Leaking shower cubicle - help

[RrogerD]

I'm after some tips & ideas on how to resolve this please.

Built the shower cubicle of studwork, hardi-backer & 6" square tiles; single cold water supply inside of the studding, exiting to a 10.5kw electric shower; shallow tray sits on 22mm chipboard on the joists. Waste runs between joists and out.

The whole lot has been up for approx 8 yrs and until recently, apart from a few hiccups, everything has been fine. I now have a leak and I'll be bug**ed if I can work out where it is coming from.

The 'leak' appears below the tray in the corner, bottom right of where the shower unit sits. It is not coming from under the glass. It is adjacent to the bathroom door and there is water present in the doorway floor also. It is getting quite soaked and is starting to rot the adjacent boards.

I've replaced the waste, thinking it may be leaking at this seal and running across the chipboard.
I've sealed the glass / tray junction and, part way up the glass itself.
I've sealed the tiles / tray junction all the way around.
I've sealed the vertical corner between glass trim and tiles.
I've sealed the vertical corner of tiles against tiles.
I've had the shower unit off and squished sealant into the gap around the inlet pipe as it exits the tiles.
I've tried pointing the shower head of different areas in turn to try and determine where the leak is, but this is inconclusive.

I'm beginning to think that it may be leaking through the grout, although there is nothing visible. No discolouration. Also, is this really likely?
Could it be the supply pipe leaking inside the stud wall? Again, no sign of damp on the outside plaster.
Could it be the supply pipe leaking at it's 90deg bend fitting and leaking down between tiles and hardi-backer?

Where do I go now?

What do I start ripping off first and when do I stop?

I really don't want to be removing the whole shower enclosure and tiles and hardi-backer etc and starting all over.

Any pointers anyone? Thanks

 

[23vc]

The tray-to-tile seal, specifically the bit that then gets hidden by the enclosure profile, is the key. I’ve even had it where the sharp corner of the enclosure when fitted, punctures the silicone. It’s a faff to sort out though as you need to remove the enclosure.
The enclosure shouldn’t be sealed to the tray on the inside base, only on the outside.

 

[RrogerD]

The tray-to-tile seal, specifically the bit that then gets hidden by the enclosure profile, is the key. I’ve even had it where the sharp corner of the enclosure when fitted, punctures the silicone. It’s a faff to sort out though as you need to remove the enclosure.
The enclosure shouldn’t be sealed to the tray on the inside base, only on the outside.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I hear what you're saying but I've sealed everywhere (I thought) around that area; along both edges and up the corner. Also, up the glass adjacent to the trim, thinking that it may be leaking past this. And yes, inside the enclosure as well as outside.

Mmmm. Just thinking as I write this, perhaps as you say this is the problem? Like a double-glazed window unit, the water will run down inside but is designed to leak out the front ie do not seal this bit. Perhaps this is what is happening here? Water may be running down into the enclosure and with nowhere to go out into the tray, be running along inside and out the end?

 

[denso13]

I hear what you're saying but I've sealed everywhere (I thought) around that area

As above, likely to be the tray to tile seal behind the vertical profile. You can't seal this again without removing the door/enclosure as there is no way to access it with the enclosure in place.

 

[23vc]

The base, between enclosure and tray, is the bit that deffo shouldn’t be sealed on the inside, otherwise it’ll trap water. Up the sides is ok but not the base. So yeah that may be the issue if you’re confident the rest is ok

 

[KenGMac]

The tray itself may be leaking? but difficult to spot, get a bright torch, do not shine the light directly at the tray, place the torch in the tray, so the light is playing over the surface of the tray base, switched on and look for hairline cracks.

In the O/Post it is mentioned that the flooring outside the shower is rotting? that would indicate a very long term small persistent leak.

Ken

 

[RrogerD]

Thanks everyone.
I haven't had a chance to get and have another look but just wanted to chip in here to say thanks in the meantime.

 

[RrogerD]

I'm resurrecting this thread as sadly, still not resolved.
I recognise now that I shouldn't have sealed along the inside base of the screen. Unfortunately, I already have
Any ideas on my options now,?
Presumably I should be able to seal all the way around the glass, assuming that is where it is getting in? I'd have thought, if I can create a wet-room cubicle with the sealant then this should sort it.
Shouldn't it?

 

[RrogerD]

Well, I've taken the bold step to remove the enclosure. I now see why we seal on the outside only (see pics)

 

[23vc]

Most importantly, the silicone bead should be continuous behind the enclosure, you can see it stops on the inside. So you really need to either remove the side profiles too and seal properly behind, or try and seal it as-is. Then once refitted, seal outside only.

 

[RrogerD]

Most importantly, the silicone bead should be continuous behind the enclosure, you can see it stops on the inside. So you really need to either remove the side profiles too and seal properly behind, or try and seal it as-is. Then once refitted, seal outside only.

I will admit that I didn't know this when I fitted them 9yrs ago. They don't come with instructions and it's just following YouTube. I suspect I'll be doing the second one, identical setup, very shortly

 

[Old Salt]

I had a similar problem. Having tried to rectify it myself by resealing, my granddaughters boyfriend, who is a plumber removed it, cleaned it and reinstalled whilst we were away for a weeks fishing holiday.

Came back to a leak free shower enclosure! Result

 

[pilsbury]

It’s already been covered, but in my old house I got over excited with the silicone and sealed both inside and outside of where the vertical wall profile channel met the glass. Got a leak in the corner I couldn’t work out. Read that you should only seal outside. Basically water whilst showering was filling up this profile and then leaking out where it could. Sod’s law outside the enclosure. If I hadn’t sealed inside, the path of least resistance would have been back into the tray and down the drain.