Curious issue with shower installation

[Doc Holliday]

I have a client who called me out to look in to an issue she has with a shower. She, or rather her husband, suspected a leak in/on/around the shower. The first thing I did was check the grouting for signs of cracks/gaps but it looks 100%, as do the tiles which are a porcelenosa type. The shower tray is also sound with no discernible signs of movement.

 

The shower is on the ground floor in an extension built some 8 - 10 years ago. It is a quadrant type tray and enclosure set against an outside wall and a solid internal wall. The shower valve is fitted on the internal solid wall and is recessed with a hidden outlet. All the internal corners have been resealed with good quality sealant as have the internal vertical wall plates for the enclosure and the shower valve & outlet plates. A pencil line was drawn around the marks which were solely to the left of the enclosure and we waited to see if they progressed. They did. We got a damp specialist in who confirmed it wasn't rising damp but did get a damp reading with his meter.

 

Like me, he checked the other side of the solid internal wall for signs of damp as we both had the opinion that had this much water escaped and was present to the left of the shower (and now showing to the right as well) then it would be showing signs of damp/moisture on the opposite side, especially as most internal blocks act like a sponge, but there was nothing. Completely dry.

 

The only other thing I thought it may be would be a type of efflorescence within the plaster. A quick web check showed me that it cold well be this so I have 2 questions; 1 - How do we prove that it is efflorescence, and 2 - How do we treat it?

 

Thanks as always,

 

 

Doc

[ph5172]

Is the waste secure?

 

we couldn't trace the cause of a leak.... eventually it turned out to be the waste water outlet seal had gone and it was escaping between the decorative surround and the tray, just ever so slightly so it would run down the underneath of the tray to the lowest point and sit in the corner of a stud wall separating the side of the shower cubicle and toilet

[Adge Cutler]

You would probably see efflorescence on the surface of the plaster as a powdery residue..it will be a soluble salt which has been left when the water evaporates.

 

If its within the plaster you would be best to try and find the water leak first and then hack off and re plaster. If its on the surface you still need to find the leak and fix it.

 

I believe a brick acid should remove it, or white vinegar, but if you don't find the source of water its just going to come back of course. Are you sure the recessed pipework is leak free.

 

If it is it can only be getting through the grout joints ? Most grouts sold as waterproof are in fact not. They are water resistant.. Only the epoxy grouts are waterproof generally.

 

Run your finger along the efflorescence and just touch it on your tongue it should have a slightly salty taste.

 

Good luck

Edited November 11, 2016 by Adge Cutler

[nabbers]

Where is the leak actually manifesting itself? Cubicle all tiled and its on the ground floor so no ceiling below to get damaged?

[vampire]

I think you just said the cubicle is sealed inside, it should be sealed externally only, tray should of been sealed then tiled and sealed again then cubicle fitted and sealed on outside plus a bead 150mm high behind the trim.

A thermal survey would pick up the leak, just completed a quote/survey that showed leak travelling around bathroom, into cupboard, hall way and bedroom and all from a leaky shower tray.

Also,tiles may now be debonding and a hairline crack in the grout will pull moisture in,should the tiles have been sealed !

Thinking cubicle out and check tiles are bonded and see if tray is sealed behind cubicle trim,i bet it isn't and was all sealed as one when fitted !

[remmy1100]

what about external pointing ect water could be transfering via wall ties