Finding a shower leak
A wet patch on the ceiling under a shower is the repair we are called to most, and the cause is nearly always one of five: failed silicone where the tray meets the wall or the screen; a cracked tray or a tray that flexes because it was never bedded properly; grout that has cracked and let water behind the tiles; a weeping waste or trap under the tray; or a leak on the shower valve or pipework in the wall. We work through them in that order, because the cheap causes are the common ones. Most are fixed in a visit with new silicone, regrouting or a new trap. A flexing or cracked tray means a new tray, and we tell you straight.
Repairs we do in a visit
| Problem | Usual cause | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet runs or refills constantly | Worn fill valve or flush seal | New fill valve or flush valve, same visit |
| Toilet leaks at the base or the back | Failed pan connector or cistern seal | New connector or doughnut seal |
| Black or peeling silicone | Age, mould, poor original joint | Strip, clean, dry, reseal with mould-resistant silicone |
| Grey, cracked or missing grout | Age, movement, wrong grout | Rake out and regrout; epoxy on floors |
| Shower drains slowly | Hair and soap in the trap | Trap cleaned or replaced with an accessible one |
| Tap drips or is stiff | Worn cartridge or washer | New cartridge, or a new tap if obsolete |
| Fan noisy or not clearing steam | Bearing worn, duct blocked, fan undersized | New fan, right size, duct checked |
| Loose toilet, basin or cabinet | Fixings into weak plaster or board | Refixed into solid backing or with proper anchors |
If a repair needs a part we do not carry, we price it, order it and come back on a fixed date.
Resealing and regrouting
Resealing is the repair that makes the biggest difference for the least money. Old silicone comes off completely, the joint is cleaned with a solvent, dried, and a new bead goes on in one pass with the right colour and a mould-resistant silicone. The shower stays out of use for 24 hours so it cures. Regrouting is similar: the old grout is raked out to at least two thirds of its depth, the joints are cleaned, and new grout goes in and is cleaned off properly. Done together they take a day and the bathroom looks ten years younger.
When we will tell you not to repair
- A shower tray that moves underfoot: resealing it buys a few months; it needs rebedding or replacing.
- Tiles coming away in sheets: the wall behind has failed, and regrouting will not hold them.
- A bath with a crack in the base: a repair kit is a stopgap; a new bath is the fix.
- A toilet with a cracked cistern or pan: replace it before it fails completely.
- A bathroom where every item has a problem: a refurbishment costs less than six separate repair visits.