Is it Normal for Spillover to leak?

Dindingwe · 12 Dec 2013

I recently moved into a newly built house [4 months]. I noticed recently that the ceiling was wet from leaking water from the bathroom upstairs. When taking a bath later I filled up the tub until it started overflowing and noticed that the water was also falling in the living room through the ceiling!

I called the builder and explained but he asked me to check if leak was from water draining out of tub or from bath spillover only [Meaning water that overflows from tun and goes on to the bathroom floor]. I concluded the water was only going into ceiling and then living room if it went on to the bathroom floor. The builder then said people should be careful when taking a bath and make sure water was not spilled.

I felt the builder's answer was unfair and suspect he is trying to avoid fixing the problem. Granted water on the floor is not normal but surely in a bathroom it's bond to happen. Is it standard then that water on bathroom floor goes into ceiling and can it not be fixed. Rather, should the builder not fixing it?

Madrab · 12 Dec 2013

I suppose it all depends on what type of bathroom flooring it has.

If it is a sealed floor, say tiled, then you would expect a modicome of water resistance but if it's just board or carpet then water will find it's way through and I wouldn't think that's the builders fault, unless it's advertised as say a wetroom etc. It must be quite a lot of water that is being spilt out of the bath for it to be running through to the ceiling downstairs though?

I'm afraid I have to side with the builder on this one, if it's not the plumbing, and say careful when taking a bath or put down towels, bath mats to catch the water.

Dindingwe · 12 Dec 2013

Thank you very much for your reply. I will try to seal the bathroom floor myself

Madrab · 12 Dec 2013

Apologies, I should have asked a few more questions.

You didn't mention what type of floor covering it is? Is the bath against a wall and is that sealed along the edges that touch the wall and that is where the water is leaking through? Or is it just spilling over the entry edge of the bath, as it is too full?

If it hasn't been sealed correctly then I would change my opinion and say it would be for the builder to correct.

Dindingwe · 12 Dec 2013

Madrab said:
Apologies, I should have asked a few more questions.

You didn't mention what type of floor covering it is? Is the bath against a wall and is that sealed along the edges that touch the wall and that is where the water is leaking through? Or is it just spilling over the entry edge of the bath, as it is too full?

If it hasn't been sealed correctly then I would change my opinion and say it would be for the builder to correct.

The builder only left bathroom with board on the floor for me to finish off. I put in vinyl tiles above the board. The water is spilling over edge of bath and is not flowing all the way to the wall.

Galoka · 12 Dec 2013

Just how much water is getting spilt? Think there needs to be a modification in the bathing behaviour if water is getting spilt so much to be causing this problem

Maye just a bath mat ?

The water is probably making it's way between the joints of the tiles, or running under the bath and going through the floor boards . Be careful if you just seal the gaps in the floor boards. You don't want the water then hanging about somewhere unseen and causing damp to linger in places.

If you want to continue to spill so much water youprobably want to look at replacing the vinyl tiles with a single sheet vinyl or something like that. Could seal around the room edges with silicone, and run it under the bath panel and then rasie the edge to stop it running off onto the floor boards

dhutch · 12 Dec 2013

Does the bath not have an overflow into the waste?

Galoka · 12 Dec 2013

Hmm, yes, I read the post the first time as that water was coming out of the bath in normal bathing. But you are right he does say he filled it to overflowing.

(Though not sure our bath overflow would cope when filing at full pelt.

Newboy · 12 Dec 2013

If the bath is filled to overflowing then the only thing that's going to stop water going through the floor/ceiling is a full wet room floor with floor drain.

Your builder is acting properly and the issue is with you overfilling the bath.

May be a rude question but are you originally from north America - just guessing by your use of tub & overspill.

If so you may be used to different construction techniques - quite often American bathroom are effectively wetrooms and you can chuck as much water on the floor as you like.

UK bathroom floors are designed to be stood on and very little else!

flameport · 13 Dec 2013

Dindingwe said:
When taking a bath later I filled up the tub until it started overflowing and noticed that the water was also falling in the living room through the ceiling

Yes, that will happen.

Baths are not designed to be filled to overflowing, or anywhere near.

Charnwood · 13 Dec 2013

Archimedes had a similar problem a while back.
Not sure if he got it sorted.

This has got to be a wind up.

dhutch · 18 Dec 2013

newboy said:
May be a rude question but are you originally from north America - just guessing by your use of tub & overspill.

If so you may be used to different construction techniques - quite often American bathroom are effectively wetrooms and you can chuck as much water on the floor as you like.

No just america, most of europe, france, finland, etc.

Daniel

longdogs · 18 Dec 2013

Charnwood · 18 Dec 2013

squeaky said:

Wetrooms, I think.

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Is it Normal for Spillover to leak?

Newboy

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