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How to fix leak from bathroom?

Hi Community,

I’ve recently noticed a wet patch in the carpet of my living room, which is located right behind the bathroom. On inspection, I found that some of the grout at floor level in my bathroom has worn off, and the silicone along the edges is also deteriorating. I don’t see any swelling or wetness on the bedroom walls next to the bathroom – only the carpet close to the wall corner is affected.

This is my first time dealing with a bathroom issue like this. I’m fairly handy and would like to try fixing it myself, but I’d appreciate some professional advice. My plan is to:

1. Remove old grout and silicone.

2. Re-grout the floor joints.

3. Seal the grout.

4. Apply new wet area silicone along the edges.

Would regrouting and sealing be enough to stop water getting through, or should I also apply any additional waterproofing product before regrouting and resealing?

Any recommendations for the right products and steps would be really helpful. This is an older property and I’m new to home maintenance, so I want to make sure I get it right.

Thanks so much in advance!

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JacobZ

Hi @JasonR7,

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you are having water leak from your shower into the wall cavity and then out into your living room, then surface-level fixes are not going to be adequate.

If water can escape your shower in this way, then it means the waterproofing membrane beneath the tiles has been breached. If you are experiencing dampness on the opposite side of the wall, this means the cavity of the wall is also affected. If your walls are timber-framed, this moisture can cause rot, and if it is steel, it can cause rust, either of which will weaken the wall and could potentially cause collapse.

Simple solutions like regrouting and sealing can prevent water from getting in behind the tiles, but they are not going to fix the larger issue at hand here.

Unfortunately, you will likely have to remove the tiles, rectify any damage to the framing, reinstate the sheeting, waterproof it, then retile and reinstate the bathroom. This is not a simple fix, so it is likely best to contact a builder who specialises in bathrooms for their assistance.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

JasonR7

Hi Jacob,

Thank you for your detailed response — really appreciate the clarity 🙏. I just want to confirm one thing before I jump into a renovation. In my case, I don’t see any visible dampness or swelling on the wall itself. The only wetness I notice is on the carpet near the corner, right behind the bathroom wall.

Would this still point to a waterproofing failure or could there be any other cause?

Is there a way I can confirm whether the waterproofing membrane has been breached before I commit to a full strip-and-redo of the bathroom?

Thanks again for your guidance.

JacobZ

Hi @JasonR7,

Unless the water is spraying through the wall cavity onto the back of the plasterboard, it is pretty unlikely you will see anything resembling a leak on the plasterboard on the opposite side of the wall. What is likely happening is that the water is either entering the wall cavity low down or it is running down the back side of the tiled wall, where it will pool at the bottom and then seep out underneath the framing and plasterboard, showing up as a wet patch in your carpet.

At this stage, I'd suggest you contact a leak detection specialist for their assistance in confirming the source of the leak.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

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