SHOWER CAUSED CEILING TO LEAK

[Smiths72]

If someone was to rip out the basin of their shower themselves, to allow water to dry from a recent leak that went through to their rooms downstairs, how long would it take til everything was dry? Would this prevent mould?

And how long would they have to wait until a plumber can head along to fix the shower?

Question is being asked due to COVID-19 restricting access, and this is a short term solution.

Any thoughts anyone?

 

[rpm]

Impossible to answer Q`s with too many variables ie current tempreture, level of dampness and so on.
Different guys are taking on different levels of work if you can swear on a bible that nobody in the house has covid and the 2m distance will be observed. Ring around.

 

[SimonG]

As RPM says. Could have been leaking for any length of time and only just worked through to the room below. May need flooring up etc.

Ventilate room and dehumidifier.

 

[king of pipes]

Adding a dehumidifier will aid the drying process, it really depends how bad it is I have dried out several properties its normally a few days and will remove the majority of water, without a dehumidifier it will take weeks I am afraid ventilation and warmth would be needed many of us are doing emergency work so it shouldn't be to difficult to find a plumber the message from the government is no longer stay at home it's stay alert so to aid us all to return back to work safely as possible . Kop

 

[Roy_66]

Hope it is a recent leak, but if a long time, then you could have wet/dry rot. Some pictures would help people comment. E.g can you access underneath any way without removing tray. Does tray removal mean removing tiles first. What is downstairs room ? Etc.

 

[Smiths72]

Hi All,
Really good responses. All figured out. Decision was made to rip out ceiling underneath shower. No pipes are burst that we can see so the assumption is the shower overflowed. Tested shower and rather than water flowing down the drain it just builds and builds. When it overflowed past the basin, it must have seeped through the sealant and then through the ceiling / light switch / fire alarm. With rot now ruled out, all that's needed here (I think), is a new ceiling, and likely a new shower basin with possibly some replacement pipes. And advice that next time the shower keeps overflowing instead of draining NOT to ignore it.

Really appreciate everyones advice here. Made a difference and helped.

 

[WC1]

The quicker you get it ventilated the better, defo. I'd be getting on with it while ringing round.

 

[Roy_66]

Hi All,
Really good responses. All figured out. Decision was made to rip out ceiling underneath shower. No pipes are burst that we can see so the assumption is the shower overflowed. Tested shower and rather than water flowing down the drain it just builds and builds. When it overflowed past the basin, it must have seeped through the sealant and then through the ceiling / light switch / fire alarm. With rot now ruled out, all that's needed here (I think), is a new ceiling, and likely a new shower basin with possibly some replacement pipes. And advice that next time the shower keeps overflowing instead of draining NOT to ignore it.

Really appreciate everyones advice here. Made a difference and helped.

I guess you now understand that many shower trays leak round the silicon. Any going black is sign of small leak. Interesting to start a new post and ask what people think about upstand shower trays (apart from they are difficult to fit). Guess you may go for a somewhat deeper tray, also think about access underneath. Modern flat flush showers don't seem to be designed for maintenance. Hope your ceiling not too big and difficult to sort.

(Dreaming) If I were designing a new house I'd put any upstairs showers, above a downstairs broom cupboard /utility store and not use any materials wood, plasterboard, etc. that would suffer from water damage. Downstairs would have the washing machine with a drain in a concrete floor. You can then a) laugh at any leaks, b) fix them in 10 mins for little cost. I'd arrange all the rooms to keep all the plumbing where possible in these areas so no plumbing behind plaster . . . So e.g. the kitchen sink would be the other side of the utility wall etc.

Cheers,

Roy

 

[gpbeck]

Maybe a 'loft hatch' in ceiling beneath showers

 

[king of pipes]

Never had a issue if you fit the tray correctly and is sealed well then it should give years of good service, although I have repaired and replaced many poorly fitted ones . Low height trays are the trend now providing a high flow waste outlet and drainage solely for the shower tray and is upsized to 50mm if longer than 3 meters, then I have no problem doing it upstairs showers need good prep work I like to use waterproof tile back boards and tanking before fitting the tray drying time is also very important if it's rushed then the failer rate is increased . Kop