the great leak debate

Our 2 storey house is 5 years old. We have water leaking from the bathroom through to downstairs.
The damage also includes expanding door frames and vanity in the bathroom and the toilet door frame (next to the bathroom).
The original builder has been out with the waterproofer and they have said it is not the waterproofing. They have stated the shower screen has not been positioned correctly and water is escaping through the grout and making its way outside the door to the bathroom and down through the ceiling. They want to seal the tiles to see if this will fix the issue.

I am not a builder but isn't sealing the tiles only masking the problem and biding them time? How do you prove there is an issue with the waterproof membrane?

Who supplied and installed the shower screen ? You or the builder ?
Was the whole bathroom floor waterproofed or only the shower area ?
In any case the shower is leaking and the builder is trying to get out of it. Sealing the tiles is only a patch it stop gap measure that will be doomed to fail.

Stewie

I have been successful in detecting shower or roof leaks with thermal imaging camera and you will find some examples on my blog:
http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog/s ... l-imaging/

How is sealing the shower screen going to fix your water damage?

The shower screen was installed by the builder. I do not know if the bathroom was waterproofed. We did not build the house, we purchased the house when it was 2 years old. How can I tell if it has been waterproofed correctly or if at all? I can see that the under tiles flooring is soaked under the shower and around the shower. I can see this as there is a hole in my downstairs ceiling where the plumber tried to identify the leak.

I have emailed them to say I am not happy with sealing the tiles but I am not sure how I can get them to identify and fix the issue and then repair all the damage.

Thanks building-expert. Does the thermal imaging only detect where there is water in the walls and floors? I can see the flooring of the upstairs from the downstairs hole in the ceiling. We can clearly see where it is soaked. Likewise I have a hole in the wall behind the shower and the wall is dry but the wood at the bottom is wet. These holes were made by the plumber to find the leak when I had water dripping through the ceiling.

They want to seal the tiles, not the shower screen. That sounds like a short term measure. I want them to fix the issue but am unsure how I get them to agree that sealing the tiles is not a fix. How can I prove or disprove it is the waterproofing?

I think you will get a run around from the builder until you get a good building consultant to help you, that will stand up to the builder and get you a result or help you take it further.
Some time ago we had a similar case and obstinate builder (major project builder). We took it to VCAT and owner was awarded damages.

If the water proofing has been done to standards which is the whole shower area remove the cover plates and handles from shower taps and look in there to see if any water proofing
Is the shower base tiled?
Let me know before go any further

Yes the shower base is tiled.

The tap base is siliconed to the tile. I took the cap off but all I can see is silicone. Is waterproof membrane yellow? I looked in the drain and could see some yellow. I have some pictures but I'm not sure how to post them.

You really shouldnt be able to see the water proofing in that area as the tile glue should cover it.
Since the shower base is tiled where the wall tiles meet the base floor tiles check there to see if its been grouted there or just siliconed.
Most waterproofing is blue or green that i have used.there maybe others with the colour you said.
How flat is the shower tiles as there is a minimum grade of fall im to believe.
Remove the silicon from around the spindles to check around there if any waterproofing.
What state are you in as well?
See how you go with that for now

It has been siliconed between the floor tiles and wall tiles and all looks to be in good condition. There is grout around the drain grate.

The fall doesn't seem to be an issue as water runs to the drain.

I am in Victoria.

[url][url=http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/inexp_user/media/drain_zps03zetkvk.jpg.html][/url][/url]

This is the drain

[/url]

[/url]

This is the door (bathroom on the left and hall on the right). They have said the water is travelling between the tiles and the waterproofing out the bathroom door. I would of thought that would be easy to prove as we should be able to see the water dribbling out the grout and over that metal thing.

Yer true that.
Can you take some pics of inside the shower where the wall tiles meet floor tiles. Silicon is ol1 thing but if not grouted there as soon as silicon starts to lift water pours in. To many rely on silicon. I wonder how a lot of these so called tradies would have go stepp8ng back into time when things where done correct ☺
The pic of the drain have you removed the tiles? Why is the puddle flange exposed?

Is the shower hobless??? If so there is meant to be a water stop installed to stop water traveling outside the shower area between the tile and the waterproofing.

I'm experiencing similar issue in WA and have lodge a complaint vie the building commision.

Just google AS3740 and you will find the info on how a wet area should be waterproofed.

Thought I'd provide a bit of an update:

I have had a leak detection specialist out and the report states there is a hairline crack in the grout on the back wallow the shower and that the waterproof membrane has failed in multiple areas (doorway, shower waste and vanity). The recommendation is the bathroom should be renovated to the current Australian standards tone water tight.

The hairline crack is easy to fix but the builder is still intent on sealing the tiles rather than replacing the membrane. He said that sealing the tiles is how they fix leaking showers under warranty..

Meanwhile I have a mold smell coming from the upstairs flooring.

The saga continues...

I think the builder is just trying to side step his responsibility and avoid costing himself big money . Stick to your guns and insist on a proper job what he is proposing is a band aid fix ,very temporary.

Just ask the builder to provide evidence stating that this so called sealer on top of the tiles will make the bathroom complaint with AS3740

The tiles will need to be removed and replaced. Sounds like there is a good possibility of further damage to the underlying structure which will also need to be repaired.

Not sure what state you are in but you may want to lodge a complaint with the building commission.

Ask the builder for a copy of the waterproofing certificate, the waterproofer has to supply these to the builder befor he can handover.
Either way there should be 2 waterstops within a bathroom. 1 under your shower screen, this should stick up a minimum 5 mm past the tiles. Then the shower screen will sit on top. If he is telling you the shower screen is in the wrong place and you cant see that waterstop sticking up then he is blowing smoke up your bum. If he tells you the water barrier is below the tiles, then its non compliant with the standards. The other one is at your doorway which is to stop water leaving the bathroom.
Most of the time its because the tilers cut down the waterstop barrier below the tiles to make their job easier. This is something that should not be done as it allowes free passage for the water in your shower so seep under the screen.

If they seal it and the grout cracks from building movement then you are back at square 1

Unfortunately, if the OP is in Victoria, there is no requirement for a waterproofing certificate.