How to diagnose and repair shower leak?

LorenClayton

Hello

 

An inspector’s report on the house I bought in October 2024 revealed a slight leak from the wall / floor junction of the shower which was detected on the base of the shower wall.

 

The inspector at the time also checked the nearby inner wall next to the shower in the hallway (linen closet) and said it was dry. But I don’t know when the shower was last used prior to this.

 

Since then I’ve been getting fairly vague quotes which involve different fixes. One was re-grouting and re-silicone, and the other the application of UltraBond (which sounds a bit like Shower Plug) but neither said whether the actual leak would be pinpointed and the underlying problem fixed. I particularly want to know if it is in fact leaking somewhere in the house.

 

I’m wondering whether a moisture meter would be a good buy for me to cheaply ascertain any obvious leaks immediately after a shower. Can Bunnings recommend a particular brand which can be used on gyprock walls? Or any alternative suggestions for something I can use myself before I commit to an expensive fix? Thank you all.

 

 

MitchellMc

Hi @LorenClayton,

It sounds like the issue could be water escaping between the frame of the shower screen and the wall, which is a common problem. As recommended, you could remove the shower screen, apply fresh silicone to the wall, and reinstall the screen. If there's already silicone in place, it may just need to be removed and replaced. For the tiles, any damaged grout should be removed and re-grouted. After that, using a product like Shower Plug could help seal the grout and prevent further leakage.

If you're concerned about whether it's a more serious issue, resealing the frame and re-grouting could be a good first step. After that, you could have a leak detection specialist come in to inspect. They typically fill the shower with water and use tools like thermal cameras and UV dyes to detect where any water might be escaping from.

As for using a moisture meter, it may not be the most accurate way to pinpoint the source of moisture or determine if there's a leak behind the walls. While it can detect elevated moisture levels, it won't directly tell you where the issue is coming from. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell