Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

New sealant on shower tray. Do they need to come back? And can they just add some on if necessary?

9 replies

Ihavethebestdogs · 16/07/2024 22:14

Got a plumber (two came) to re-seal the base of the shower as the sealant was worn in areas. They did the new sealant but I just noticed a small gap near the shower door hinge where water could get through. The shower door hinge is fixed and doesn't obscure this gap so that this bit could be missed. It's just like the plumber didn't get the last centimetre and a half or so with the sealant so that it comes right up to where the hinge starts. ...
I don't know if they've just missed it or it's meant to be like that? I'm doubting it's meant to be like that if even the most minuscule quantity of water can get through.
If we get them back can they just put a blob in the gap or do they have to take that strip off and do that bit again?
Pic attached, not the best image, sorry, but you should be able to see where the sealant just stops (I think prematurely). Ignore the diagonal white bit - that's the light / shadow. You may have to zoom in. Please excuse the shower door. It's old!
Thanks

New sealant on shower tray. Do they need to come back? And can they just add some on if necessary?
OP posts:
greenandgreener · 16/07/2024 22:15

send the plumber a photo and ask! I would say that needs doing.

Ihavethebestdogs · 16/07/2024 22:26

Thanks @greenandgreener. I think so too. Will ring them tomorrow.

@Pigletjohn Sorry to bother you again on yet another plumbing issue. But, can I ask your opinion? Pic attached in original post. Will I need to ask the plumber to remove the whole length of sealant there and do it again to incorporate the gap? I read you shouldn't add to existing sealant. Husband thinks I'm being fussy but they charged just shy of £100 so I think it should be perfect. Thanks.

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 18/07/2024 00:41

I can't make it out but it does not look neatly done.

I'm pretty sure that the contract for work implied that it was to be sealed so it did not leak.

If it does leak they have not done the job you paid for

Though I also think that if they were skilled enough to do a decent job they would have done it right first time.

I always suggest finding a tradesman by personal recommendation. Don't use websites that they pay to be listed on. They are advertising websites masquerading as recommendation sites.

PigletJohn · 18/07/2024 00:42

is the sealant on the inside of the shower or the inside?

spikeandbuffy · 18/07/2024 01:43

For £100 I would be expecting it to be perfect! I'm absolutely shit at sealant but I did my own tonight as part of it had a gap

Ihavethebestdogs · 18/07/2024 12:37

@pigletjohn Thanks for replying.

I agree with getting personal recommendations but nobody we asked could vouch for any one. This company (same two men, older and apparently time-served) actually fitted a replacement shower two weeks before and it's been fine, hence why we got them back to do the sealant. They have excellent online reviews and are FCA registered if that counts for anything. They do major bathroom refits, installations etc so this should have been a very simple job by all accounts.

The pic is a bit confusing. The sealant is on the inside where the bottom of the tiled walls of the shower meet the shower tray. The pic showing the area where the sealant seems to stop short was taken when standing inside the shower looking towards the shower door. It's a tiny gap between the frame of the shower door and the shower tray (the silvery length you can see is part of the shower door, and the gap is directly under it). Even given its size, I'm sure water could get through. Maybe only minute quantities at a time but even so...
We have been in touch by phone with the company who's sending someone next Monday. We've also sent them an e-mail explaining our the issue and enclosing a few photos.

I'm assuming they'll just apply a blob of sealant in the space but I am concerned about that as there are differing opinions online about whether new sealant will properly adhere to old. By the time they come out it will have been sealed for 10 days. Would it be okay to just add extra sealant in the gap in this case or would you be asking them to remove and start again? If so, how much to remove since all strips and corners are attached... Does it all have to come off really?
I'm worried about longevity if they add a little blob. Do you think that'd suffice since the gap is so tiny?

I think we might have a hard time asking them to do the entire job again but I just want it totally watertight. I'm really not great at being assertive, esp when tradesman start umming and arhhing and pulling faces! It worries me that they might do it in a huff and leave more issues behind than before! What should we be insisting on? Thanks.

spike and buffy: Thanks for replying. Yes, it's a lot of money but there were two of them and they took an hour. We didn't 'watch' as they seem like the kind of blokes who don't appreciate being stood over, which I can sort of understand. They did talk about putting new sealant over old before they started the sealing job, until I expressed concern. I assume they removed the old and put new on...
Could I ask if you removed all the sealant prior to re-sealing or if you just filled the gap in? If you've done that before has it lasted?

I thought about getting plumbing tape since it's so small a gap but it's not ideal, and, as you say, for just shy of £100 it should be perfect. I'm annoyed at myself for not noticing it when they showed us after completing the work, but you'd have to stand inside the shower with the door closed to spot the missed bit.

We are so paranoid that, even though they said to leave it for 24 hours, we actually left the shower unused (took baths) from the Friday when it was done to the next Wednesday evening that I spotted it. This is because the last couple who lived here had a leak in the shower (concealed behind a wall) which meant when the electrics failed / my husband spotted water marks on the ceiling just two days after moving in, the leak was so bad that he had to open up part of the living room ceiling below and have it fixed and re-plastered. There was water in the electric light fitting etc. Just dreadful. So, we are both keen to avoid leaks in the future... even tiny ones!

Thank you both! I appreciate your replies!

Edited to make a correction.

OP posts:
Ihavethebestdogs · 18/07/2024 12:38

@spikeandbuffy Thanks. Please see reply above.

OP posts:
spikeandbuffy · 18/07/2024 12:44

I removed the old sealant and then put new on

Ihavethebestdogs · 18/07/2024 13:44

Thanks @spikeandbuffy

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread