Leaking Shower

[leewad]

Hi

I would like some advise on what to do with my leaking shower, some time ago i had a wetroom built by someone, 3 months later it is leaking, i did buy a tanking solution which was laid prior to the floor tiles being laid, the only thing i can think of it that there is a hole in the tanking. The grout it cracked which i think that is where the water is getting in.

So what advise can anyone give me for the easiest solution to my problem, is there any waterproof grout i can use to prevent the water getting in? or a clear paint i can paint over the tiles to make it waterproof?

I dont really want to rip up all the floor tiles etc and start from scratch

[Sir Ramic]

Well first of all why is the grout cracking ? What is the sub floor, screed or wood ?
Who laid the tanking and did it turn up the wall at all and if so by how much ?

[leewad]

Hi

The floor under the tiles is part wood and part shower tray with tanking on top, the tanking is up the wall about 3" I do remember the fitter taking up the tiles after they had been laid as with the presser of the water it was not draining away fast enough so they had to take up the tiles and re-lay them with bigger fall, not sure if this caused a hole in the tanking i dont know. Would a waterproof grout be a solution to this? if so what is a good grout to use?

[Sir Ramic]

How bad is the leak?. Does it leak right away, within 5 mins 10 mins etc?
Have you checked 1st its not the plumbing by directing hot water direct into drain.

[leewad]

it takes around 10 minutes after the shower to start coming through the dowstairs ceiling, the place where it leaks is about 900mm from the plumbing and not directly under

[leewad]

Anyone? could do with some advice if possible?

[whitebeam]

Was it a wet room tray that was fixed then tiled on top

[leewad]

yes it was about 1800 x 900

[Mike]

if the grout has cracked it seems like the floor has too much movement in it. was flexi adhesive and grout used and was the floor/tray solid before tiling? sounds like you may have to lift the floor and re-do. but thats without seeing it. good luck

[leewad]

What is a good grout i can try? something which is flexi and waterproof?

[Sir Ramic]

I take it you havent done as i suggested ?

[leewad]

Its not the plumbing as i mentioned

[Mike]

even if the drain is the leak you still have a problem with the grout cracking. no grout is 100 % waterproof and it depends on how much movement is in the floor as to whether a flexi grout will solve it. it must be a real bad leak to be coming through the ceiling. cant see grout solving it. (have you tried sir ramics idea to aim the shower down the drain? that could be the main problem?)

[Sir Ramic]

Its not the plumbing as i mentioned

Can I ask how you know that ? Water has a habit of travelling and the leak can look as if it comes from somewhere else. My test is not going to cost you anything but it will rule out plumbing which in my experience 8 /10 times the case.

[doug boardley]

I'm with Sir Ramic on this, I'd test the plumbing if only to rule it out.

[sstilingservice]

I would test plumbing first !!!
Then if thier is no dought that it's leaking through the tiles check for movement in the base if all feels solid. I would be very very tempted to remove tiles in the shower base and try and re-tank it with BAL WP1 then if possible I would probably tile with a mosaic to ensure no void's are possible and keep fingers crossd

[Sir Ramic]

If the plumbing proves to be good then regrouting would only be a temporary solution.

[leewad]

Hi Sir Ramic,

Ok fair enough and i wasnt trying to be a know it all saying its not the plumbing as its no where near the leak but just thought i would mention it, I have just done the test of just aiming the shower rinser straight down drain without it touching the floor for 15 minutes and no leak appeared. Any other test you can recommend?

[Sir Ramic]

In that case i would irect a shower jet for the same time in localised areas inc the one with cracked grout. If it leaks , I would want to remove the tiles at least in that area to see if it could be repaired. There will be water under those tiles if it is getting through the grout.

[leewad]

Know anyone good located in south yorkshire? I`m no diy man lol

[Dave]

Contact spanish tiler.. he is near you,,

[Mike]

Know anyone good located in south yorkshire? I`m no diy man lol

have you not tried contacting the original tiler to see if he could rectify it or get him to pay someone else to rectify the fault?

[leewad]

Well to be honest it was a builder who did it not a professional tiler. reason being i had a extension on my house and the builder did everything other than electrics/pastering, he did say i could get a bathroom fitter to do the bathroom if i wanted but he said he could do the job which he has job a really good job doing the full bathroom other than the leak, i actually saw all the tanking before the tiles were laid and all looked fine. All i can think of is that there is a hole in the tanking which is causing the leak. I suppose i will have to just get someone to take up the tiles and redo the tanking/tiling.

Anyone interested let me know, I will pay up to[NO PRICES PLEASE]labour + all materials, size of wetroom is 2400 x 1100 and I live in south yorkshire

[doug boardley]

leewad, I've just edited your post, we have a strict No Prices" policy in the public part of the forums

[Mike]

even if there was a hole in the tanking the grout/tiles will have failed miserably for the leak to be that bad. i'd chase the builder for the repair costs. i think the floor needs re-laying sorry