After what I'm assuming is 47 years, I have developed a leak somewhere around my terrazzo shower base. It's an upstairs bath, and I've got a wet spot in the ceiling drywall down stairs.
I know I'm due for a major remodeling, but it's not in the cards for this year. Other than stop using the shower, what's the best I can do to prevent more water damage?
I cut out a chunk of the ceiling drywall, and see water stains apparently from an edge or outside corner of the shower base that has run along the subfloor and then down the next joist away from the shower base. There is also some black staining (mildew?) and a little white fuzz (mold?) on a couple of the subfloor boards and the top of the joist where the subfloor meets it.
I don't see any other evidence of wet ceiling drywall anywhere under the base itself.
There were some cracks in the grout of the tile shower walls, and when I pulled the caulk away from the joint between the tile wall and the shower base, it was wet behind that. There is also cracking in the grout between the tile baseboard and the floor, where it meets the shower pan. These tiles (about 6 of them) move when pressed on the edge by the floor.
There are also some cracks in the cove of the shower base. Could these go all the way through the pan and cause a leak? The terrazzo is so old, that the mortar has worn away to a depth of about 1/16" inch, leaving the stone standing high. Should I try an epoxy coating to fill and seal, or just some grout? Plain epoxy, or filled with something? I'm familiar with the West brand of epoxy. Is another one better for this application?
I renewed the gout in the shower 15-20 years ago, and when the joint between the shower base and wall began cracking 5-10 years ago, sealed it with the caulk.
I'm redoing the grout again. How long should I let the walls dry out before re-grouting?
What can I do with the sub-floor and joist to clean up and limit the mold/mildew and possible dry rot? How long should I leave the ceiling open to dry out before I redo the drywall?
Thanks for any and all help!
June
I know I'm due for a major remodeling, but it's not in the cards for this year. Other than stop using the shower, what's the best I can do to prevent more water damage?
I cut out a chunk of the ceiling drywall, and see water stains apparently from an edge or outside corner of the shower base that has run along the subfloor and then down the next joist away from the shower base. There is also some black staining (mildew?) and a little white fuzz (mold?) on a couple of the subfloor boards and the top of the joist where the subfloor meets it.
I don't see any other evidence of wet ceiling drywall anywhere under the base itself.
There were some cracks in the grout of the tile shower walls, and when I pulled the caulk away from the joint between the tile wall and the shower base, it was wet behind that. There is also cracking in the grout between the tile baseboard and the floor, where it meets the shower pan. These tiles (about 6 of them) move when pressed on the edge by the floor.
There are also some cracks in the cove of the shower base. Could these go all the way through the pan and cause a leak? The terrazzo is so old, that the mortar has worn away to a depth of about 1/16" inch, leaving the stone standing high. Should I try an epoxy coating to fill and seal, or just some grout? Plain epoxy, or filled with something? I'm familiar with the West brand of epoxy. Is another one better for this application?
I renewed the gout in the shower 15-20 years ago, and when the joint between the shower base and wall began cracking 5-10 years ago, sealed it with the caulk.
I'm redoing the grout again. How long should I let the walls dry out before re-grouting?
What can I do with the sub-floor and joist to clean up and limit the mold/mildew and possible dry rot? How long should I leave the ceiling open to dry out before I redo the drywall?
Thanks for any and all help!
June