Bathroom leak through ceiling downstairs

AnonymouseAWD

I don't have the cut out anymore, everything went in a bin liner and gone now :(. But where those pipes come down, were in my opinion, exactly where the drops were coming through the plaster.

Definitely not dripping. The hole in the ceiling is just off slightly to my sofa so where I'm sitting! But was dripping onto the kitchen side whereever it had chosen to come through the plaster. I've got a bowl there, and some paper towel, so would definitely know if it was wet.

The problem is, I don't know where these pipes lead. Bath / wash basin!? They don't particularly line up with anything like where the bath is, the wash basin etc. And I don't know too much about the make-up of a house in general so I'm not being overly helpful in you guys trying to assist me! Sorry :(

For the moment I will just have to wait for it to do it again but it could be an issue every time I use the shower / wash basin in an unseen area.

I will have to see what happens!

If anything I will come back to this post.

WIAWSNB

The fellow certainly removed the board where the drip was coming through, but as you know this will be where boards join. However, since your nifty video work didn't reveal any obvious tide or river marks on the top surface surrounding that hole, then I agree it almost certainly originated from that spot too.

And that's the two copper pipes. It does appear to be that clear.

In addition to the newspaper you have placed up there, flat on the surrounding ceiling boards, I'd cobble summat together like some sticks that will span the hole, and also set up a sheet fully covering the hole from above.

Then just get on with it. It will happen again.

To locate where these pipes come up will likely require a tape measure and some reference points - it can sometimes be very hard to nudge where the layouts of floors match without this.

So, an obvious shared point, such as the stairwell. See the newel post at the top of the run - you can see that from both floors, yes? If so, you can use that. From there, take actual measurements - don't guess - to the ceiling hole. Do it using straight coordinates following wall directions which will all be at right angles to eachother. So, if the hole is to the 'right' of the post, sketch it on paper, adding where walls are, and take a straight measurement, not directly to the hole, but directly right following wall lines. Measure to wall, add wall thickness, continue other side. Stop when you are 'in line' with the hole. Then repeat at right angles from there 'till you get to the actual hole. Sketch it all down, add your sums to get two coordinates.

You clearly need to do it this way, since the upstairs layout is currently not obvious to you from the downstairs.

Take yer sketch and tape, and repeat upstairs.

(Or, do you have accurate floor plans, say from building work?)

Then go, "AaaaAAAaaaaah!!" when you arrive at the now-obvious spot where these pipes come up.

And then go, "Noooooooo!" when you realise what needs to be wrecked to get to it....

I suspect this is either waste or 'spilling' water, and not from a supply pipe, which would more likely be a constant drip. So water leaks when a bathroom item is being used, or gets past say a shower seal. It hits the floor, pools, and comes down around these pipes where they come through.