Cause of Shower leak?

[Flyfisher]

However, a nice large shower cubicle - at least 1200 x 800 with a glass screen, and not a horrid curtain that sticks to you - permits a nice relaxing wash with plenty of room.

Indeed. The golden rule is that a shower cubicle has to be large enough for two. :wink:

 

[88v8]

When I started removing the failed silicone joint I was surprised to see that the tiles and water resistant board barely overlap the shower tray. Checking the installation instructions on the Matki website I note that they should do so by at least 12mm. The fitter clearly didn't read the instructions. No sure what to do other than rebuilding. The Teleseal may be an answer.

Just off the cuff.... can you retile, over-tile, tile-on-tile, and interpose an upstand? This would also give you the overlap.

One problem with this sort of seal failure is that once the water has got into the bottom of the tiles, mould soon follows, and it's pretty much impossible to clean the joint before re-applying sealant, so the new sealant never grips the bottom of the tiles and fails even faster.

Ivor

 

[Moo]

The fitter clearly didn't read the instructions. No sure what to do

Don't touch the shower!

Instead, contact the fitter, or the company he works for, and demand that they replace the tray etc and compensate you for the damage to the ceiling.
If they refuse, take lots of photographs and take them to the Small Claims Court.

We had a similar problem in our son's house and the SCC came up trumps.

 

[Penners]

Good advice, Moo. The installer has clearly failed to do the job in a good and workmanlike manner. He should re-do it.

 

[Flyfisher]

Just off the cuff.... can you retile, over-tile, tile-on-tile, and interpose an upstand? This would also give you the overlap.

Not sure what you mean by 'interpose an upstand'. I don't think an upstand can be retrofitted to a showertray; the whole point of them is that they are an integral part of the shower tray so that there is no joint. No joint = no leaks.

The SCC is an interesting idea. Leaks after such a short time would certainly suggest it being unfit for purpose.

 

[88v8]

Just off the cuff.... can you retile, over-tile, tile-on-tile, and interpose an upstand? This would also give you the overlap.

Not sure what you mean by 'interpose an upstand'. I don't think an upstand can be retrofitted to a showertray; the whole point of them is that they are an integral part of the shower tray so that there is no joint. No joint = no leaks.
.

I mean put the upstand between the existing tiles and a new layer of tiles.
The bottom of the upstand can then be bent so that it sits down on the tray. I know it can, 'cos I've dunnit.

Ivor

 

[Flyfisher]

That first sentence made sense to me, assuming a new showertray with integral upstands was fitted, but you've lost me with the second one and I wonder if we're talking about the same thing.

By 'upstand', I mean an integral part of the showertray moulding that extends above the base of the showertray on a number of sides. ALl the showertray upstands I've seen have been completely rigid (as rigid as the showertray in fact) and no part of them could possibly be bent without breaking.

Perhaps we're at cross purposes (it wouldn;t be the first time I've used a term incorrectly!).

 

[88v8]

This sort of thing.
http://www.aquastrap.com/what_is_aquastrap.html
Although not this one as it still needs a silicone bottom seal.
I think the left-over of the seal I used got thrown away when we moved house.

Ivor

 

[Flyfisher]

Ah, yes, we were talking about slightly different things, though that 'aquastrap' thing looks identical to the joint sealing strip that's included in the Mapei Waterproofing Kit that I used to seal the joints in my cubicle.

My use of 'upstand' was referring to the raised edge of the actual shower tray itself.
This shows the sort of thing . . . .



. . . . and this diagram shows how it is placed and how the tiles overlap the upstand. In this way, the shower tray may move slightly but even if water gets under the tile-to-showertray silicone, it can't actually leak out - unless it can find its way up and over the upstand behind the tiles.

 

[Zebra]

It's quite clear how this should be done.
Get a tarpaulin, nail it to the wall and let it hang inside the bath or shower tray.

For the finishing touches, you need to have a bit of string to hang your towel on, and a bucket for flushing the loo.
(I will just add, this is a work in progress, and not the finished job!!)

 

[Penners]

Now that's my kind of DIY!

 

[Flyfisher]

It's quite clear how this should be done.
Get a tarpaulin, nail it to the wall and let it hang inside the bath or shower tray.

An improvisation masterclass, Zebra, whilst remaining true to sound design principles - and proof, if proof were needed, that the key feature of any leak-proof shower is an integral upstand extending up the wall behind the wall covering.

 

[tobydog]

From looking at the positioning of that tap, please don't slip when getting out of the bath :shock: That is also one very shocking pink sink. The whole suite must have been awful or a collectors piece depending on your view.

 

[LadyArowana]

Has that light fitting got the correct IP rating to be over the bath? and where is little Henry?

 

[worms]

I will just add, this is a work in progress, and not the finished job!!

Clearly you still have to wire the electric shower in to the light fitting!

 

[Penners]

An improvisation masterclass, Zebra, whilst remaining true to sound design principles - and proof, if proof were needed, that the key feature of any leak-proof shower is an integral upstand extending up the wall behind the wall covering.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Zebra]

From looking at the positioning of that tap, please don't slip when getting out of the bath :shock: That is also one very shocking pink sink. The whole suite must have been awful or a collectors piece depending on your view.

Ha ha, yes, that would hurt. It is a nasty pink isn't it? It all came out of a skip when I had had enough of staying with my Mum after I bought the house, and decided to move in anyway, so I didn't care what it looked like, it just had to be usable.

Has that light fitting got the correct IP rating to be over the bath? and where is little Henry?

The cobbler's children are the worst shod, and you can tell an electrician's house by the loose wiring ebverywhere, and the exposed connections in zone 2 of the bathroom!
I love that you missed Henry. He's gone to visit some neighbours, and I think they were going to feed him, quite a lot.