How to fix leaking shower screen and wall tiles?

Question

Hi there!

Just discovered this website and the wealth of knowledge being shared! Absolutely incredible! I was hoping to ask for some advice if anyone is willing. Last September I purchased my first home, a 1 bed 1 bath apartment. All has been fine until in the last few weeks I've noticed some water pooling outside the shower area after showers. It looks like it is coming out of a tiny hole in the silicone where two metal supports of the shower screen meet, and then trickling down the step onto the bathroom floor. I investigated the silicone in the shower and noticed that it was coming away on the shower-head side (the tap is on the opposite wall), so I pulled it out to re-silicone it. In the process of drying the area, all the paper towel kept becoming very waterlogged, so I tried sliding paper towel into the gap where the wall meets the floor, and it absorbs quite a lot of water. I've spent the last few days routinely putting paper towel in there to wick water away and it doesn't seem to get any drier (I've been showering at the gym!) I've since noticed some tiny pin-hole size holes in the grout on the shower floor and walls as well. I was hoping for advice as to what might be going wrong and what the next steps are? I was thinking of removing all the grout from the whole shower (I think the grout hasn't been changed since it was built in 2013 and the small holes make me think I should), seeing if I can identify where it's coming from and dry the area out completely, and then re-grouting + siliconing while doing my best to not hit the waterproof membrane, but I am a novice and open to any suggestions/ideas as to what to do or if need be who to call?

Many thanks and deepest gratitude.

MitchellMc · Answer

Many thanks for the additional photos, @TheSometimesHat.

There could potentially be a couple of issues occurring here. The first is that the base of the shower appears to be poorly sealed, which is evident in several of the images. The second possibility is that there is an active leak within the wall cavity itself, with water finding its way out beneath the tiles near the shower head. At this stage, it's difficult to determine which is the primary cause, as the water you're absorbing with the paper towels could simply be water that has escaped the shower enclosure and bypassed the failed silicone.

From the photos, there are several areas that would benefit from attention:

* The silicone around the base of the shower and screen appears to have deteriorated and should be removed and replaced.
* The grout in the floor tiles, particularly in the areas shown in your third and fourth images, appears quite recessed. Ideally, the grout should be relatively flush with the tile surface, whereas yours has worn away significantly in places.
* The gap where the shower frame meets the floor tiles should be completely sealed with silicone. Any breaks or gaps in this area can allow water to track underneath the frame and escape outside the shower.

If the existing grout is still firm and not crumbling, you may be able to simply re-grout the affected areas rather than removing all the grout throughout the shower. Once the grout repairs have been completed, I'd run a continuous bead of wet-area silicone around the entire perimeter where the wall tiles meet the floor tiles, as well as ensuring the base of the shower screen is fully sealed.

My suspicion is that re-grouting the worn floor joints and properly sealing the bottom of the shower screen will resolve a significant portion, if not all, of the water escaping the shower. However, it still doesn't conclusively rule out an active plumbing leak within the wall.

Given the number of possible contributing factors, it may be worthwhile engaging a leak detection specialist to investigate further. They can determine whether there is an active leak behind the wall tiles before you invest time and effort into resealing the shower.

As for the moisture behind the tiles, unfortunately, there is not a great deal you can do other than allow it time to dry naturally. Keeping the area well ventilated will help, and you could consider running a fan in the bathroom to increase airflow and encourage drying. If you choose to use a portable heater, ensure it is positioned well away from any water sources and operated strictly in accordance with the manufacturer's safety instructions. The drying time will depend entirely on how much water has accumulated behind the tiles.

Please keep us updated, and let us know how you go with the repairs.

Mitchell

TheSometimesHat · Answer

Hi Mitchell!

Thank you so much for your prompt reply! That's great to know, thank you for explaining. I've attached some photos of the shower area as a whole, and then photos of the corner where the shower screen meets the floor (I removed the silicone on the tile-side last week but haven't touched the screen-side). I also noticed that on the external side of the screen that the glass is coming away from the metal runner that it sits in. I lightly pressed on it and it swings out a little bit (photo attached).

Would you also have any tips for drying out the area behind the tiles where I've been putting paper towel? Since last Friday I must've gone through a whole roll of it!

Thanks Mitchell!

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MitchellMc · Answer

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @TheSometimesHat . It's wonderful to have you join us and many thanks for your question on a leaking shower.

Before considering removing all of the grout, which is quite a substantial job and may not be necessary, could you take a few photos from inside the shower recess, particularly on the opposite side of where the water is appearing outside the screen?

In many cases like this, the issue isn't actually failed grout. I'd first be looking closely at the base of the shower screen where it meets the floor tiles. It's quite common for the silicone in this area to deteriorate over time, allowing water to creep underneath or around the frame and escape outside the shower.

If the silicone between the bottom of the shower screen and the shower base has failed, removing the old silicone and replacing it with some new

https://www.bunnings.com.au/selleys-300g-white-wet-area-waterproof-silicone-sealant_p1230981

can often resolve the issue without any grout work being required.

Once we've had a chance to see some photos from inside the shower, we can better determine whether the grout is contributing to the problem. Unless the grout is loose, crumbling, or falling out on its own, it can often be repaired by filling any pinholes or isolated defects rather than removing and replacing all of it. After repairs, products such as

https://www.bunnings.com.au/cpc-220ml-shower-plug-sealant_p1585225

can be used to help seal and protect the grout.

At this stage, I'd focus on identifying and sealing the point where the water is escaping before undertaking any major grout removal. If you can share some additional images, particularly of the inside base of the shower screen and the area directly opposite the leak, we'll be happy to help with the next steps.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell