Leaking showers and how to fix them
21/03/17 20:41
Leaking showers and how to fix them
A shower may leak:
1) from the waste under the shower or bath. This is not the most common cause, but is the first possibility that you want to test and eliminate. You can check this by running the shower with it directed to waste and see if leaks. If it does, the time to fix it depends very much on ease of access underneath the shower or bath. In some cases, if the waste is leaking under a shower tray, it may be easier to make a hole in the ceiling downstairs and access it that way.
A shower may leak:
1) from the waste under the shower or bath. This is not the most common cause, but is the first possibility that you want to test and eliminate. You can check this by running the shower with it directed to waste and see if leaks. If it does, the time to fix it depends very much on ease of access underneath the shower or bath. In some cases, if the waste is leaking under a shower tray, it may be easier to make a hole in the ceiling downstairs and access it that way.
2) through the silicon seal around the tray or bath (most common). Replacing silicon takes about 1 to 1.5 hours (getting the old silicon out is the time-consuming bit)
3) through poor seals around the shower screen. I stock a seal for the bottom of an over-bath shower screen. Other seals may need ordering.
4) through poor seals between the taps and the bath, in the case of a shower over the bath - bath taps then need removing and reattaching with sealant around the holes.
5) through cracked silicon around the shower valve - not so common, but quick to fix.
6) through cracks in the grout between the tiles. In this case, the size of the job depends how quickly it has been diagnosed. If you firmly press the edges of the tiles but there is no visible sign of movement in the tiles, then the grout can be removed and replaced, usually along with the silicon around the tray. This job might take about 3 hours, spread over two visits. Unfortunately, where cracked grouting is the issue, unless it has been noticed very quickly, the resulting ingress of water usually loosens the tiles and causes damage to the plaster or plasterboard behind them. If you press the tiles firmly and slight movement is visible, it doesn't work to just replace the grout, as it will crack again. In this case, the tiles need removing, the wall or plasterboard behind them needs repair or replacing, and to then be retiled. In this case, you might typically be looking at about 10 hours work spread over about 4 visits.
7) through a crack in the tray or bath. At that point you probably want to get quotes for a replacement tray or bath (or even bathroom).
3) through poor seals around the shower screen. I stock a seal for the bottom of an over-bath shower screen. Other seals may need ordering.
4) through poor seals between the taps and the bath, in the case of a shower over the bath - bath taps then need removing and reattaching with sealant around the holes.
5) through cracked silicon around the shower valve - not so common, but quick to fix.
6) through cracks in the grout between the tiles. In this case, the size of the job depends how quickly it has been diagnosed. If you firmly press the edges of the tiles but there is no visible sign of movement in the tiles, then the grout can be removed and replaced, usually along with the silicon around the tray. This job might take about 3 hours, spread over two visits. Unfortunately, where cracked grouting is the issue, unless it has been noticed very quickly, the resulting ingress of water usually loosens the tiles and causes damage to the plaster or plasterboard behind them. If you press the tiles firmly and slight movement is visible, it doesn't work to just replace the grout, as it will crack again. In this case, the tiles need removing, the wall or plasterboard behind them needs repair or replacing, and to then be retiled. In this case, you might typically be looking at about 10 hours work spread over about 4 visits.
7) through a crack in the tray or bath. At that point you probably want to get quotes for a replacement tray or bath (or even bathroom).