Time to call in a professional?

[STR777]

Hi. New member here looking for some advice.

I’d noticed some cracked grouting on my shower cubicle tiles. Decided to remove the old grout and redo it. Some of the tiles then felt loose so removed those, and now I see damp plasterboard underneath with what looks like black mould!

I’m using proper PPE, but I’m a total amateur with zero tiling experience. Do you think I will need to rip out the whole lot including the plasterboard? The next row up feels pretty solidly attached so I’m guessing the mould is just at the bottom. Could I just remove the top layer and treat with bleach and leave to dry for a few days?

If I call in a professional tiler at this point, what kind of costs do you think it would be?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Dave]

Hi. New member here looking for some advice.

I’d noticed some cracked grouting on my shower cubicle tiles. Decided to remove the old grout and redo it. Some of the tiles then felt loose so removed those, and now I see damp plasterboard underneath with what looks like black mould!

I’m using proper PPE, but I’m a total amateur with zero tiling experience. Do you think I will need to rip out the whole lot including the plasterboard? The next row up feels pretty solidly attached so I’m guessing the mould is just at the bottom. Could I just remove the top layer and treat with bleach and leave to dry for a few days?

If I call in a professional tiler at this point, what kind of costs do you think it would be?

Thanks in advance!

View attachment 113583 View attachment 113582

Is it a stud wall or block/brick. ?

 

[STR777]

Hi Dave,

It’s a stud wall behind. The shower is in a dormer section of a loft conversion.

 

[Dave]

Hi Dave,

It’s a stud wall behind. The shower is in a dormer section of a loft conversion.

Ok , all the plasterboard that’s affected needs to be removed to eradicate the spread of the mould. Judging by the pics , it loons like water ingression in the bottom right corner.

 

[STR777]

Thanks. I was worried that might be the case.

i think it might be beyond my level of DIY skill. How big of a job would this be for a professional? Cost-wise?

 

[Dave]

Thanks. I was worried that might be the case.

i think it might be beyond my level of DIY skill. How big of a job would this be for a professional? Cost-wise?

Depends on how far its spread. Best get a tiler in for a quote. If it was me quoting, i would be recommending stripping the shower area out and tank and retile.

 

[STR777]

Will do. Thanks for your help

 

[faceman]

Hi, although the face of a ceramic tile is waterproof with a glazed finish the back is not, so any leaks can find a place to soak up the backs of the tiles and then is absorbed by the wall. Plasterboard then expands and more grout cracks and the problem is larger. Sometimes the easiest route is simply a retile. In your case re-board also. Maybe pay the extra for a cement board in the shower area.