Shower base; regrout or reconcrete?

[Lukedm]

Hello,

a year ago we built an ensuite.

The stumps, joists, subfloor and plumbing are all new.

The shower uses a shower tray from Highgrove Bathrooms.

We had the tiles installed professionally, but a year on, we noticed the grout around the shower drain breaking away.

Over time it got worse and we began to noticed movement on the edge of the tiles adjacent to the drain. When we applied pressure to them, water would squish out of the edges.

At this point I contacted the tiler and he said that either;

• the foundation of the shower was moving and that would require a builder
• the plumbing is leaking and that would require a plumber

The house is on stumps but I am unable to get underneath to visually confirm water leakage or structural movement beneath the shower base.

None of the other tiles or plasterwork, in the bathroom, have any cracking or signs of water damage.

We haven't used the shower in a couple weeks, to allow it to dry out, and today I pulled up the drain grate and found some of the tile cement to be loose. There is no sign of moisture.

My next step is to call in a new tiler but I just wanted to see if any of you have any experience or suggestions?

Thanks

[EricL]

Hello @Lukedm 

Thanks for sharing your question about your tiled shower. It's critical to find out if your water proofing membrane has failed, if it has, you'll need to remove all your tiles in the shower area in order for an authorized water proofing agent to apply a new layer of water proofing. I propose attaching your phone to a long stick and setting the timer on your camera phone to see if there are any leaks along the shower area.

However, if the water proofing is still in good condition and there is no sign a of a leak you can then re-grout the entire shower. Once you've regrouted the tiled floor, I suggest sealing the grout with Betta TileCare 500ml Tile And Grout Sealer With Wheel Applicator. This will seal the grout and prevent water from being absorbed.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric