Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    brad2co's Avatar
    brad2co Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Oct 12, 2005, 08:35 AM
    Natural stone shower stall odor
    I installed a custom shower 44" x 84" about 2 years ago. The shower floor is 2"x2" natural slate and the walls are 4"x4" porcelain. The shower floor has 2 drains and one of the drains is sloped perfectly and it works well. The other drain has a problem in that a small 6" x 6" section in front of the drain collects a puddle during the shower. I used "goof-proof" shower slope kits to ensure that this wouldn't happen, however, I believe the "natural slate stone" has some highs and lows that has prevented the water from reaching the drain.

    A few weeks ago I started to notice a musty smell in the shower. I've cleaned the floor and drains thoroughly and that doesn't appear to be the problem.

    My thought is that the water that has been setting immediately after each use of the shower has worked through the grout/stone and is trapped underneath the floor. I haven't sealed the floor since I installed it so it is time to do that as well. However, I'm concerned about sealing the floor and locking the moisture below the surface of the floor. At the same time, a good sealer may prevent water from passing through the floor and it may correct the problem. Any suggestions?
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #2

    Oct 12, 2005, 10:14 AM
    Before I used a sealer on the floor I would scrub it down good with full strength bleach to kill bacteria and remove mold and then let the slate floor dry out completely. Good luck, Tom
    bhiveranch's Avatar
    bhiveranch Posts: 9, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #3

    Jan 21, 2008, 05:09 PM
    HI I have done stone and marble for years on quite expensive homes, and my question is did you use a pan liner before putting in your shower as I have seen people not do this and not realize that grout absorbs water and even sealing the grout lines will only last awhile and is designed to be water resistant not waterproof. If this was not done the water has soaked through to the wood floor and your smelling the rotting wood which will not dry up as it isn't exposed to any air. It will have to have the floor pulled up and the liners put in before the rest of the pan is installed and it has to be sealed and sloped to the drain that way any moisture that goes through the grout will still drain. If you do have liners were they inspected overnight to hold water and not leak? I myself have had to redo my own liners occasionally before proceeding. Otherwise the smell could be hair and soap mildew buildup.

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Shower odor [ 1 Answers ]

Home built in 1990 on a sewer system. Strong odor from trap smells like sewer. Plenty of water in trap. The water drains perfectly when shower is in use. We use it every day. Had plumber check it and is has pleanty of wter in the trap. Odor comes and goes. I extracted a table spoon of water from...

From tub to shower stall [ 1 Answers ]

Hello, I will be remodeling my bathroom soon and will be converting from a tub to a shower stall. It is ground level on a cement slab. My question is should I have to move the drain at all or can I pour and form a drain pan with the drain in it's current "tub standard" position/distance from wall?

Turning walking shower stall into bathtub/shower combo. [ 4 Answers ]

Question: Current shower drain (2" pipe) runs 5 feet, under slab, to vent stack (5" cast iron vent pipe) of toilet. Will need to move the drain 3ft to wall for new tub. After moving the drain, the complete length of the pipe will still be around 5 feet. We will have to reduce the drain line...

Help with shower stall installation [ 1 Answers ]

Hello. I am going to change out my shower stall and my house is pretty old. I just need to know the basics on how to install the shower pan and is there anything that I should be made aware of before I tear out the old pan?

Shower Drain Odor [ 1 Answers ]

Our guest shower has a sewer odor, and we have repeatedly filled the trap, but odor remains. It drains very fast, so is probably not clogged. Slab house in AZ, is there likely a roof vent for the shower only? Toilet is nearby. Know nothing about vents.


View more questions Search