Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 18, 2009 8:48 am This thread is a warning to others who are having a certain type of tiled shower base installed. It will pay you to be vigilant during construction to save a lot of heartache later on. Some might remember that one of the teething problems we had after handover, which was back in September 2008, was leaking shower bases. What we didn’t know at the time was that it would take over 6 months to fix. Although the leaks appeared minor, with a small puddle visible on the floor after a shower was had, we were concerned that if water was getting out of the shower in that direction, it might be also getting in to the wall cavity, which could result in major damage later on. We had a similar experience in our old house. It got so bad there that the wall tiles actually fell off in the shower. We always preferred tiled shower bases. The upgrade package with the house included a tiled shower base in the ensuite and we had no hesitation in getting one in the bathroom too. It appears that there are different methods that builders use to install a tiled shower base. Some chisel a depression in to the slab and continue the floor tiling in to the shower stall. Our builder, M3tricon, installed what looks like a fibreglass tray with an edging that contains the tiles, then install the glass screens and a trim kit that fits snugly over the edge of the base. Except ours didn’t. I am led to believe that PD have also used a similar system. These first two pics show the base during construction. You can easily see the raised edge of the base. By the way all these pics are of the ensuite shower but the bathroom shower had identical problems. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ It turns out that our tiler was rather incompetent. For whatever reason he filled the base completely with some sort of bog, which meant that the tiles were level with the top of the base. The edge of the base could no longer act as a dam and no amount of effort could prevent the water from seeping out under the trim kit. Notice also the cuts in the tiles at a 45 degree angle to facilitate the fall towards the drain. These joins were never grouted and water was also getting under the tiles, we were eventually to discover. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The frustrating thing about the whole ordeal is that M3tricon’s solution was to just keep applying Silastic! To be fair to them they were always going to exhaust all avenues to fix the leak before gutting our showers and starting again, which I suggested they do back in October, but all of the time, effort and money they spent trying to fix the problem between then and now has turned out to be a complete waste. There were also political problems; over the past 6 months we had no less than four different tradies from the original shower installer (Premium Showers and Robes) have a go at fixing the leaks and each one of them were not happy to be fixing someone else’s problem. Things were starting to get out of hand when the M3tricon maintenance guy had a go at fixing it only to find that Premium were extremely reluctant to come back after he stuffed it up. At one stage our CSC organised a local glass installer to re-do the showers and he purposely quoted himself out of the job. It was a stuff-up from the start and no amount of Silastic or adjustment was going to fix the problem. Roughly in order, the solutions tried were a bead of Silastic on the inside of the shower; extra drain holes drilled in to the trim kit; a bead of Silastic on the outside of the shower against the floor; removal of the shower screens and fitment of a different sort of trim kit complete with ‘gallons’ of Silastic; readjustment of the way the shower fits together because the doors wouldn’t close properly anymore; more Silastic; and finally a physical demonstration by someone as to why none of these solutions was ever going to work. In March the call was finally made to dismantle the showers one at a time, remove the tiles out of the base, and start again. This pic show the re-laid base, complete with a raised edge to stop the water from escaping. Halleluiah! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The last pic shows the re-installed shower with another new trim kit. The gap underneath got grouted yesterday and we can use our shower again tonight. The difference between this pic and what was originally there is that the gap to the floor is smaller, and the trim kit is now up against the base instead of just sitting somewhere over it. The edge of the base is now up inside the trim kit, and will now work as designed. The bathroom shower was completed last week and has been problem free since. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ This thread is not designed to unduly criticise M3tricon or Premium. It was due to faulty workmanship of the tiler which couldn't be masked. Geoff - Decophile. Re: Our Shower Saga - WARNING TO OTHERS 2Apr 18, 2009 9:00 am Thanks Eager. We will also be having these bases (with PD). I wonder how much it cost them to try to fix it over 6 months rather than just fix it properly straight away? Sometimes I wonder who makes these decisions.... they certainly can't be cost effective. At least it's all fixed now and you are enjoying your home. But definitely something I'll be keeping an eye on. Thanks. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Our Shower Saga - WARNING TO OTHERS 3Apr 18, 2009 1:09 pm thanks for sharing your experience, will definitely keep an eye on how our builder does the shower. i know in our current rental property we also have a small leak in the ensuite shower, whilst not huge, i would want it fixed though if it was my place Blog - http://snakedr.blogspot.com/ Build Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=12084&p=307406#p307406 Status - PCI 15/10. Things nearly done. Re: Our Shower Saga - WARNING TO OTHERS 4Apr 18, 2009 1:32 pm I'm sorry you've had such problems with the shower tiles.. but I'm glad it's all fixed now. I'll definately be keeping an eye out when they do our tiles. (Building with PD) Building with PD - Regent 23 Cascades on Clyde Estate HomeOne Building Thread - PCI Completed - 28th August. Handover - 11th September. Re: Our Shower Saga - WARNING TO OTHERS 5Apr 18, 2009 3:58 pm Thanks for the tip, it's a shame it came from your misfortune. At least it's fixed now. We will keep an eye on ours when it's built. I wonder which other builders use that system? Anyone know? www.themaxbuild.blogspot.com forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20717&start=300 www.leahspaperpassion.blogspot.com Re: Our Shower Saga - WARNING TO OTHERS 7Apr 18, 2009 8:03 pm Thanks for going to the trouble of detailing your experiences and uploading the pics so that others may have the knowledge to hopefully be spared the ordeal. Whatever waterproofing the builder chooses, I would suggest everyone acquaints themselves with how it should be done. When our shower leaked (long story short) we talked to our insurance company and they said bad luck, they stopped covering leaking showers some years earlier because it was just becoming too common, and mostly in newer houses. Re: Our Shower Saga - WARNING TO OTHERS 9Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pm I am also appreciative of this thread, we are building with PD so I will be keeping an eye on the shower bases. Blog: http://bluemistkids.blogspot.com "Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, and professionals built the Titanic." Re: Our Shower Saga - WARNING TO OTHERS 10Apr 19, 2009 11:00 pm Eager - Thanks but sorry, for taking one for the team Glad it turned out OK... ... the first was doomed from the start One hopes the working tradie is better than half decent Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: Our Shower Saga - WARNING TO OTHERS 12Apr 20, 2009 8:14 am Thanks Eager for your post, I will also be sure to watch for this problem should it arise. Glad to hear that it is finally fixed and your shower is trouble free Re: Our Shower Saga - WARNING TO OTHERS 13Apr 20, 2009 8:45 am Hey respondants, No problems! It was a frustrating time but we're just very lucky to have an awesome Customer Service chicky babe, who had to put up with our constant nagging, but at the end of the day she went over and above to make sure the job got done properly. She is the main reason we still like M3tricon. Geoff - Decophile. I'll look into different shower heads and ask the plumber about some engineering and see what he says. Thanks 2 9563 Hi All, about to commence a bathroom renovation and need some advice on subfloor works. Current subfloor is hardwood T&G floorboards on 90x45 joists, but intention is to… 0 5834 Ask yourself if the insurance company will be aware of the Reno. 4 7368 |