Shower wall tiles - slight movement, grout cracked?

[mac456]

Hi all,

I am just looking for some advice regarding my shower room.
I have a newish house (2.5 years old, Taylor Wimpey build)

About 4 weeks ago after having a shower I noticed a small water stain right by the shower door on the outside of the shower room which is in-line with the bottom row tiles (inside the shower)
After investigating, it seems that there is slight movement with these tiles when they are pressed and the silicon which seals the tile to the basin had failed.

To begin with I removed the old silicon, let it dry out and resealed it.

All looked well (no fresh water stains)

Until now....

It seems to have started again but alot less (seems to take a few hours after having a shower until it stains)
After re-investigating the grout has cracked around the bottom row tiles, so the water must be getting in there?

What can I do? I am have no DIY skill at all, but will be able to attempt "easyish" tasks.

1. I was thinking of going over the cracked grout with some silicon, would this work?
if so, how long should I let it dry out before resealing?

2. Should I just remove the problem tiles and relay them?
3. Is it possible for there to be much damage behind the tile? I assume as it is a new house, the wall behind the tile should be water proof?

 

[Alan.P]

Hard to tell without a picture, but if I'm reading right you could have problems with the boards etc behind the tiles if water has been getting through for an amount of time. Do you know if tanking was done for sure ? have you any spare tiles, lots more questions, but a picture or 2 would help.

 

[mac456]

Hi,

See attached for a photo of the stain. You can see it coming through. (This shows the stain from the outside of the shower door inline with the bottom row of tiles)
I have no idea if tanking was done. I don't have spare tiles either.

Any ideas where to go with this?

 

[Alan.P]

That doesn't look good, I'm guessing that it's a plasterboard wall, if so the damage is going to have travelled behind the tiles as well, you could be looking at a full rebuild at worst, if it were me, I would want to know what damage there is behind the tile, 2 or 3 ways of doing it, remove some of the tiles, or remove a section outside the shower or a section on the backside of the shower wall. Probably not the answers you were looking for.

 

[Dave]

That should be covered under the NHBC guarentee ..

 

[Dan]

You like to think so eh?!
That's dodgy that.

 

[mac456]

That doesn't look good, I'm guessing that it's a plasterboard wall, if so the damage is going to have travelled behind the tiles as well, you could be looking at a full rebuild at worst, if it were me, I would want to know what damage there is behind the tile, 2 or 3 ways of doing it, remove some of the tiles, or remove a section outside the shower or a section on the backside of the shower wall. Probably not the answers you were looking for.

Just been on the phone to the NHBC and the builder is happy to sort the issue out, so happy days.

Thanks guys.

 

[White Room]

I found tiling new builds no one mentions tanking and it was always tubbed adhesive supplied, may have changed nowadays if your very lucky.

 

[salmonfisher]

the builder will come back and say:- just that seal leaking slightly ill just re-silicon it and away they go
one of the most common newbuild house problems I see (pics are of 2 I have done this year, done 3 showers in one house end of last year) look at the pictures, they fit the screen THEN they silicon it no silicon at the joint under the screen and no tanking
believe me when I say the only way to fix this is to rip it out and start again, the damage is done the water will eventually find its way to the ceiling below

 

[White Room]

typical; new build problem usually caused by the drying out process and your timbers in your house shrinking causing the shower tray to drop and the lower course of tiles being pulled down usually by being Silicon to your tray.
get some one to stand in the tray I bet the tray dropps causing the grout to open so water will.pass through.
like above there never tanked and even that wouldn't help as by the luck of it your tray has an internal upstand these trays are well favoured by most national housebuilders
you may need to remove all the tiles reboard and apply a waterproof membrain in the shower.
done dozens of these over the years for a local property company who work only for insurance companies
your nhbc policy isn't worth the paper its written on imho .your builder will probably do a patch up which will last a while till it happens again

I've heard that many times....

 

[Dan]

Winner winner chicken dinner.

I've heard that many times....

@RayTheTiler I've deleted the post by mistake that you wrote in this thread! A copy is in the quote that Mark's done above.

Sausage fingers and being able to moderate on a phone makes it too easy to do that. So I've just changed the settings so I can recover any erased post from now on!

 

[John Benton]

I feel for people who buy new build now. Houses are thrown up these days, they are building some new Taylor Wimpey houses near me, £350-£450k and I would put my life on it that at least one shower will leak within first year. Never any tanking done, tubbed addy etc etc. Looks like the damage is already done from your pics with water penetration behind the tiles into the plasterboard. Let's hope the builders sort it out but as the saying goes, 'don't hold your breath' !!!

 

[AliGage]

It'll be a tray with full upstand.
The upstand will be dug into the wall, and no doubt plastic too. Every single one on the estate will show some sign of water escaping within the first 18mths to 2 years, dependant on usage and some other factors.
The plastic trays flex when weight loaded, and expand with heat.
Why the fit them god only knows, especially ones with upstand.

 

[Bathfix Bob]

Every new estate being built I think of all the dodgy showers getting thrown in, all destined to fall apart as the tray on loose legs drops on its chipboard base. Pathetic.

 

[Joseph Kover]

Every new estate being built I think of all the dodgy showers getting thrown in, all destined to fall apart as the tray on loose legs drops on its chipboard base. Pathetic.

Are you suprise? Contractors happy not to invest in proper technology in my opinion.some who knows the quality trader for years cam learn and adjust especially if he has problems with his jobs as time goes on.but overall the quality is poor as they cut for profit.even legit good looking companies do poor job and risk the headeche with warranty issues.this is a cowboy word these days unfortunately