Leaky shower - options; re-seal versus re-tile

DavidMc

DavidMc

Hi everyone,

I have a leaky shower. It's a slow leak onto the unit underneath me.

It's a tiled shower base. Body corporate plumbers came around, sealed up the waste, filled the base with water and over 30 minutes the water level dropped. Maybe it's leaking elsewhere too.

I've had a search around the forum and I've figured these are my options:

- Re-seal / Re-grout / Megaseal / Sureseal - $450-$550
- Buy a tin of sealer from Bunnings and do it myself - $40
- Re-tile base and reinstall waterproof membrane - $? (any ideas on this one?)
- Replace shower base with a non-tiled one - $?

From what I read in most people's experience the re-seal option is only a temporary bandaid solution and their 15 year guarantees aren't that crash hot with the exit clauses. Have I got this right?

I believe the previous owner had it done 3 years prior and now it's come up again. I plan to own this property for 20+ years so I want it done right the first time even if it costs more.

What else do I need to consider? Should I have the pipes checked too?

Any Melbourne based recommendations welcome.


Regards,

David.
 
DavidMc said:
Hi everyone,

I have a leaky shower. It's a slow leak onto the unit underneath me.

It's a tiled shower base. Body corporate plumbers came around, sealed up the waste, filled the base with water and over 30 minutes the water level dropped. Maybe it's leaking elsewhere too.

I've had a search around the forum and I've figured these are my options:

- Re-seal / Re-grout / Megaseal / Sureseal - $450-$550
- Buy a tin of sealer from Bunnings and do it myself - $40
- Re-tile base and reinstall waterproof membrane - $? (any ideas on this one?)
- Replace shower base with a non-tiled one - $?

From what I read in most people's experience the re-seal option is only a temporary bandaid solution and their 15 year guarantees aren't that crash hot with the exit clauses. Have I got this right?

I believe the previous owner had it done 3 years prior and now it's come up again. I plan to own this property for 20+ years so I want it done right the first time even if it costs more.

What else do I need to consider? Should I have the pipes checked too?

Any Melbourne based recommendations welcome.


Regards,

David.
Click to expand...

Some of your options posed would mean you would have to re do the waterproofing. Personally what ever you do, I would recommend doing it right.
I would rule out re sealing as that has been tried and you still have problems.
Up to you really re: re tiling or installing shower base. Can't say which is cheaper but I would imagine its the shower base options.
What ever you do, don't forget to waterproof.
Prob when the tiles are removed the problem will be identified.
 
I just found this site (nice one Google Ads doing context matching on my SS alert emails...)

http://www.theshowerdoctor.com.au/.

Call now for your free no obligation quote and your standard
full shower service is only $339.

That's more than 40% less than our competitors.

Don't pay over $600 for an average job. Call us NOW.

THIS INCLUDES:
full re grout service & seal (we use the same products used in pools)
full screen service & seal
tap service/washer replace
flexible water proof seal application throughout
10 year guarantee

For around 90% of our clients, it is a relief to find out that no major construction needs to take place in order to restore their shower to its former glory.

The Shower Doctor can restore this sensitive wet area without removing tiles OR shower screens, which of course saves you money.

We will assess the cause of the leak, repair the area, apply our prevention methods to the remainder or the shower and screens and leave the whole thing spotless.

The products we use are designed specifically to withstand the extreme use of the modern shower area.

Unlike our competitors, we source the most flexible materials that are designed exclusively for the wettest areas. And because they are flexible, they can take a considerable amount of structural movement. Often, it is this movement that has caused the offending problem in the first place.
Extreme cases may require tile replacements or membrane application but DONT WORRY.
The Shower Doctor can fix that too!
Click to expand...

What do people think?
 
bite the bullet and retile it will be better in the long run. We have used all sorts of specialist shower companies that reseal/regrout/ apply magic dust whatever they do and it adventually comes back. Megasealed and the like offer a guarantee that is quite long and they have been good at coming back to some our jobs but after they come back once or twice they then use an exit clause and tell us to retile.

In the long run it will financially more sensible to pull up the tiles renew the membrane and retile.
 
Alabex said:
bite the bullet and retile it will be better in the long run. We have used all sorts of specialist shower companies that reseal/regrout/ apply magic dust whatever they do and it adventually comes back. Megasealed and the like offer a guarantee that is quite long and they have been good at coming back to some our jobs but after they come back once or twice they then use an exit clause and tell us to retile.

In the long run it will financially more sensible to pull up the tiles renew the membrane and retile.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Alabex.

Have you ever had a Megasealed job work or do they just about all come back? (i.e. would it be good enough if it were just a small leak?)

How much is your average re-tile? How long were the tenants unable to use the shower? (I'm my own tenant in this example, I will have a bath available soon though).

Who should I contact for this? A regular tiler?
 
It seems obvious, but make sure you identify the source of the leak before doing anything. I had a shower that was leaking, and called the plumber. They decided to replace the shower base and re-tile, as there had been a number of other units in the complex where this work had needed to be done.

They duly did this, and did a good job too. Major amount of work removing the existing tiles and the old showerbase ... the bathroom looked like a building site at one stage.

Anyway after they had finished, the leak was still present :eek:

Turns out that leak was happening in the wall between the taps and the shower head. I assumed that the plumbers knew what they were doing - and I guess they assumed that it was another leaking shower base.

So whatever you decide to do, make sure you know the source of the leak first :D
 
I'm assuming the previous owner just tried sealant (not retile?). If this is the case you can claim on Body Corp.

