Hello All,
I am in a deep mess now and I hope someone can give me sound advice.
We just moved into our first home a month ago. Before moving in we had a non load bearing wall between the toilet and bathroom removed by a builder to create a bigger bathroom, followed by tiling of all the walls and floor . The sink, toilet and tub were reused since they were a new installation(done in 2012).
Now, the toilet when refitted developed a slight leak in the toilet seal which could not be noticed till yesterday. Surely it was leaking, however water was not visible probably due to the water finding its way through the tiling onto the paster board below on the false ceiling below the toilet(which is the ceiling of the kitchen). The leak became evident when a wet patch developed in the corner of the staircase 2 weeks ago, on the common wall with the bathroom. Today I noticed that the kitchen ceiling is become soft to push and press and I cut a hole through the crack and felt the ceiling board (plaster board ?)is become soft and probably wet.
I have told my builder to fix the leak and he has agreed to do that. However, he has said to me that the wet ceiling will dry up by itself with small holes cut through it. I am unsure if the issue can be fixed so easy since the ceiling and the joists have probably been subject to this wetness for about a month now.
Would all of the kitchen ceiling need replacing? Also, should the ceiling void be treated with anti mould etc and the joists be checked? Should I leave an inspection hole to check if the joists have dried up correctly. Please remember that the cause of wetness is waste from the toilet
I have attached some pics to see. One thing which delayed the discovery of the leak so much is that the kitchen ceiling does not have a single damp spot on it though it does seem to have become damp.
Any help appreciated.
I am in a deep mess now and I hope someone can give me sound advice.
We just moved into our first home a month ago. Before moving in we had a non load bearing wall between the toilet and bathroom removed by a builder to create a bigger bathroom, followed by tiling of all the walls and floor . The sink, toilet and tub were reused since they were a new installation(done in 2012).
Now, the toilet when refitted developed a slight leak in the toilet seal which could not be noticed till yesterday. Surely it was leaking, however water was not visible probably due to the water finding its way through the tiling onto the paster board below on the false ceiling below the toilet(which is the ceiling of the kitchen). The leak became evident when a wet patch developed in the corner of the staircase 2 weeks ago, on the common wall with the bathroom. Today I noticed that the kitchen ceiling is become soft to push and press and I cut a hole through the crack and felt the ceiling board (plaster board ?)is become soft and probably wet.
I have told my builder to fix the leak and he has agreed to do that. However, he has said to me that the wet ceiling will dry up by itself with small holes cut through it. I am unsure if the issue can be fixed so easy since the ceiling and the joists have probably been subject to this wetness for about a month now.
Would all of the kitchen ceiling need replacing? Also, should the ceiling void be treated with anti mould etc and the joists be checked? Should I leave an inspection hole to check if the joists have dried up correctly. Please remember that the cause of wetness is waste from the toilet
I have attached some pics to see. One thing which delayed the discovery of the leak so much is that the kitchen ceiling does not have a single damp spot on it though it does seem to have become damp.
Any help appreciated.
