Bug guys treated everything and opened up the wall behind the shower. Happy to report there is zero water or termite damage behind the shower, so that leaves the one corner with cracked grout as the source of the leak. Also got to take a peak at the wood that makes up the curb (raised section you step over to get in the shower) and other than the very end being wet, it's solid with no damage.
The plan as of now is to let the termites finish dying for the next 4 days, then reseal the shower and start using it again while still checking for leaks from the other side of the wall.
@classified i do have a plumbing question for you: I saw a YouTube video where they replaced a shower drain and said something about "weep holes" being blocked below the tile surface of the shower that helps drain out any water under the pan. My drain doesn't look like the one in the video. Is this something that all showers have?
Interesting fact I learned that you all probably know: most wood in a house is not pressure treated due to cost savings. It's usually used around places that can be exposed to moisture like a shower, but it's not used everywhere. I assumed it was all treated.
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The shower drain should be 2 pieces that sandwich with the pan in between. The top piece has grooves in it so that any water that gets through the tile and grout, or corners that have cracks, will eventualy run across the pan and into the shower drain. If those grooves get caulked around or it has red guard or something like that is used around the drain, then the water cant escape and sits in the rubber pan until it finds somewhere else to go.
Water finds holes and cracks. It will defy gravity to do so.
There was a movement among tile guys in the late 90's and early 2000's not to use a rubber pan. They used a paint on product that claimed to work just as well. The claim is a lie. I'd be here all day listing why it doesnt work, or wont last. If you remodeled your bathroom without permits, and used the cheapest tile guy you could find, not saying you did that Pat, this is for everyone, chances are there is no rubber pan and your shower will leak as soon as your house settles a little.
There is also no reason for pressure treated lumber when building a house. Wood in contact with concrete should be pressure treated, but a layer of felt paper under the bottom plate works just as well. No wood should come in contact with soil. If the house is built properly, and all energy codes are met, no untreated wood should ever see a drop of moisture.
What is interesting, if anyone is building a house and trying to decide what to use on the exterior. Cementus fiber board, ie. Hardy Board, gives the house a brick rateing with the insurance company and saves alot of money over time. I saved $100 a month. But you have to do all the sidding, cornace, and trim with a cementus product. No exterior wood.
Topic: Tile showers (Read 475 times)
