I had someone install a custom tile shower in my home two years ago. I now have water seeping into the bedroom next to it. I've taken apart the wall in the bedroom so I can see where the water is coming up from. I've noticed the plastic drain cover isn't glued down and there is a small pin sized chip out of one of the tiles by the drain. How is the cover supposed to adhere to the shower?

You haven't told us where you saw the moisture. On a custom tile shower you'll have a flange type drain, (see image) and the tile man grouts in the lip with mortar. Even if the drain leaked a bit the flange has "weep holes" to run the water back down the drain. Where do you see moisture? Could it be that the tile grout has shrunk and is allowing the shower stream tohit the tile wall and run past the shower pan onto the floor? Back to you, Tom

In addition to Tom's comment:

The drain cover doesn't matter. Even its absence should not produce a leak. Even missing tile should not produce a leak. It is only there for the aesthetics. Are you sure the pan was properly built and water sealed when constructed ? It appears to me it was not...

]there wasn't a flange type drain installed. It's basically like that picture without the white screw part and the drain cover is bigger and sits right on top. He joined it to the bottom with silicone. When I pour water into the shower, air bubbles come out of the hole in the tile. Is there anything I can do to patch up that part? I think that water is leaking into that hole and filling the pan underneath and eventually seaping up towards the wall to the bedroom nextdoor?

Kimmicat: even if the water "bubbles" and gets "under neath" the tile, it should end up in the slopped, water-proofed pan, and then drain via condensation holes located on the side of the drain - into the drain. No water should end up in your side bedroom. The pan should be waterproofed 12" high on surrounding walls and a bit lower over the curb. Something was not done right here... Any way you could post a picture of the shower pan and drain ?

Hi all:

Yeah... like everyone here is suggesting... the drain probably isn't the issue. If the drain or the pan was the issue most likely the leak would show up in the downstairs ceiling... not in your bedroom.

I'm betting that the leak is somewhere between the tile wall and the pan line OR the leak could also be found at the shower valve and/or shower arm or even at the shower door.

First, check out the shower valve as it is simply the easiest place to start. Here, remove the handle and the trim from around the shower valve and then run the shower. Using a flashlight, look in behind the wall to see if you see any wetness/moisture/dripping. If so, you have isolated the leak to the valve and will probably need to call in a plumber to make the repair.

If not at the valve, next I would have you look at the SHOWER DOOR and see how all this is adhered... quite common to find a small leaker here that finds its way to funny places... much like you describe. Here, you would check this all out AFTER a shower... look for moisture along the wall between the shower door and the shower pan.

Finally, you said you opened up the wall. How big a hole did you make and what did you find?

As Milo's suggested, a picture would not hurt here... ;)

Back to you...

MARK

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