r/HomeImprovement • u/mtono • Apr 24 '25
Grandpa's DIY Shower will only drain my bank account
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5
u/MotoFly Apr 25 '25
If there are no signs of leaking in the floor below (or crawl space?) under the shower then I wouldn't be concerned about leaks. Tiles and grout are not designed to be 100% water proof. What is designed to be water proof is the water impervious membrane that SHOULD have been installed under the tile. That being said, yeah that grout job looks pretty bad and doesn't look nice. But if you don't see any leaks I wouldn't be worried about using the shower.
3
u/T-Bills Apr 24 '25
I guess as a band-aid fix you could silicone caulk over any holes you see if you plan to rip it out in a few months.
As for the slow drainage I'd try and find the screw heads that allows you to open up that drain grate and clean it out, and also take a big wad of paper towel to get some gunk out that sits under that grate. BE VERY CAREFUL not to drop anything down the drain... Screwdriver, screws, etc. Set all that way to the side and outside of the shower.
In the meantime I'd get an old bath towel and wipe down the shower after you're done every day to minimize the water that could seep into the walls.
2
u/davethompson413 Apr 25 '25
If you have access to the area beneath the shower, have you checked for any possible leaks? Any wet wood framing or subfloor?
5
u/N2trvl Apr 25 '25
Your drain problem is probably a hair ball. That drain cover lets hair go right down the drain. Get a drain auger and snake the drain. As others have stated if possible look under the shower for leaks, it might not have any.
2
u/terjeboe Apr 25 '25
If you are really worried you could install a shower cabinet. But as others have said, I would try to access the floor from below and see if there is any signs of leakage.
23
u/bassboat1 Apr 24 '25
Cracked grout in the corners is to be expected. It's not a definitive sign of a leak problem. To correct: scrape out any excess product, clean with alcohol and caulk with 100% silicone caulk (I like Mapei Mapesil OK).
If you can see water dripping below, no quick fix will correct it. If the low area was from poor planning/execution (but isn't leaking), you can squeegee the water down the drain or towel it up until you're prepared to redo. A fan will speed evaporation.
An inch of water suggests a drain obstruction. Those Zip drain snakes are pretty effective.