Leaking Shower enclosures

[Bill]

I have had 2 shower enclosures fitted and both leak, our installer has been out and checked all the pipes in one of the enclosures.......no leak..... he is sure of this and both showers pipes were live for a few weeks before he tiled over them, there are no cracks in the grout but they are fine grout lines and the grout has been applied quite shallow(i can see this as a centre section of tiles has been removed in one shower to expose the pipes). I cannot see how the tray would be leaking as this has been sealed twice now and seems inpenatrable. The damp area is showing to the side of the showers and is coming from behind the tiles............its driving me mad. The installer blames the products used eg the grout or metal strips and porcelanosa blame the installer. Im going round in circles. Also i have pushed my nail in the the grout in the other shower and the grout just caved in as its so shallow and soft so i also have a gap in the grout line now lol...........HELP

 

[NZ_Tiler]

Tile and grout is not a waterproof system. There should be a waterproof membrane applied behind the tiles to protect the substrate from water damage.

Do you know if one was applied?

:welcome:

 

[John Benton]

Welcome Markok1981

Even though your tiles are grouted as NZtiler says this does not make it watertight. The grout you say only appears to be very shallow in places. The water would penetrate this very easily in the wet areas. The grout needed to be pushed right into the joint. It should reach the depth of the tile in every joint. It may have to be raked out and re-grouted if that is the case.

 

[hillhead]

It does sound like a bad grout job and possible lack of tanking too.

 

[Stef]

Hi, can you not cut a hole in the other side of the wall, if its a stud partition, & find out where the water is coming from?
It would save ripping tiles off the wall.

If its not an electric shower then i have seen the pipes leaking behind the tiles.

 

[DHTiling]

It does seem the grout is in need of attention if you can push it in with your finger nail.

How soon after the grouting was complete did you use the shower..?

How quick does the leak show once showering commences..?

 

[nybor62]

it does sound like a grout problem. did he use tile spacers just wondering what size joinst u have

 

[Bill]

Thanks for the replys, the grout lines are 2mm and no tanking system was used, it is solid brick wall not stud wall the tiles are on. The leak was gradual it didnt aprear for a good few months. The showers were not used for a good couple of weeks after it was grouted as we had not moved into the property. The showers are used once a day on average each for about 5 mins at a time.

 

[DHTiling]

How quick does the leak start once you use the shower..?

 

[Bill]

you cant see an actual leak, to the side of where the tiles end next to the enclosure there is a damp patch up the wall, i shall add some photos to help.

 

[DHTiling]

So is this at the bottom..?

 

[nybor62]

pics would be good,who supplied the grout you or the tiler

 

[Bill]

yes at the bottom, im about to add some photos

 

[Bill]

i supplied the grout from porcelnosa

 

[DHTiling]

It is more than likely water ingression from the joints, but also check the silicone seal between the tray and tile and the tile and shower screen ..

 

[Rich]

Will wait and see the pics but it sounds to me like a fixer error. Cant be sure yet but you should not be able to damage the grout with your finger nail.

 

[Stef]

Theres no way you should be able to do that with porcelanosa grout,

Personally i dont like using their grouts for walls but it is good stuff.

 

[Bill]

1ST 3 Pic from one shower next 3 from 2nd shower

 

[nybor62]

have the tiles been sealed were they meet the tray cant tell in pic , or as he used a vinyl seal

 

[Bill]

 

[Bill]

i believe he has use silicone

 

[Rich]

What about the shower screen? Has the inside and the outside been sealed? That grouting is rubbish.

 

[Gall.B]

How old was the plaster before he fixed to it?

Was the Addy tubbed?

Agree with the guys the grout should not be collapsing like that fixer error in my eyes.

When you say installer, did one guy do the whole job i.e. plumbing and Tiling etc?

 

[Bill]

Yeah two guys done the whole job. The walls had been replastered but months before!
And inside and outside of shower screen has been sealed with a clear sealant
He had to mix the addy and grout it didnt come ready mixed in a tub if thats hat you mean

 

[John Benton]

You can see in picture 3 that the tile has lipping and also the grout is not pushed far enough into the joint as pointed out earlier. I would say that looks the more likely cause. Has the installer run the shower whilst the tiles have been removed to see if there are any leaks when it is switched on? It also appears the tiles were just dotted with addy as well by what's left on the wall.