Need Shower Caulking/Patching Advice

9 years ago

This is a low budget, not overly skilled DIY question. The obvious answer is call a plumber and have a new shower put in. Not happening.

My shower has leaked, off and on, since I bought the house 2 years ago. It obviously did it before as well because when we pulled up the old vinyl flooring it was molding and wet in the same area. The leak is not visible in the bathroom, only in the basement below where it drips. I knew the general area it was coming from so I've just been caulking and caulking. The leak would stop and then restart later (weeks, months). Finally I got fed up with it and have been ripping out all the old caulk to see if I could find the actual problem. I've spent two evenings soaking in mineral spirits and scraping. There was a LOT of caulk. I've filled a walmart plastic bag already. There's still a lot of residue but the majority is off. Pictures attached of what I've found. It appears there's a gap between the wall and the base. Is there supposed to be? I thought the wall sat down on to the base, in to a lip of some sort.

Rather than just piling more caulk on, is there some kind of a tape or patch I can put to seal the gap?

This is the only shower and we're a bit desperate. We've been going to my sister's house every night but there are three of us and it's not a great solution.

The nasty looking white stuff is mineral spirits (the low odor kind). The dark stuff in the crack is super hard, like a glue of some sort.

Ideally I'd like a wide tape or something that would really seal it for good. I will end up getting a new shower at some point but not right now and I really need this to STOP leaking for good. My bedroom is directly below and in addition to potentially rotting the floor, it's dripping down on my stuff.

Featured Answer

randy427

9 years ago

The shower wall should not sit directly on the shower pan. The narrow gap between them is intended to be filled with caulking.There's a 1/2" lip that goes up in back of the wall which, combined with the caulking between the base of the wall and the pan, keeps the water in the pan.

Are you sure the leak isn't at the drain fitting or the riser from the valve to the shower head?

What am I looking at in the first picture? It looks like there's some wood trim and a piece of sheet metal at the top edge of the pan.

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Comments (8)

arbpdl
Original Author
9 years ago
no wood, the metal is the frame for the glass door. I've cleaned and recaulked but don't know yet if it's fixed the problem, still drying. it's just I've done this before and it's never fully fixed it. I don't believe it's the drain because it's so intermittent.
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arbpdl
Original Author
9 years ago
today I showered, then my 7 year old and it was totally dry. then my 15 year old showered and water leaked everywhere. ugh, I guess I need in person help
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User
9 years ago
The problem is more likely to be the drain. Does the shower floor flex when you step on it? If so, it was probably not set properly and the flexing allows the leak - the heavier the person in the shower, the more leaking you will see.
Vith
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
My guess would be drain needs reseated and/or control lever faceplate(s) need new caulk.
klem1
9 years ago
You must be certain of the source before you can fix it. Picture 1 is confusing,pictures 2 & 3 look normal and only need to be caulked between pan and wall. If you want to systematicly go about looking for the leak,tape clear plastic to top of wall all way around with duct tape. Let plastic hang to floor of pan and overlap for entry/exit. Only hole is where shower head come's through. Lift plastic and put hands behind to control facuet handles. Be sure 7 yo understands how to use shower and leave in place for 2 or 3 days while useing as usual. If no leak is observed,you know caulk is the answer. If it leaks, rempve drain cover,clean up inside of pipe and measure inside diameter of drain pipe. Buy an air inflatable test ball,half inch female pipe thread cap,teflon tape or pipe dope and a device that replaces airator on basin facuet and converts to garden hose threads. If you can bring a garden hose from somewhere else you don't need to mess with basin facuet. Insert and inflate test ball then fill one forth to half depth of shower pan with hose. Have heaviest person in house walk around in pan to see if it leaks. You might also leave water stand for a couple of hours. If that doesn't leak you just eleminated drain as source of leak. Remove shower head, cap pipe then turn on hot and cold and watch for leak in usual place. After five minutes,close each handle 1/2 turn,wait five minutes watching for leak. Continue closing by half turns and pausing until both handles are completly closed. No leak eliminates packings and riser. Report back.
deedeetnana
9 years ago
I purchased a Grohe kitchen faucet...oil robbed bronze finish...it has been peeling to show gold or grey underneath on one handle.Customer service is rude and totally unhelpful. My plumber has told me he thinks the whole three pieces are defective and eventually other faucet and spout will also peel. Finally was told to go back to supplier and now they want pictures to be sure I am not making this up. This was Grohe, not the kitchen cabinet people I used. Did you ever try to take a picture of a three part faucet? Do not deal with these rude ignorant people. love the faucet but it is peeling like Cheap paint. I am so angry.
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User
9 years ago
dd, Why post on this thread?
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