Has this shower been tanked?

[marc the plumb]

Hi,

I've been looking at a leaking shower which turned out to be the waste causing the problem, but also i could see water coming through where the tiles meet the shower tray. I re-siliconed this, which solved the issue for a few weeks but now the leak from the side of the tray is back. Does this mean the shower hasn't been tanked? Can it be (re) tanked?

Many thanks

Marc

 

[actiling]

hi marc the plumb,
are you a plumber?:beatdeadhorse5::smash:

 

[faithhealer]

'Tanking' prevents the water penetrating the plaster (plasterboard). Doesn't stop water running down the face onto, or, down the side of, the tray! Water can find it's way through the grout and if, say, the tiles are only dot and dabbed, run behind the tiles!

Check for cracks in the grout first and go from there.

 

[marc the plumb]

Hi,
Actiling -
I'm only a plumber in that i've completed a 2 yr city and guilds level 2 in plumbing and i'm now doing small jobs for friends and family to build up my knowledge and experience. During my college experience, for what ever reason, tanking wasn't covered.

Faithhealer -
So if the grout has been comprimised, it could need regrouting with water proof grout?
I believe some sort of tape is used, one half on the wall and the other sticking on the tray, is this not to stop water going down the side of the tray? Again, as I say above, I'm inexperienced with tanking so please forgive this question if it seems idiotic.
Thanks in advance

Marc

 

[beanz]

I believe some sort of tape is used, one half on the wall and the other sticking on the tray, is this not to stop water going down the side of the tray?

The tape gives the indication that it has been tanked, but not necessarily fully. What do you mean exactly by "water going down the side of the tray"? I thought initially that the water was coming back in, at tray level; but now i'm thinking that the water is actually getting out? That sounds more like the tanking has failed for some reaon!?!

 

[marc the plumb]

Thanks for your reply Beanz

I believe the water from the shower head is hitting the tiled wall, trickling down, then seeping through where the tiles touch the tray and are siliconed. I can't actually see any tape when i've removed the silicone to re apply it which made me think it may not have been tanked at all.
I'm probably not explaining this too well am I? Apologies if not!!

My friend that has the problem has only just moved into a house, buying it from a guy who did it up himself and by all accounts has done a half @rsed job on everything else so I suspect he may have done a rush job on the shower too.

If I remove the bottom row of tiles and can see no tape present, does that mean no taking has been done?

Marc

 

[beanz]

If the water seems to be running down the back of the tiles, then back in at tray level, i'd say it has been tanked, but you'll need to get the tiles off to be sure unfortunately. I've not done any tanking yet, and the only tanking kit i've looked at had a rubberized paint, which would be painted over, and under, the tape. Not sure how it'd look if a membrane was used though!?! Maybe one of the more experienced guys will be along shortly to advise.

 

[cornish_crofter]

The only proper way to solve this is to rip the tiles off and reassess the tanking.

If the walls are plasterboard I would recommend removing the plasterboard and using aquapanel or similar tanked with SBR, or use a tanking membrane of the plasterboard is up to it, but you would have to clean up the plasterboard.

If they are solid walls then the approach would depend on what the substrate is.