Problems sealing shower base tray

[Unregistered]

I moved into a refurbished house and after about a year had water coming through tye ceiling into the kitchen. Eventually traced it to a shower cublicle above. The silocone seal round tray where it meets the tiles seemed OK. But when I prodded it it was wet inside and all came away. I'm now fixing it with a plastic strip and lots of silicone behind and on top - but these repairs only last about 3 months before I have to pull it all off and re-do it. The gap is about 4mm. Can you still get those quadrant tiles - presumably waterpoof tile adhesive and grout would make a permanant seal?
Any suggestions please?

 

[mikethetile]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I think further investigation will be required to see how far the water has damaged the substrate to your shower enclosure

 

[White Room]

Depending on your substrate how much work is involved, plasterboard etc

 

[Ken Bruty]

Agree with above comments, sounds like you have too much movement in your shower tray for anything to be effective, that will need sorting first before fitting anything else, imo

 

[Scott]

What is the tray sitting on? Does it move when you stand in it?

 

[faithhealer]

Afraid I see a lot of these . Surprising how many houses that have a shower but can't be used.

 

[CDS]

I've done about half a dozen of these this year.... nearly always down to incorrect installation or incorrect adhesive. As suggested above I suspect the only way to sort this out for good is to strip it out and start again...sorry that isn't what you wanted to hear is it.... Chris

 

[jamie B]

seen lots of newbuilds with trays set on green timber plinths..shrinkage nightmares!:yikes:
..

 

[faithhealer]

heard about an old folks home that had all the trays set onto chipboard with expandable foam

 

[Unregistered]

Many thanks to everyone who has commented on my problem.
The shower base is sitting on floorboards on two 2 x 3 inch pieces of wood. This is in the extended part of the house so same as new build. I'd thought that it might be due to movement and have tried to see if it does move or not - but hard for me to tell.
My wife says it first began to leak after I started using it (I'm no lightweight - 95kg), prior to that only the children took showers in it.
From what you experienced guys are saying it sounds as though the only real solution is to rip it out and start again - any idea how much that would cost? would it be necessary to buy a new shower tray and cubicle? or is it possible to re-seat the existing one?
Thanks for further advice - Jon

 

[faithhealer]

Many thanks to everyone who has commented on my problem.
The shower base is sitting on floorboards on two 2 x 3 inch pieces of wood. This is in the extended part of the house so same as new build. I'd thought that it might be due to movement and have tried to see if it does move or not - but hard for me to tell.
Thanks for further advice - Jon

Come across that before as well so the tray can flex where the wood isn't! I would have put a piece of 18mm ply on top of the 3 x 2s . Take the tray out, if its a heavy resin one it should be okay but if its plastic I would chuck it

 

[Scott]

I would reuse it unless its a really chep lightweight plastic one. Some of the ones classed as plastic are still a good quality tray. I fit bathrooms for a living and havent fitted a stone resin tray for years. Id agree with faithhealer about the ply between tray and frame but make sure you seal the ply first. Make sure the frame is screwed together with noggins between the supports and also fixed to the floor.

Depending on tray construction, most trays need to be bedded onto a mix of sand and cement with a plasticiser added into help with flexing. However the acrylic capped trays that are becoming very popular can be siliconed to the ply base instead. The 2x3 should be ok but will need more support in the middle than just 2 pieces, depends on size of the tray.

 

[tfs]

I moved into a refurbished house and after about a year had water coming through tye ceiling into the kitchen. Eventually traced it to a shower cublicle above. The silocone seal round tray where it meets the tiles seemed OK. But when I prodded it it was wet inside and all came away. I'm now fixing it with a plastic strip and lots of silicone behind and on top - but these repairs only last about 3 months before I have to pull it all off and re-do it. The gap is about 4mm. Can you still get those quadrant tiles - presumably waterpoof tile adhesive and grout would make a permanant seal?
Any suggestions please?

Hi mate,

if the problem you are having is that the silicone isnt bonding well, then you may need to use a primer prior to sealing.

Before you go and rip anything out try Mapei's Primer FD, then seal the perimiter with Mapesil AC. It can be difficult to get a good bond to some surfaces which include certain plastics etc and this could possibly be the case with your tray.

Hope this helps mate.