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damfish · Nov 10, 2007, 06:29 AM

Hi Everyone.

I just purchased a home where the second floor bathroom was remodeled about 3 years ago (contractor is now gone). We noticed a black spot on the dining room ceiling and my husband touched it and put a huge hole in the ceiling. It was soaking wet, so this must have been leaking since it was installed.

We not absolutely nothing about plumbing. We want to know how to try to figure out what part is leaking. We can see water dripping down the pipe when the shower is used, so we don't know if it is the drain.

We have re-chalked the entire base of the shower (both inside & out).

There may not be any glue on the pipes, the drain may not be attached properly, we just have no idea. We have spent a lot of money on this house so far and would like to try to fix this ourselves.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

speedball1 · Nov 10, 2007, 06:50 AM

You first must first locate the source of the leak. You have the ceiling opened and should be able to see the trap and raiser. Where do you feel the moisture first? At the point the drain connects on the shower base? The trap or its raiser? A glue joint? The highest point that you feel water will be the source of the leak.. Let me know. Regards, Tom

damfish · Nov 12, 2007, 06:26 AM

The water is coming from the very top, so the drain may not be glued. I honestly don't think any of the pipe is glued, I think a 12 year old put this shower stall together. When we push up on the pipe, the entire thing moves up and down. I don't know what a riser is, so that may be leaking too.

I'm just afraid we will have to take the entire stall apart to fix this problem.

speedball1 · Nov 12, 2007, 06:43 AM

If the entire base moves up and down and gives a bit when you step on it then then shower base was installed without bedding it and this puts a strain on the drain seal, located under the lip of the drain, rupturing it. Bedding the base simply means shoring it up underneath so it doesn't give. This can be done by puddling mortar or cement under the base or blocking it up with wood. You will have to unscrew the drain and force a rope op putty or silicon jel under the lip. Now tighten it down and remove the excess. If you can shore up the base or you'll be replacing the seal later on down the line. Good luck, Tom

damfish · Nov 12, 2007, 07:09 AM

I want to ensure I understand your answer. It sounds like we have to take the shower stall out, and fix the flooring issue to completely stop the leak permanently.

We can temporarily fix it by sealing the drain again, but will have to do it in the future.

Thank you.

damfish · Nov 15, 2007, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by speedball1

If the entire base moves up and down and gives a bit when you step on it then then shower base was installed without bedding it and this puts a strain on the drain seal, located under the lip of the drain, rupturing it. Bedding the base simply means shoring it up underneath so it doesn't give. This can be done by puddling mortar or cement under the base or blocking it up with wood. You will have to unscrew the drain and force a rope op putty or silicon jel under the lip. Now tighten it down and remove the excess. If you can shore up the base or you'll be replacing the seal later on down the line. Good luck, Tom

We are complete novices and do not see how to unscrew the drain. We have scraped all of the calking from around the drain and it won't come up.

Thanks for any additional help