Leaking showerlay

[evilmango]

I've just had a wetroom installed. I specified the components and went for a 1000 x 1000 offset Showerlay and 20mm Marmox board onto 22mm ply, with Schluter Kerdi matting for tanking (with the all the necessary glue, reinforcement corners etc).

Plumber came in today to fit the shower head and Dallmer drain. When he went to give the system a quick test he discovered the floor leaking. It seems to be coming from around the drain (but not from the drain connection itself).

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience of showerlays leaking at all? My general impression from reviews is that they're pretty solid, as long as they're installed properly.

 

[AliGage]

Seems to be coming from? what can you see?

 

[AliGage]

Never had any issues with Marmox trays. Rate them highly infact.

 

[Qwerty]

Likewise. I would struggle to believe it is the former itself

 

[evilmango]

Trying to upload a photo but keep getting an error message about my quota (I've tried resizing it so it's only 150KB)...

 

[Qwerty]

Email it to me.....email address in my forum signature

 

[evilmango]

Cheers, sent over. I'm wondering if the square cut out has caused problems? I did note that the showerlay instructions specify cutting a keyhole shape hole.

 

[Qwerty]

 

[Qwerty]

I can see straight away what I think is the issue..... It looks as if you fixer has used a thin sheet of metal to support the plastic part of the former, but in doing so this will not make a tight seal between the trap components and former.

 

[evilmango]

Fairly certain that metal sheet is part of the showerlay itself. I can't find a good photo, but you can just about see the underside here:
http://www.pureadhesion.co.uk/images/Marmox_Shower_Lay_Fitting_Guide_07.jpg

 

[Qwerty]

No, that part is plastic. No metal on the showerlay. I've fitted countless numbers of them with no metal and no failures

 

[evilmango]

I've just undone the drain. I could be wrong but I swear the metal is definitely part of the tray - the hole is an absolute perfect fit, it's bonded both to the plastic upper and it sits flush into the board when looking from the underside. Will email a couple more photos.

 

[Chalker]

Can you email a pic from above.
i think you are correct with the metal plate. It is fitted to some. Has the square fitting that is bonded to the top of the tray been moved?
i usually make the trap up with a good quantity silicone too.

 

[AliGage]

How thick is that ply?

 

[evilmango]

Ply is 22mm. Trying to get some more photos uploaded.

 

[AliGage]

Scrap that I just zoomed in. Its your seal thats leaking. There's two droplets formed on it. Trap not done up tight enough.

 

[Qwerty]

I have to say I'm confused. I have never ever seen or fitted any that have metal visible within the tray.

I personally never silicone as the rubber compresses fully to make the seal.

Here are a few more photos he has forwarded to me...

 

[evilmango]

Trap was absolutely bone dry when I took the photo. The water was definitely seeping from the edge of the ply.

 

[Chalker]

Stupid question,
is it tiled yet?
if so, can you take a pic?

 

[Chalker]

How is it sealed round the edge of the square plastic round the grille?

 

[Mr Tiler]

Stupid question,
is it tiled yet?
if so, can you take a pic?

might sound even worse here.... was it tanked?

 

[evilmango]

It's tiled. Grout has had a few days to dry. Used a Bal single part flexi and Ultra Flex Joint grout.

You can see the skirting isn't in yet but it's all tanked so should be waterproof (have only been aiming the showerhead at the centre anyway).

 

[evilmango]

The top of the showerlay and marmox board elsewhere in the room wasn't tanked other than tape over the joints at the edges.

 

[evilmango]

How is it sealed round the edge of the square plastic round the grille?

I believe the tiles are just seated into adhesive around the edge of the plastic - will have to check with the tiler. Does this normally need sealing? My understanding was that you could simply tile straight onto showerlay.

 

[Mr Tiler]

I believe the tiles are just seated into adhesive around the edge of the plastic - will have to check with the tiler. Does this normally need sealing? My understanding was that you could simply tile straight onto showerlay.

I think there is an issue with the tanking here

 

[AliGage]

I still think its a leaky trap

 

[evilmango]

I think there is an issue with the tanking here

I checked all the tanking before the tiles went down - Schluter Kerdi matting applied to all walls with Kerdi Coll, then joints taped to showerlay with Kerdi tape, then reinforcemens glued in the corners. The only exception is the righthand wall where the tiler ran out of Kerdi matting so used a sheet of Homelux wall.

With all that said, whilst testing it I've been very careful not to get water beyond the centre of the floor so I don't think it's even getting close to the tanked parts.

 

[AliGage]

How long had that sealant been left to go off befire running the water.
The bubblie type look to the silicone in picture two suggest to me the silicone has got wet before its cured, long before

 

[evilmango]

Ok hold up... I've just found a piece of ply which looks like plumber has cut out today with a multimaster or similar. Looks like the builder did not cut out a recess for the horizontal pipe earlier. Whilst he hasn't visibly damaged the underside of the board I'm going to guess this probably wasn't good for the drain fitting?

 

[One Day]

There's that word - "builder".

Investigation over.
Case closed!