Leaking shower

**2runningcats** · 09-05-2009

Help ! I've owned my flat for 10 years but it was rented out while I lived in New Zealand for four years. When I came back last summer, there was a cracked tile by the shower tray (the shower tray has one row of half tiles on one side to make the tray fit the gap and then 3 tiled walls - 2 side ones are brick/solid and the back wall, where the showerhead is, is some sort of plasterboard on battens. Also, the shower has a plastic strip at the bottom row of tiles that seems to be nailed to the wall. Basically the bathroom has been made out of a long narrow cupboard and the shower backs onto the back of the cupboard).

Anyway, some of the tiles along the bottom row of the back wall were also slightly discoloured so himself took out the row of half tiles that are parallel to the showertray (including the broken one) to find the wood below wet but not soggy. We let it dry out thoroughly then he retiled and resiliconed the whole shower, including all the long corners. This was 6 months ago.

All well and good until I noticed the discolouration was getting worse and the silicon along the back wall was going mouldy. Have just taken the half tiles out (wood again is all wet), and the bottom 2 rows of tiles off the back wall (bottom row wet with some mould, 2nd row only slightly damp at bottom). The bottom rows of tiles along the brick/solid walls are fine (he took them off to check). So it looks like water is somehow getting in and wicking up what looks to be ordinary board (don't think it's tanked or anything else...) There is still no sign of damp at the back of the cupboard which backs onto the shower. Himself did put oodles of silicone on, so I'm doubtful that there was a leak in that...

What now ? Do we just let it all dry out again and have another go at repairing the bits of soggy plasterboard, tiling and resealing ? Should we take the shower tray out in case water's leaked below it (eek) or take the plasterboard wall down (double eek) and redo the lot (triple eek) ?

Or rather, get someone in to do all of this !?

Please help, as we are now showerless as well as clueless...

Thanks guys

**Colour Republic** · 09-05-2009

even though its wet at the bottom it may be leaking higher up. can you see any dry plasterboard or is the whole area wet were you've taken the tiles off

**2runningcats** · 09-05-2009

The higher up the plasterboard, the drier it is. Also, the further away from the LH corner were the tile was originally cracked, the drier it is. I'm pretty sure it's not a leak from the pipes or showerhead.

**Dave** · 09-05-2009

Do you have silicone expansion joints in the corners..?

**2runningcats** · 09-05-2009

I've no idea ! Himself ran silicone down all the corner joints of the shower and prior to this issue (caused by cracked tile ?) I'd never had a problem or done anything to the shower

**Dave** · 09-05-2009

If you have ingression fron the base upwards then you have water getting in....check your seal around the tray ..

**2runningcats** · 09-05-2009

Do you mean the plastic strip ? I'm sure the silicone round it was secure. The thing I'm really worried about is do I need to rip out the tray ?

**Dave** · 09-05-2009

Sounds like you have a slight slit etc in the silicone and water is getting in...

It dose not take much to let water in....make sure you try all avenues before ripping anything out..