Bathroom leak

[SavannahLion]

Sorry I'm not asking this on a "home owner repair" forum. I haven't found one I liked that wasn't effectively an advertisement.

I discovered the grout around my guest bathroom tub is leaking water. It literally wicks water into the wall. I have some idea how long it's been like this, but not how much water might have gotten into the wall. The grout is damaged all the way around the tub.

Before replacing the grout, I'd like to do some damage exploration into the wall to ensure there isn't water and/or mold hiding there. That gives me two choices.

I can go in through the bathroom wall. If there's mold damage, I'm going to be tearing that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- out and replacing it anyways. But if there's no mold damage, I'll be tearing that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- out and replacing it for nothing.

OR

I can go in through the opposite wall which is just textured drywall and inspect the wall for damage there. If there's mold, I'll be tearing out the tile/bathroom side anyways. If there's no mold, I'll spend a little time patching, re-texturing and repainting that wall. The other tub wall is opposite of a closet so there's less work and I'll likely add an access panel.

Any experts here on the subject? What do you guys think?

Rant: It blows my mind that the dumb ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- who designed this house didn't add an access panel to any of the faucet plumbing. Every single house my father ever constructed was constructed in such a way that the faucet plumbing is always accessible without tearing into the wall like this. Next house....

[drventure]

I wish. I've never lived in a house where there was any kind of access panel to any of the plumbing. It's rip the drywall out if you have to do anything. <sigh>

I'd ask this question, is the tile/grout/bathroom situation such that you'd +like+ to redo it anyway?

Typically, older bathrooms kind of need a makeover after a while anyway. If that's the case, i'd go in from the bathroom side, since you'd be tearing out anyway to replace it.

If you +really+ want to try and save the existing tile if there is no damage it could be a little easier to go in from the other side just to survey the situation.

Personally, I'd probably scrape the grout out, recaulk to delay the inevitable, start watching for tile sales in the area or on CL, and when you get a really good deal on some tile, contract with a tile man to lay the new tile. Then you can do all the tear out, which will save some money and it's easy if not messy. That is, unless you're good with tile.

[Fordman]

Depends on how old the house is and if you live in the US, what the building codes are will determain the mold. If there has been water getting behind the grout, but there is hardi-rock (cement board) behind the tile, then chances are there isnt any mold, just re-grout then put a sealer on the grout. If there is only drywall, then tear off the tile, replace the drywall behind the tile with hardi-rock, re-tile, re-grout.

But, you might be in luck as the tub may have a lip tucked behind the tile to catch water that may leak. look at the pic below to see the lip Im refering to:


If there is mold behind there, poor mans way to help get rid of it, bleach the hell out of it. There are mold killers on the market, look at there main ingredient and its bleach, but without the smell, so buy lemon or orange scented bleach.

This may be the time you and the spouse may want to rethink tile selction as well. tile is fairly cheap. If your going to replace just some of the tiles, chances are the color of the new tile wont match the color of the old. Buy enough new, from the same manufactures lot code, so the pigments were all blended at the same time and are 99% uniform with color. Mix all your grout at the same time for consistancy. Same thought process for grout as well, it may say Beige on the package, but beige pigment from 20 yrs ago may not be the same beige today.

 

Good Luck,

Fordman

[SavannahLion]

Depends on how old the house is and if you live in the US, what the building codes are will determain the mold. If there has been water getting behind the grout, but there is hardi-rock (cement board) behind the tile, then chances are there isnt any mold, just re-grout then put a sealer on the grout. If there is only drywall, then tear off the tile, replace the drywall behind the tile with hardi-rock, re-tile, re-grout.

I live in California, U.S.

This is exactly what I'm worried about. The contractor(s) who constructed this house took a few shortcuts that would make my dad roll in his grave. Small details like water drainage in the front yard, how the water pipe is run, how the roof support is constructed, etc. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the cheap ---uvula--- used drywall instead of cement board.

You are right though, I had forgotten about the tub lip. It's an older steel tub (which also needs repairs). I suppose I could scrape an edge to see if the lip exists. Took a look to see if I can see any evidence and found the edge outside to the tub has minor cracks that's working its way into the tile itself. I might end up replacing the tile anyways.

[Malenko]

when in doubt with this, its usaully cheaper and safer in the long run to just rip it out and do it right. Mold is one of the WORST things to have around the house and its better safe then sorry.

[Dartful Dodger]

Rub some bleach water onto the wall and point a fan at it. 

People get WAY too worked up over mold.

It is very very dangerous, but it is also very very easy to kill.

I agree with piballjim, just spray some bleach on it.

[CheffoJeffo]

Find out what is really going on. (I would definitely go through the tile and the wall)

Fix it (and, while you are there, I am a big fan of concrete backer board in bathrooms).

Everything else is just half-assed unless you know the extent of the problem.

[HaRuMaN]

+1 on concrete backer board.  My first house I bought had this exact same problem.  Tile over drywall, and water got in there.  I ripped it all out and replaced with the concrete board, and replaced the tile with a tub surround.