Hey everyone! I'm new here, and I really appreciate your help. I've noticed a stain outside my shower that's growing larger over time, and it seems to be linked to water damage on the surrounding drywall and baseboard. A water mitigation team dried out the area and found cracked grout in the shower's corner, where they added silicone caulk as a fix. We thought that would solve the issue, but after using the shower, my moisture reader still shows around 20% in one specific spot, which I suspect might be where the subfloor is. This spot dries out overnight but gets wet again after each shower, so I'm wondering if water is leaking through the grout and caulk directly into the floor. A plumber even checked for drain leaks with an infrared camera and didn't find anything. Should he consider cutting open the ceiling below to investigate further?
3 Answers
Grout isn't waterproof, so you've got the right idea starting there. Just keep in mind that without more details on how the shower was initially installed, it's hard to pinpoint the exact issue. It could be something structural that needs a deeper look.
Yeah, grout is mostly cosmetic and can sometimes mask bigger problems. Considering your shower is pretty large (6'x5'), it's wise to explore other possible causes before committing to a full redo. Just make sure you exhaust all options!
It sounds like you've got a tricky situation on your hands. The waterproofing layer is typically under the tile, so if that’s compromised, it might mean redoing the shower pan. Cutting into the ceiling to double-check for leaks could definitely help to rule things out without throwing too much money at it right away.