Leak, ceiling collapse. REPAIR??

celticfc

We've been having trouble from time to time with a leak when the shower is used. It was very occasionally this was happening, sometimes weeks apart. More recently the leak got worse, this resulted in a partial ceiling collapse.
The problem we're faced with is how to repair the leak. Our shower is a walk in shower. The bathroom is tiled all over and so access would only be realistically from underneath in our kitchen.
I'm trying to figure out a way to repair the leak without damaging the bathroom. I wondered if I drilled a few holes and pumped expanding foam would that be ok?
Money is tight and any work I could do is very very limited due to a disability.
Am I looking at a removal of floor boards from underneath in order to access all pipework?
Appreciate any help provided.

I rang the insurance company and was told no help or claim could be offered as the leak was over time. I have never placed an insurance claim in spite of about 26 years of no claim.

Davesnave

It's a maintenance issue, not an insurance matter, especially as you realised there was an escape of water occasionally and ignored it.

It's not clear from your post where the leak is, so perhaps you don't know, but it's certain that expanding foam will play no part in stopping it.

It's also certain that floor boards will not be removed 'from underneath,' as they sit above thick pieces of wood (joists) that form the structural part of the upstairs floor. The shower tray sits on top of them too, so they are probably staying where they are.

There are 2 main possibilities:
The shower is leaking from a joint in the pipe that drains it
or
The shower is leaking at a junction between tiles, or between tiles and the tray, probably because the sealant has failed.

Either way, it seems this may be beyond your ability to repair, but identifying the place the water is escaping from would help anyone trying to fix it for you.

Typhoon2000

You could cut a bit of your ceiling out ( where it has collapsed) so you could get a good look and get an idea of which direction the water is coming from. Undo the shower head and direct the hose straight into the waste ( or get a longer hose and direct it into the sink). If the leak stops, you can be confident it’s the tiles or sealant rather than plumbing that is at fault, and if it is still leaking, it’s the plumbing.

naf123

How's your boiler pressure. Are you sure it's not a nearby leaking radiator pipe,?

celticfc

Thanks for replying.

@Typhoon2000. Solid advice. I'll definitely try that with a hose. Thanks

@naf123. The pressure is spot on & all radiators are fine. Thanks.

Spoke to a friend on the phone, explained what's going on and he's coming to take a look with an inspection camera. I'll get the hose & run it into the shower waste & the bathroom sink to try find the source of the problem while he has a good look with his camera.

.
@Davesnave. Thanks for that. Could your advice be any more patronising. " It's a maintenance issue, not an insurance matter, especially as you realised there was an escape of water occasionally and ignored it.

Do you work in insurance by any chance? That's almost word for word in the email received from the insurance company "

Thanks for pointing this out,
It's also certain that floor boards will not be removed 'from underneath,' as they sit above thick pieces of wood (joists) that form the structural part of the upstairs floor. The shower tray sits on top of them too, so they are probably staying where they are.


Who thought all that wood had names like "JOISTS" & " FLOORBOARDS " . All this time I've been calling them, beams & planks. Next you'll be pointing out that the ceiling is made of something called plasterboard.

Either way, it seems this may be beyond your ability to repair, but identifying the place the water is escaping from would help anyone trying to fix it for you.

I've not thought of trying to identify where the leak is coming from. Thanks for pointing out the obvious. You really shouldn't have bothered, REALLY you shouldn't.

I was hoping there may be an option to create a hole big enough to make a repair without having to tear up tiles & pull them off the wall in order to pull up the shower tray which is 65in long by 36in wide. It's a walk in shower barely 4.5ins off the floor. To replace all that will be costly, money that we just can't afford.

Huge thanks to the other replies,

Hermione_Granger

I do hope that you don't come across as quite so arrogant when your friend is trying to help in finding the leak.

Everything mentioned by Davesnave made perfect sense to me.
You clearly asked if it was possible to remove the floorboards from below:

celticfc wrote: »

Am I looking at a removal of floor boards from underneath in order to access all pipework?

and it was pointed out to you that this probably wouldn't be possible yet you then decided to throw your toys out and have a tantrum.
What was stated out it not being an insurance issue was also correct and irrespective of not having made a claim in 26 years, it's still correct.

greatgimpo

celticfc wrote: »

@Davesnave. Thanks for that. Could your advice be any more patronising.

Thanks for pointing this out,

Who thought all that wood had names like "JOISTS" & " FLOORBOARDS " . All this time I've been calling them, beams & planks. Next you'll be pointing out that the ceiling is made of something called plasterboard.

I've not thought of trying to identify where the leak is coming from. Thanks for pointing out the obvious. You really shouldn't have bothered, REALLY you shouldn't.

With your attitude, I wouldn't help you.

southcoastrgi

Wow you don't really know what you are talking about & then when someone tries to help you come back with an attitude like that.

Insurance is for emergencies not for a leak you couldn't be bothered to get fixed.
You can't remove floorboards from underneath
What do you expect expanding foam to do ?
If the ceiling has collapsed then take it down & see if you can see where it's leaking I very much doubt an inspection camera will show you anything

Davesnave

Thanks to those of you who came to my defence, and I'm sorry my post upset the OP.

Having re-read the thread, I consider my reply covered the points that were raised by the OP. If nothing else, it cleared the decks for Typhoon to make a solid suggestion re tracing.



Since the question was asked, I've never worked in insurance. In 42 years of home ownership, I've made one claim for serious damage to my house and I sincerely hope I shall never make another like it.

Fire_Fox

celticfc wrote: »

@Davesnave. Thanks for that. Could your advice be any more patronising.

Who thought all that wood had names like "JOISTS" & " FLOORBOARDS " . All this time I've been calling them, beams & planks. Next you'll be pointing out that the ceiling is made of something called plasterboard.

I've not thought of trying to identify where the leak is coming from. Thanks for pointing out the obvious. You really shouldn't have bothered, REALLY you shouldn't.

I was hoping there may be an option to create a hole big enough to make a repair without having to tear up tiles & pull them off the wall in order to pull up the shower tray which is 65in long by 36in wide. It's a walk in shower barely 4.5ins off the floor. To replace all that will be costly, money that we just can't afford.

Huge thanks to the other replies,

Plenty of us do not know the things that you believe emanate from the Department of the Bleeding Obvious.

This is a high-traffic public forum so, even if you do not fall into the 'absolute beginner' category as your OP suggested, it is a safe bet that someone reading this thread is.

Hence it is the norm for one of the forum regulars to - patiently rather than patronisingly - use plain language and/ or to give basic safety warnings (eg. turn off the stopcock/ switch off the circuit breaker).

For the most part people starting a thread take 'obvious' advice or 'obvious' warnings in good humour.

Davesnave

There are some forums where I'd be reluctant to post, because the advice that arises is frequently not basic enough!

Good examples include the Techie Forum, especially when someone gives instructions for altering computer settings, and virtually anything arising on the Pensions and Retirement Planning board.

For example:
"Take a £1m fund i.e at LTA more or less at 55

FAD - TFLS @ 25% out + 3x crystallised instantly =1000k - all done. LTA used. 250k out no tax - off to consumption, ISA recycling, cash buffer, debt, unwrapped investments conventional or down the property, transfer to family (PET), non-pension investments - P2P or VCT route.
The 750k stays now in the crystallised state and is now drawn in stages via the FAD mechanism (this all at marginal rate for SelfAssessment before 75....... "


.....And they'd only just begun! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: