We just moved into my husband's grandparents' house, and I'm really concerned about the shower that my grandpa built nearly eight years ago. Due to his dementia, he can't share any details about it, and my own DIY skills are pretty much non-existent. My main worries are the cracked grout and the drainage issues that could lead to water damage. I'm looking for temporary fixes, like using waterproof caulk to seal cracks, until we can afford a complete bathroom renovation. However, with the various issues described below, I'm also wondering if we should just avoid using the shower entirely. Here are the problems: the shower drains poorly, often leaving an inch of water on the floor, the floor isn't level which causes pooling, and there are cracks in the grout, particularly at the corner of the shower floor, which makes me think water might be seeping through. Any advice?
2 Answers
For a temporary fix, you could definitely try applying silicone caulk over the gaps and cracks. Just make sure you plan for a proper renovation down the line. Regarding the drainage issue, if you can find the screws to open the drain grate, try cleaning it out thoroughly. Sometimes gunk can build up underneath, causing slow drainage. Also, after each shower, using an old towel to dry down the surfaces can help keep water from seeping into the walls.
It's common to see cracked grout in older showers, but it doesn’t always mean there’s a leak. To fix it, you might want to scrape out the old grout, clean the area, and then use 100% silicone caulk, like Mapei Mapesil OK. If you notice water dripping from below, unfortunately, a quick fix won't cut it. For poor drainage, you should check for obstructions; those Zip drain snakes work wonders for that kind of issue.
But why bother scraping out grout? A colored silicone could just cover it up, and a gap that size probably needs backer support anyway.