Sealing shower tray before enclosure installation?

[actiongirl5]

Hi,

I have come to do a job because our bathroom fitter has left us in a bad way with a bathroom that is a total can of worms and has said they just had a bad day but wont come back to fix it. So the grout has failed mostly within the quadrant shower enclosure and when I have spoken to Mapei they have agreed too much water has been used in the mix or upon sponging down. The grout is soft and requires regrouting and is starting to become very mouldy due to high absorption of water.

So we were informed that it would be best to removed the entire enclosure and so to speak start again, it isn't something that thrills me but if it has to be done it is how I am going to have to spend my birthday. Along with this the mastic has failed around the shower tray in various parts as I believe the tray was sealed when the grout was still wet.

I have had mixed opinions on how to do this and some sound dodgy, the main thing is to get a good seal and when to seal. The shower tray was sealed to the wall pre tiling and again between the tiling and the shower tray after the shower enclosure was installed. However online people are saying seal the shower tray entirely between the tile and shower tray before I install the enclosure. This is the part of the process where I need some reliable info the rest I am good.

Can anyone actually issue some good advice as I have one shot at this due to work commitments?

Many thanks in advance.

Kind Regards

Mandy

 

[Mr Chibs]

A good few months ago, I had to remove the grout from a floor ( 25m²) it was a very poor job. Through gritted teeth, I bought on of these:

Grout rake

Surprisingly it did the job well, a little time consuming but easy to DIY.

You have to be fairly careful with the new grout, especially if it's grey, as overwatering makes it lighter/patchy and softer.
Do as the pack recommends and you should be OK.

As for sealing shower tray, I usually run sealant around the wall sides of the tray, once pressed to the wall(s) I seal the joint, where it meets the wall before tiling.
Once tiled I'd seal around the tiles where it meets the tray. Not had a leek yet.

I'm not a fan of enclosures, SIL had a B&Q one, that was impossible to stop it leaking.


Good luck.

 

[actiongirl5]

A good few months ago, I had to remove the grout from a floor ( 25m²) it was a very poor job. Through gritted teeth, I bought on of these:

Grout rake

Surprisingly it did the job well, a little time consuming but easy to DIY.

You have to be fairly careful with the new grout, especially if it's grey, as overwatering makes it lighter/patchy and softer.
Do as the pack recommends and you should be OK.

As for sealing shower tray, I usually run sealant around the wall sides of the tray, once pressed to the wall(s) I seal the joint, where it meets the wall before tiling.
Once tiled I'd seal around the tiles where it meets the tray. Not had a leek yet.

I'm not a fan of enclosures, SIL had a B&Q one, that was impossible to stop it leaking.


Good luck.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

Removing the grout is pretty straight forward and unfortunately there is no room for a grout rake on this one so it will be a carbide blade in the Stanley....the joys of narrow grout lines.

The grout already in place or only just is soft and patchy, the Micorban has failed and it is too absorbent for grout so it definitely has to come our for sure.

The siliconing of the tray is what concerns me the most as ironically albeit it looks like a dogs dinner it doesn't leak which is doubly annoying as I have to remove the enclosure to do a full job on the grout. On this enclosure it appears the bathroom fitter has done the belt and braces between the wall and shower tray but then has siliconed after the fitting of the enclosure not just the outside of the enclosure but also the gap between the tile and shower tray on the inside. Trust me if I had options or larger shower room I would not have an enclosure but we can't have it all. Tiny shower room and a massive window.

 

[Madrab]

However online people are saying seal the shower tray entirely between the tile and shower tray before I install the enclosure.

The shower tray should be installed and sealed to the wall before the tiles go on, sealant run along the tray edge touching the wall and the floor edge if it's on the floor to seal it in properly, then it is tiled down to the tray and sealed again. So ;long as that's been done then great.

The enclosure can come down, no bother. make sure the tray is sealed to the tile work properly and then attach the wall plates with some extra silicone where the wall plates meet the tray just to seal that section in properly. Then the enclosure should only need to be sealed on the outside.

As far as the grout is concerned then ti all has to come out then and re-done - do all of that before adding any sealant and refitting the enclosure and let it all dry properly.