Any handymen/women in here?

[klam_chowder]

I decided to re-caulk around the bath tub, and removed the old caulking. After I did that the bottom of the wall that runs the length of the tub had water weep out from underneath the tiles, thru the grout. This happens about half the length of the tub.

Obviously water has gotten behind the wall. What does this mean? Is there a water barrier between the shower tiles and the wall? If I soak up the water until no more comes out, and then leave it for 3 days, will it dry out and I will be okay to caulk around the tub?

There are no signs of water damage in the house - below the shower, etc. I can't even begin to think of ripping out that wall; the tiles cover all three shower walls and the ceiling of the shower too.

The bathroom was professionally renovated completely about 7 years ago by the previous owners. The house inspector we used before we bought the house said the bathrooms were very well done; the inspector was very critical of other elements in the house so we trust his judgement.

Thx for any insights on this!

cheers,

 

[Tina]

How do the grout lines look? It sounds like you need to regrout as well. That doesn't mean you need to remove the tiles. You should check for any cracked/damaged tiles and replace those. Then look for cracked grout lines. You can buy a small grout repair kit at Home Depot or Lowe's that includes a tool for digging out bad grout. Once you have it clear, you should regrout the entire area. Let the water draining from behind the caulk dry completely (at least 24 hours) before recaulking.

Its a good thing you found this now, before you had water damage behind the wall. I had a neighbor that bumped her shower wall with her knee and the whole wall caved in. Water had seeped behind her grout and damaged the drywall. As it turns out, the builder had taken the cheap route and used regular drywall instead of greenboard.

 

[JR6ooo4]

most tubs and shower floors do have a lip along the edges that will be tiled over.

how much water came out. a little drip or alot?

Mikeeee

 

[klam_chowder]

Thx a mint for the reply folks!

Tina, I was hoping I wouldn't have to regrout but you are right, I will. Thx for pointing that out. The tiles are in excellent condition. However, you're right I guess I will have to re-grout most of the bottom layer where the tiles meet the top of the tub. Where the water is seeping out the grout is wet but it doesn't looked cracked. I guess the grout there is going to disintegrate soon, so I should dig it out and re-grout?

If the grout is cracked does that mean I have to dig it out and regrout it? There's one very small crack but it's vertical and in the very corner and goes up the wall. Can I get away with just caulking over it?

Mikeeee, now that you mention it, I do remember seeing that lip on uninstalled tubs!! Boy, do I feel relieved. I had visions of the entire wall being filled with water and that's where the seepage was coming from For about 2ft where the grout line meets the tub, the water would bead in a continuous horizontal line but there wasn't enough water for it to actually drip. It just formed a line and the water's surface tension held it in place. When I soaked up that line with a sheet of toilet paper, about 10-15 minutes later another line of water would be there. I've soaked it up about 5 times now and there is definitely less water coming out. I just went to look for cracks now and I can see there's dampness at that grout line but the actual line bead of water is gone.

cheers,

 

[JR6ooo4]

put a fan blowing on the walls down low where the water is. It will help dry it up quicker.

Make sure the fan is plugged into a GFCI outlet for safety. the ones with the buttons in the middle to test and reset.

Mikeeee

 

[klam_chowder]

Thx a mint Mikeeee for the rec. There was no more weeping but the area/grout was definitely wet. I put a fan in the bathtub last nite (all the plugs in the bathroom are GFCIs) and left it on. This morning the area looks dry

I will let it the fan run for another day and grout tomorrow...should be enough time right?

cheers,

 

[Tina]

If the grout is cracked does that mean I have to dig it out and regrout it? There's one very small crack but it's vertical and in the very corner and goes up the wall. Can I get away with just caulking over it?

If you get the little kit, there's a little knife for cleaning out loose/cracked grout. Its really simple. You don't want to put new grout over it because it may only adhere to the cracked piece, which could then fall out, leaving you with an opening. I would just look for any obvious pinholes or cracks that allow water to get behind them, clean them up with a little scraping of the knife, and apply some new grout.

 

[JR6ooo4]

if you have large amounts of grout to remove I suggest getting an electric tool. the latest is one that had a vibrating attachment (instead of spinning) and it chews through really stubborn grout like warm butter. It is very easy to use compared to a regular rotating type dremel tool.

Mikeeee

 

[klam_chowder]

Okay, thx a mint for the extra info Tina & Mikeeee

cheers,

 

[GeorgeG]

If you have water behind the tile it could (probably) lead to mold, if it hasn't already. I think the best thing to do in the long-run is to rip and tear and redo the whole thing. I know it's easier to just re-grout, but if there's mold back there (and possibly rotted green board) you will have to tear it all out in the near future, anyhow. Don't rule out the possibility that there is a pipe leaking somewhere in the wall, either, which could explain why there is water behind what seemed to be a good tile job. Bottom line: there's water where there shouldn't be. You need to know exactly why.

 

[klam_chowder]

Thx a mint for your thoughts on this, GeorgeG

cheers,