Browse Forums Bathrooms and Laundry 1 May 21, 2011 3:46 pm Hi folks Some background - we purchased this WB house in 2010 off an owner builder, it had been fully renovated, an ensuite added and the back of the house extended. I don't think the guys is a registered builder (??) - he just buys/renovates/sells houses. I posted some time back with a query as to why the black grouting in our showerbase (of our ensuite) had turned white almost instantly after moving in/using the shower. I got many varied responses and some took the time to PM me personally with some help and advice which I very much appreciated. If any of you are still reading, we haven't actually progressed much further so your advice/suggestions are still on board. But I have further issues possibly (highly likely) connected.... Recently, we also discovered that outside of our shower base - on the floor (ie, on the normal tiles outside of the shower) water comes up through the grouting after a shower (I reiterate, outside the shower). I'm not sure what type of shower/base you call it but we have a tiled bathroom floor, in the corner where the shower is, it is the same tiles and level flooring (ie no steps or separation) but they have been slightly angled down to the drain, and then a glass shower cubicle (screen and door etc) has been placed around. So it's essentially all the same flooring - just slightly angled down in the corner which is the shower base (and then a screen plonked on top). The water is coming up from the grouting (outside the shower cubicle) - not leaking out from under the shower screen or anything like that. It's not a lot of water but it's enough to tell us that something isn't fully waterproofed underneath or something untoward is happening. It is also concerning because that edge is along the wall adjacent to the bedroom so I am worried that if damp or water is running along there, it would be damaging the floor under the carpet???? Also, now the grouting outside the shower screen has also turned a bit white. Not sure if this is due to just water getting on the floor in general (ie from shower door opening and dripping and also cleaning the toilet which is on the other side of the shower) or whether the damage is slowly seeping along from the shower bed. I'm leaning towards it being damage from underneath rather than drips from the top because where our basin is and the towel rail, where you often have dripping hands or spilt water - there is hardly any signs of water damage on the grout. Sorry if I am not making sense, please feel free to ask me anything to clarify. Any clues as to what the issue might be here? Clearly nothing is going to get rectified short of ripping up the tiling and toilet and shower screen (I would imagine) so it's not going to be a cheap job. We are going to ask the OB to come and inspect/rectify but we dare say it will end up being a VCAT matter (any advice on how to handle this would also be appreciated). Anyway, that's the story. Any input?? Thanks for taking the time to read. HHCIB Re: Bathroom grouting/tiles leaking issues.... 2May 21, 2011 7:19 pm Sorry to hear that, H. Can't help, but my question is if the floor where water comes up via the grout is slightly lower than the 'water course', ie. shower base? My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Bathroom grouting/tiles leaking issues.... 3May 21, 2011 8:09 pm Hi Lex... not by looking at it, but if I got out a spirit level, it could be a fraction lower than the highest point of the shower base (which is the outside perimeter because then it is angled/sloped in towards the drain in the centre. But in theory, it should be level to the outside perimeter of the shower base. HHCIB Re: Bathroom grouting/tiles leaking issues.... 4May 21, 2011 8:25 pm If you manage to check it with a spirit level, and if you find a mini slope, then perhaps (but I'm no expert) the shower floor has been tiled with wrong direction of the fall. Shower has to fall from all sides into the drain. From what I understand from your description, yours may effectively be falling to outside the shower on that one side . Don't know .. maybe someone else can join in and help?? My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Bathroom grouting/tiles leaking issues.... 5May 21, 2011 10:44 pm What a coincidence! Just came across this ... http://www.beaumont-tiles.com.au/tile_doctor/question1.html My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Bathroom grouting/tiles leaking issues.... 6May 22, 2011 1:04 pm Hi.. As a professional Bathroom Builder and Designer, I will give you some insight of what is required. Reading from the information supplied it is most likely that the design and construction has failed. A shower in the corner of the bathroom has assuming two walls, wall lining should be 6mm villaboard down to the floor. As your floor is flat in both the shower and the bathroom water penetration through the grouting joints is now ( and let assume it is waterproofed) running over the top of the waterproofing and into the bathroom. There is a requirement to insert a "waterstop" which is a aluminium angle which is attached to the floor and the whole base Waterproofed with membrane / including up to the top of the metal angle. This will give you a complete seperate shower base from the rest of the floor. It can then be tiled. The top edge of the metal strip must be visible between the tiles. This will give us inspectors an indication that it has been installed. Do not grout over the top to hide it.Before tiling all wall and floor, joints must have what we call "bond breakers" this is a Urethane joint applied by gap gun. Spread it 10mm up the wall and 10mm onto the floor. This will prevent water seepage into the wall as the walls may expand and contract. This is done before the waterproofing. The slope of the shower floor towards the shower crate must have a grading of no less than 1:60. All walls must then be waterproofed with membrane. Make sure that all surfaces that are to be waterproofed are sealed first. Your waterproofing membrane is most likely to fail if this is not applied first. (available from the tile shop) Altenatively according to the Building Codes of Australia, a proper shower has a hob with is than acting as a "well" to contain the water in the shower. This option gives you greater scope to increase the slope and eliminate all your problems. The hob is a solid Besser like block 390mm x 90mm. Also suggest to insert a puddle flange draining system /his will give you that the waterpenetration through the grouting joints and eventually the membrane will run inside the drain and not stand behind it. Puddle flange is available from you plumbing supplier. The tiles between the walls and the shower and also the internal shower wall must not be grouted and must have a silicone joint only. All shower screens whether framed or frameless must be sitting on the inside of the hob. Should it be fitted on the outside this will give ingress of water over the hob and eventually damage your adjoining walls. I am writing a book at the moment called DIY Bathroom Renovations but unfortunately will not be published untill the end of the year. Should you need any further advice or clarification go to my website or email me. Believe me bathroom renovation are fun providing the correct proceedurers are used which will give you many years or drama free success. Cheers Richard Re: Bathroom grouting/tiles leaking issues.... 7Jun 07, 2011 8:48 pm Wow - thanks Bathroom Doctor. That is very kind to write such a detailed post to help us. Fingers crossed, we won't have to set about fixing it ourselves but the builder will have to come back and take care of it. If we do end up having to deal with it, not sure we will feel confident tackling it ourselves but will definitely keep your post on hand to determine whether we could give it a shot (or at least make sure we understand what needs doing). We are about to take the issue up directly with the builder or through the building commission/VCAT. Will keep you posted. Thanks all again. HHCIB DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair Hi, I've got a brand new (2nd hand) Bosch Hydropower 16H tankless hot water heater. Since it was installed I have noticed it leaks a lot. I took the cover off and it looks… 0 25064 My first suspect area is at the bottom of the harvested downpipe furthest from the tank. 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