We had a similar problem. We thought it was the wall as the cupboard ajoining was getting mould. My hubby ripped up the floor and wall and was repairing it. It turned out to be the floor. We mentioned it to the strata manager and she said to send all the bills to her.
 
sealing

It's the same old story every time. If you are unsure as to how long it will last, all you have to do is look up the application methods in the Building Codes of Australia. It will tell you nothing about sealing showers after tiling as this is not a long term option. this is a band aid fix only.
Here is an analogy-
you have a leak in your tyre, and use some of that foam in a can. It seals and inflates you tyre, and your on your way. However if you read the can, it stipulates that you will need to have the leak properly attened to as not only is this a short term measure, but the contents of the can will actually causedamage to your tyre over time.
Same applies to sealing showers. It will work for some time. Then you develop a small penetration through the membrane, and it continues to leak un-noticed for a few years, gradually rotting your frame and sub floor. All of a sudden you have a major rectification issue.
Now all you have to do is find out where you put that reciept you recieved all those years ago, to make a claim.
If you are so lucky as to find the reciept and make a claim, i am 100% sure that they will re-seal your bathroom FREE! GARAUNTEED!. Problem is you need a builder for a whole new bathroom now, and perhaps even more!
There is only one way to fix a house, and that is properly.

good luck
 
DavidMc said:
Thanks for the info Alabex.

Have you ever had a Megasealed job work or do they just about all come back? (i.e. would it be good enough if it were just a small leak?)

How much is your average re-tile? How long were the tenants unable to use the shower? (I'm my own tenant in this example, I will have a bath available soon though).

Who should I contact for this? A regular tiler?
Click to expand...

Hi sorry for my late reply i forgot to subscribe to this thread.

I am sure there has prob been a megasealed job that hasn't come back.. but all of the more recent ones i can remember have had problems.

Yep a regular tiler will help you out with this. average cost of retiling just a shower recess.... maybe $500, if it is just the floor may even be less. Depends on the size and difficulty.. if you are talking the whole bathroom it will probably be closer to 2k. Shower will probably be out of action for 48hour -72hours.
 
DavidMc said:
OK so for this work the general consensus is I can claim on my building insurance / body corp?
Click to expand...

If it's the floor. Internal walls in a unit are your responsibility as it's IN your unit.

I was told that strata is responsible for the original floor. We were told if we rip up the tiles and replace them from then on it's our responsibility. We asked as the kitchen floor had tiles replaced but they didn't match exactly.
 
I meant, yes, it's my responsibliity, but I may be able to claim on my building insurance via my body corp (who provides the insurance).

Quotes are in!

1. Megasealed - $695 (got the feeling this is a 'Toorak' quote). I said I thought it would be $4-500 and was told as they recommend using MegaGrip on the shower base for a better seal that puts the price up to $695, otherwise it would be a $4-500 job.

2. Retile - "To remove all existing tiles, waterproof, seal & retile it's going to cost you around $1250 including all material."

Note - the tiles look pretty new, I'm quite sure the previous owner re-tiled in 2003. So much for fixing the problem for good...
 
Got a friend with the same problem.

Questions:

  • Why is not a body corp issue?
  • BC had the shower retiled under warranty 3/4 years ago - why not under warranty
  • have solutions worked?
thanks

Peter 14.7
 
Hi Peter,

1. Because it is my shower that's leaking. Or is it the responsiblity of the Body Corp to provide a waterproof barrier between units?
2. It was done by the previous owner. I bought the property two years ago, have no idea who did it, but I should contact the previous owner to try and find out.
3. Getting quotes on a whole new shower now. Very hard in Toorak unfortunately... such a waste of time.
 
Waterproofing & Tiling

Hello all,

If you would like to keep the property for the long-term, it may be worthwhile spending a bit more money and time upfront for long term benefits (therefore, no more leaks!).

Personally, I would redo the shower including removing the tiles, waterproofing and shower tray. You may like to check that all the existing waterproofing is fully removed so that the new waterproofing material will "stick" onto the walls and shower tray. Another reason for ensurng that all the old waterproofing is gone is so that there is no incompatibility between the new and old waterproofing material, which may otherwise cause delamination.

You may like to perform a "flood test" in the shower by holding water in the shower for at least 24 hours to check for leaks. It is a good idea to mark on the wall where the original water line was to see how much water has dropped after 24 hours. Keep in mind environmental factors such as heat and humidity when observing how much water has dropped.

Alternatively, you may like to engage a tiler to undertake the waterproofing and tiling!

You may also like to consider the tile design. The tiles that are currently in the shower are probably a superseded tile design. It is difficult to find tiles to match! Even if the tiles came from the same manufacturer and manufacturer code, the tiles may have a slighly different shade because they have been made in different batches at different times. You may like to consider a "shower feature" with a contrasting wall and floor tile to the original.

These are my thoughts! Good luck with the works!

Regards,
Constructivity
www.constructivity.com.au
Phone: 1300 855 281
Tax Depreciation Schedules - Sinking Fund Forecasts - Insurance Valuations
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

DavidMc
Leaky shower bases - how to avoid this problem for good
Replies
5
Views
2K
Scott No Mates
Scott No Mates
DavidMc
Help! 3x leaky showers, possibly 4. $17.6k bill, insurance USELESS...
Replies
13
Views
5K
DavidMc
DavidMc
C
Issue with leaking shower base
Replies
0
Views
861
cceasy
C
D
Acrylic sheet walls - Shower/bathroom
Replies
3
Views
1K
bob shovel
bob shovel
P
Leaking shower?
Replies
2
Views
1K
handyandy
H
Back
Top