What’s under your shower tray?
Real EstateHave you ever noticed the mold that continues to grow along your shower floor and wall, and sometimes grows in the corners?
No matter how much you clean mold (use diluted bleach or commercially available mold cleaners), it seems to come back. This may be evidence of a leaking shower tray or faulty installation of the shower liner.
Another scenario is the obvious, mold growing out of the shower stall, spongy floor next to the shower, and bubbling, wet plaster, water damage to adjoining walls or ceiling.
Let’s say there are no obvious leaks but the mold persists. Unfortunately, this is evidence of an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Mold is unhealthy and if left unchecked it can cause not only health problems but also financial problems for your home investment.
Mold in shower stalls is not normal. In most cases, poorly constructed showers and shower trays are to blame for this unhealthy problem.
So if you’re planning a bathroom upgrade that will require the installation of a new tiled shower, be sure to hire an expert in this field.
Things to look for include:
1. How shower seats or benches are constructed if your bathroom remodel plans include them in your shower. Benches or seats should be built inside the tile tray with cinder blocks and covered with durrock, plywood or smoothed with cement. This requires real skill from a professional tile contractor who is interested in working to reap the lasting benefit of your home improvement project. For the do-it-yourself homeowner, pre-made benches and seats are available.
Unless you are an expert I do not recommend wood framing for your seats as it has been our experience in tile repair that we have improperly done framed wood seats that resulted in rapid mold growth.
2. When installing a shower liner, make sure your contractor includes a pre-slope for drainage before installing the liner; If this step is skipped, not only will mold problems develop, but the damage to the shower pan floor will be so severe that the entire pan will need to be replaced. Drain holes in the head shower drain ring required for proper drainage must be kept clear.
3. Proper drainage for a shower stall floor is ΒΌ inch per foot to drain. In other words, the slope to the drain should look and feel imperceptible. A bad mud job can be felt instantly when you stand in the shower and if there is standing water left after your shower, you may need attention to correct it.
4. The correct tile backing plate will need to be installed. For years, both home builders and contractors used green boards in all wet area applications.
Today, knowledge of how popular tile backing plates are installed is essential to a successful tile installation. Some manufacturers recommend leaving a gap between the bottom of the wall panel and the horizontal surface, thus reducing the “wicking” effect of improper installation. Also, some materials are not recommended in shower stalls and steam showers altogether. Make sure your tile designer or installer is well versed in the different applications and limitations of the different bathroom products available today.
What’s under your shower tray?
Hopefully a dry floor, pre-drain slope, and unclogged drain holes.