
I am a little overweight, can the loft support my 90kg body weight? No experience to go up to the loft...

Furts

If you are saying no insulation was considered and fitted, and nothing was mentioned to you, or discussed with you, then your work was done by a bodger, I say this because you have been shown a picture on his tablet of bad workmanship, which is illustrating "I do not give a t-ss about completing a job, and I do not give a t-ss about pride in my work".

But, if the chap then went back into the roof and tided up the roof insulation, made it good, then insulated the pipe fair enough. I maintain a competent tradesman would show you the photos of all this to reassure you no future leaks will occur. After all insurance is all about assuring people they are safe,

Having some pipe insulation on his van, complete with some tape and cable ties, is as obvious a requirement as it is to stop your car when the traffic light says red. It follows that it is a simple quick job to insulate the pipe.

Why not name and shame the Homeserve person, and the location they work from? You might then find the Official Homeserve Customer Service BS Representative coming onto this thread to give an explanation ....?