Resealing a leaking shower tray

The job

This is a common call-out in the houses around Bedlington. A brown mark appears on the kitchen or hallway ceiling, directly below the upstairs shower, and slowly grows. The shower itself seems fine, but the sealant around the tray has turned black in places and pulled away from the tiles at one corner. Water has been finding its way through each time the shower is used, soaking into the floor and ceiling below.

What we did

We start by confirming where the water is getting in, checking the sealant, the grout and the waste fitting under the tray. In a typical job like this we cut out all the old silicone, clean the joint, and leave it to dry thoroughly before applying fresh sanitary sealant. Any cracked grout is raked out and replaced. If the waste seal is worn, we replace that too, then test the shower carefully and check below for drips.

The result

The shower is watertight again and the mark below stops spreading. Once the ceiling has had time to dry out, it can be treated with a stain block and repainted, which we can do on a return visit. The bathroom looks fresher with clean white sealant and grout, and the household has a few simple tips on ventilation and wiping down to help keep it that way.

More about our bathroom repairs service and our work in Bedlington.