I have an upstairs shower (which we installed). It leaked around the drain and ruined ceiling below (which also is a bathroom). We took out the ceiling below the upstairs shower drain, in order to make sure the problem gets fixed before plastering again :)

My question is - do we need to put in an access panel so we can get at that drain in the future? How common is this? I know access panels in walls are a good idea.

Also, should we maybe put a pan and/or water sensor under the shower drain?

Thanks!
Misty

It would be a great idea to put an access panel to the shower drain. Just dealt with this in a house I just purchased last year. Had to tear out a chunk of the drywall to replace the shower faucet, and now it looks like crap until I can make a little door to it, so yeah an access panel would be great for any future needs to get back to the shower plumbing if needed. As for the water sensor that's completely up to you and your budget. If you have the extra money to get one I say why not?

Hi Misty

If you installed the shower incorrectly then yeah, I guess you could install an access panel in the ceiling... although it is unheard of if a professional installed the shower... ;)

It sounds like you guys didn't bed the shower floor in properly and you are getting a flexing/rebound of the floor every time someone steps in. If this is the case, then you can probably expect issues down the road again, so an access panel may be a good idea! Home depot sells some really nice, simple "snap-in-place" access panels and that may work well here.

If you decide to go with the access panel then sure, a $10.00 water alarm can't hurt anything!

Good luck!

Mark

Mark's bang on. If you don't shore up the floor of the shower expect to get a leak on a regular basis. As a rule we don't put access panels on showers and if you bed the base with motor or cement I'd leave a access panel for future repair, Good luck, Tomn