Shower floor tile dilemma

5 months ago

last modified: 5 months ago

Hello all. Recently moved into a new to us home. This is a picture of the primary bath shower with newly installed glass shower enclosure. Unfortunatley when I was cleaning the show I noted the water does not drain as there is no slope to the floor and I had to squeegee the water to the drain in order for it to finally drain out. The shower and tile are approximately 30 years old but appears to be in good condition. Any thoughts on how best to rectify the problem? Would I be able to have another layer of tile placed on top of this? Is it a complete redo? Appreciate any ideas you might have.

Featured Answer

apple_pie_order

5 months ago

last modified: 5 months ago

1- Try putting a very long level (3 feet) on the floor in several directions to see how much slope the shower floor currently has. Use a ruler to measure the gap between the level and the floor, and take photos.

2- See if the drain cover is poking up a bit instead of being flush with the floor or slightly recessed. Use the level as above and take photos.

3. Check that water poured directly on top of the drain (several buckets worth) actually drains quickly. A slow drain can back up and cause puddling. Slow drains can be roto-rootered, especially necessary if there's a lot of hair or slushy hard water and soap mixture way far down the drain. A new family or a bunch of visitors can make the drains suddenly slow compared to how well the drains coped when one or two people used the shower. This is really common in my area when a house is sold to a bigger family than previously lived there. Sometimes the solution is easy: professional clearing by a rooter service.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Lyn Nielson
5 months ago
Yes, you could add another layer of a small, similar size tile over top.

First determine where the water puddles, if it is closer to the drain, maybe you can just remove the tiles around the drain and lower the drain.
susan49417 thanked Lyn Nielson
dani_m08
5 months ago
last modified: 5 months ago
Sal Diblasi is a well respected tile professional - he has a video on YouTube showing how he installed new tile on top of existing tile on a shower floor. The question is whether the slope issue can be corrected (he was installing new tile over a shower floor tile that he had installed years before = there were no issues re: how the shower pan was constructed).

If there is no slope = tear out. If there is a slope, maybe the weep holes are clogged. However, you won't know how the shower pan was built without removing tile.

If you want professional tile advice on this issue, I would make an account on The John Bridge Tile Forum. The pros over there were extremely helpful (and nice) when I ran into issues with my contractor re: the construction of a shower pan during the renovation of my primary bathroom.
susan49417 thanked dani_m08
Related Professionals
Woodward Interior Designers & Decorators · Springfield Interior Designers & Decorators · San Bernardino Interior Designers & Decorators · Daytona Beach Architects & Building Designers · Dalton Architects & Building Designers · Salina Architects & Building Designers · Tyler Architects & Building Designers · Huron Architects & Building Designers · Provo Architects & Building Designers · Wilmington Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Pueblo Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · El Paso Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Anniston Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · New Bedford Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Modesto Tile and Stone Contractors
PRO
Phyllis
5 months ago
John Bridge is no more. Defunct. The big public Tile The World group on FB has received the torch and carried on.

In any case, no slope or preslope is a fatal flaw. Gut and redo.
dani_m08
5 months ago
@Phyllis - that makes me sad 😞 . I received so much help - I even had someone offer to give me one of his tile saws (a few of the pros were trying to convince me to complete the tile surround (tub/shower combo) for my guest bathroom myself. A really great group.
millworkman
5 months ago
Issues is that tile is not waterproof no0r is grout. You still end up with water beneath the tile, just sitting there since the shower pan is flat. Mold grows there. I would be fairly certain a 30 year old home would have no real waterproofing on the walls either. I would not have installed a door that quick as what you have is a basically a gut job in the near future. The tile and surround seems like it is in good shape one day and the next it is not. Ask me how I know.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 months ago
IMO 30 yrs is long time for even a perfectly done shower I would rip that puppy out and if buget is tight get a nice acrylic shower all in one no leaks and they look at least as good as that one .
Beth H. :
5 months ago
last modified: 5 months ago
slope is 1/4" per foot, I believe. get a foot level and start from the corner angling it towards the drain. hows it look?

if you do redo, the Cloe tile like this, with a nice niche, would look great

Use solid quartz pieces for the sill and the curb.

to keep the shower from appearing like a cave, you can remove the wall between the toilet completely and do glass, or do half glass on both sides.

new vanity

were you planning on redoing anything in the house? why is there no mirror over the sink?

the yellow paint on the walls would have to go, for me. just does not work.

If the vanity is good shape and it's solid, you may want to give it a good sanding, prime it and paint it. a new top could be a cheap remnant piece, new sink and faucet.

can't see any of the lighting.

Put some art of shelving over the toilet for decor