Shower tiling issue

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Mandybubbles

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#208676 22-Feb-2017 08:17

Morning everyone,
We have been in our brand new house for just over 6 months and realised that our main shower is leaking. We have had a family member staying so this is the first time the shower has been used everyday for a long period of time. We noticed last week that the carpet outside the bathroom was wet and called the project manager. What he found is worrying! Just to give some information, the shower and bathroom are completely tiled, so the water is actually coming from underneath somewhere. I have uploaded pics of what was found. Underneath the lip or step on the infused of the shower is wide open! What should be in this gap? Sealant or caulking? The gap also seems quite big, is this normal or have the tiles been cut incorrectly?
Thanks for your help. The tiler came for a look yesterday but acted like it wasn't a big deal. He's planning to come and fix it today, but I am just wanting a bit more information.

hairy1

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#1724236 22-Feb-2017 08:30

Are the photos upside down? We just had a shower leak. The leak was fixed by the plumber behind the shower (mixer was leaking) and the builder told us it would dry out on it's own. That was October. The area was still wet in December so we claimed on our house insurance and ripped the shower out. It was really wet behind the shower and took two weeks for the timber to dry completely with the Gib off. We have just replaced the Gib and shower.

My advice is to document everything including conversations and if possible get everything in writing from the project manager and tiler.

Cheers, Matt.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

timmmay

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#1724238 22-Feb-2017 08:32

I would ask to see the building permit and the sign-off by the council. If they can't provide it call the council, who may make them rip it out and do it again.

Mandybubbles

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Wannabe Geek

#1724250 22-Feb-2017 09:02

Thanks for your reply. I've taken the pics from inside the shower looking out. What you can see is the little ledge that the glass sits on. Such a worry having water sitting around. Thanks I'll ring our insurance just in case. It should still be under the building company guarantee. I'm so annoyed!

Bung

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#1724253 22-Feb-2017 09:06

This is a 6 month old new build, it is unlikely that a permit wasn't obtained.

The gap is on the large size but tiled showers should have a waterproof membrane (inspected by Council) behind the tiling because sooner or later water will get past the grouting. Even with that gap I don't think you should have a leak. Ask about that.

MikeAqua

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#1724268 22-Feb-2017 09:55

That looks like really poor workmanship to me

There simply should not be gap that size in that location. It looks like it would be too wide to seal with sealant/caulking. It looks like they have tried to use expanding foam?

Either the panel was cut too small or the structure has moved since installation.

The shower tray and bund should will have waterproof membrane on them and the whole bathroom may have a sealed floor.

But it may still be possible for water that enters that gap to track away from the shower

Mike

Bung

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#1724310 22-Feb-2017 10:52

I don't think it's foam more like tile adhesive. Gap based on likely tile thickness is not that bad.

MikeB4

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#1724322 22-Feb-2017 11:16

Have you ruled out issues with the plumbing that is the Mixer, Shower Head and waste? Also is the shower door closing correctly or being closed correctly, a visitor maybe unfamiliar with its operation?

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MikeAqua

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#1724339 22-Feb-2017 11:38

Bung:

Gap based on likely tile thickness is not that bad.

It's about 1/3 of the tread/cap board thickness?

So I'm guessing about 5mm or 6mm - seems excessive?

Also looks like the vertical corner join in the bund may not be sealed/grouted at all? Hard to tell in the photo.

If I was forced to guess what was happening I would say either: -

A) Water has sprayed out of shower, run across floor and onto carpet (no actual leak)

B) water has entered that gap, tracked under the tiles and re-emerge on carpet.

A is more likely, but I would still want to seal that gap to preclude the possibility of B.

This may require re-cutting (to the correct height) vertical tiles to go on the bund under the door. This would allow a smaller gap which can then be properly sealed. There is probably some flex in that tread/cap under the door so grout is not a great choice. I would use modified silicon which will last years.

Mike