Potential Leak from Shower on to Bedroom Wall

Ekim · 1 Dec 2018 at 09:49

A couple of weeks ago my wife noticed a damp patch on the wall of my daughters bedroom. At the time it looked as though the water was coming from the window and I planned to reapply the mastic on the outside to ensure that it was watertight as there was some gaps.

At the time I drew round the water stain in pencil so we could keep track of it to see if the stain got any worse. My wife noticed it had got worse this morning, but we hadn't had a significant amount of rain which might have caused it to grow. Then we noticed that there was a bigger patch of damp under the notice board which had mold on the wall.

On the other side of this wall is the shower cubicle so I am now thinking it might be leaking but don't have any easy way to being certain.

I've taken a picture:

I know very little about this so looking for some advice. I am considering going down the home insurance route as I do have trace and access cover but want to know if my instinct is right. One of the stains of the wall (which I have mostly wiped off in the picture above) was orange which makes me thing that is rust and therefore coming from the pipe?

Simon · 1 Dec 2018 at 10:11

External wall I assume ? Could be water getting under a loose tile.

Ekim · 1 Dec 2018 at 10:15

I have marked the specific wall on this floor plan. I'd have thought if it was coming from the roof though there'd be marks at the top of the wall rather than the middle?

Simon · 1 Dec 2018 at 10:43

I had same issue. Was a blocked gutter.

The water will run inside cavity and take a while to get to the interior surface.

The rust will be a nail or plastic trim etc. Won’t be due to a pipe.

NickK · 1 Dec 2018 at 11:26

^^ would check the gutters, down pipe, pointing around that area and the tiles above if possible.

Given the cracks the plaster may need some attention rather than simple think blocking basecoat to prevent it recracking..

PiKe · 1 Dec 2018 at 11:36

Ekim said:
I have marked the specific wall on this floor plan. I'd have thought if it was coming from the roof though there'd be marks at the top of the wall rather than the middle?

Nope, I had a broken ridge tile and the wet was appearing under the windowsill.

Took literally years for me to figure that one out.

Assumed it was driving through the outer wall.

ANDARIAL · 1 Dec 2018 at 12:30

Exact position of shower cubicle?
Just guessing but that damp patch looks about knob height ? :eek:

Destination · 2 Dec 2018 at 09:51

Looks to be where the external wall meets, i would check roof, ridge, valley, gutter and downspouts.
Can you get up into your roof space and view down into that corner where the external walls joint, any signs of ingress?

Ekim · 2 Dec 2018 at 11:32

ANDARIAL said:
Exact position of shower cubicle?
Just guessing but that damp patch looks about knob height ?

The shower cubicle is in the corner of the bathroom on the other side of that wall, however the more I compare it the more the position doesn't make sense.

Destination said:
Looks to be where the external wall meets, i would check roof, ridge, valley, gutter and downspouts.
Can you get up into your roof space and view down into that corner where the external walls joint, any signs of ingress?

Can't easily get to that space in my loft and I don't have a big enough ladder to look externally. Got a tradesman coming to have a look and quote tomorrow.

ANDARIAL · 2 Dec 2018 at 11:40

`Might` be a pipe leaking in the wall going to or from the valve
Is it a stud wall or solid/brick?

jpaul · 2 Dec 2018 at 12:18

Ekim said:
I am considering going down the home insurance route as I do have trace and access cover but want to know if my instinct is right.

unless there are repercussions with respect to premium - I think I would be starting the process before christmas,
don't those folks have enderscopes to be able to rapidly evaluate cavity, also humidity probe to better understand spread.

Ekim · 2 Dec 2018 at 13:25

jpaul said:
unless there are repercussions with respect to premium - I think I would be starting the process before christmas,
don't those folks have enderscopes to be able to rapidly evaluate cavity, also humidity probe to better understand spread.

I suspect there would be repercussions to the premium. I had a leak from the shower to the kitchen ceiling last year I phoned the my insurance company at the time to check if I had trace and access (I didn't). I ended up not claiming as it was a cheap job to fix. When I got my insurance renewed this year with a different company they whacked an extra £30 on my premium for having just asked about it even though I didn't make a claim.

jpaul · 2 Dec 2018 at 15:52

.... what was the cause of previous leak then, presumably, it was not obvious since you rang insurance, did a plumber subsequently fix/guarantee it ?

... you don't have neighbours with matching houses ....

Ekim · 2 Dec 2018 at 16:09

The previous leak was from the drain from the shower got dislodged. Had two people come and quote for that work. One who told me it would be a hugely expensive fix and would have to go through insurance (hence the phone call), and the other who fixed it for a couple of hundred quid!

I first plumber I think was mostly interested in getting a load of money out of the insurance company as when I told him I didn't have trace and access he recommenced changing insurance companies to one that did waiting a few months and then claiming again, needless to say I ignored his advice on the claiming but did switch insurance!