Ensuite shower leaking through the ceiling

Caranica

I had thought that the stain and small hole (about 1 euro size) on the ceiling on the hall was old from before the shower was sealed last time, it felt dry but the other day there was a wet patch on the hall carpet (duplex). It could have been from wet shopping bags so I wasn't sure. Was away for a few days but had a quick shower this morning and there's a small wet patch on the carpet that I know was dry before so leak confirmed.

I'm a single female so don't want to be taken advantage of. I take it I need a plumber first and then a builder to replace the damaged part of the ceiling?

I'm also considering totally revamping the ensuite and going for water saving toilet etc, would I be better to just do this and get it all sorted together. I'm a bit stressed about the money as I have no clue what the cost would be but I'm terrified of crashing through the ceiling in the shower.

It's about 6' x 5', 17 years old.

greasepalm

My thoughts as it happened to my cousin as her shower unit was on a plastic tray you stand in on and because it was weak fractured the pipe underneath from the drain outlet.She was lucky and had an access panel for the plumber to fit a new fitting underneath but as pipe was supported it could not flex and broke again.
This might be a time with sales on to get a few quotes in what you want to get fitted.
Old units ripped out + paneling on walls removed + floor removed
New plumbing for pipes and electrical cables for light cabinets and leds in ceiling and maybe a ceiling vent.
New panels fitted on walls piping and maybe an overhead rain shower. + i got my triton power shower there if water was cold for a backup. Does your power shower getting old might need to be renewed?

Shower unit and area in whole bathroom will be sealed with fibreglass/sealer for a wetroom.
Bathroom area covered in non slip tiles and having a walk in shower corner with a glass screen as all one level.
Wash hand basins and toilets floor mounted or off floor as been hung on a mounting bracket.
Then you add the extras like towel rails but forgot to ask if there is a rad in there also to reuse or replace.
There are many sites doing bathroom renovation and if you want tiles on the walls also.
Stain on the ceiling might dry out but depends in type of ceiling on your house,mine was compressed paper and it soaked up the water and expanded.

salmocab

If your thinking of revamping anyway now is the time. A good en-suite revamp could cost up to maybe 5k though if you get all new sanitary ware and fully tiled. Obviously that depends on a lot of choices and could be a good bit less.
If you know someone handy get them to cut out a bit of the ceiling and see if the leak is directly above or is it running along a pipe from further away. The piece cut out can be put back in easily enough but will require painting and filling but it’s not a big job.

greasepalm

Running down a waste pipe on the outside for how many feet might be the question?

If ceiling was dry and you poured a few buckets full of water down the outlet and ceiling was damp again then it points to outlet issue and not a shower issue.

Ps give me a shout if you want me to catch you if you fall through:D:D

Caranica

Shower is built in with a pump in the hot press. Works fine and the wall tiles around the shower unit look fine but I'd like to replace the shower tray, frame and screen. The frame that the tray sits in is rusty due to years of little cleaning by a former owner and try as I might I can't get it to look anything other than rusty.

Floor currently tiled but I want to replace with bathroom lino, I hate tiles on bathroom floors, grout is a pain to clean. Want to replace toilet and sink, sink splashback as well as lit mirror and broken overhead light fitting.

Idbatterim

You can save toilet water by fitting a displacement bag or two litre bottle in it etc. as for the leak , do you know anyone handy ? Could just be the seal on the shower trap etc. you’ll be in for a shock when you get new bathroom quotes , mad money !

Caranica

greasepalm wrote: »

Running down a waste pipe on the outside for how many feet might be the question?

If ceiling was dry and you poured a few buckets full of water down the outlet and ceiling was damp again then it points to outlet issue and not a shower issue.

It's a duplex apartment in a managed development so external piping not an option alas.

I had a really quick shower this morning and the wet patch was smaller than the other day when I had a longer shower so it must be in some way connected.

Caranica

Idbatterim wrote: »

You can save toilet water by fitting a displacement bag or two litre bottle in it etc. as for the leak , do you know anyone handy ? Could just be the seal on the shower trap etc. you’ll be in for a shock when you get new bathroom quotes , mad money !

Wish I knew someone handy. I can do some basic DIY but plumbing and messing with the ceiling are beyond me.

greasepalm

Lino OMG i dont think i would like that,modern tiles are very nice when done right.

You mention the tray which is usually higher up?

To seal floor all flooring will have to come up and possibly tiles on wall upto 6 - 10 inches?
Unless you had boxes of saved tiles from when done before will they be available again?

Steam mop will clean tiles.

Darc19

Could be as simple as the sealant around the tray has a gap.

Check in the corners of where the tray is attached to the wall.

Check that there's no tiny gap in the tile grout where the tray meets the tiles.


My guess this is where water is getting in under the tray.

Easy fix - get into woodies, get some easy apply unibond sealant and apply to the full sides of the tray.

Something like this
https://www.woodies.ie/unibond-antimould-sealant-white-tube-1128929

greasepalm

Do trays not have a water lip behind the tiles to stop this from happening?

Darc19

greasepalm wrote: »

Do trays not have a water lip behind the tiles to stop this from happening?

Rarely as they cause other issues especially water gathering in the lip.

Preferred option for many is standard tray and silicone barrier

Idbatterim

Op I was going to say what the others have. Could be silicon around tray or shower enclosure has failed ..., take a good look at it. It’s probably the most likely issue and if it is , can be fixed for very little

KaneToad

Caranica wrote: »

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I'm a single female so don't want to be taken advantage of..

It's 2020, plumbers/builders are equal opportunity. They'll take advantage of anyone.