Shower screen joints and the water you cannot see
Missing sealant at shower screens and chipped floor tiles on a Pakenham resale home.
In short: Water escaping a shower rarely shows on the day. It shows months later in the room next door.
The joint that matters
Where a shower screen meets the floor and walls, sealant keeps water inside the recess. When it fails, water gets to the floor and wall outside the shower.
What we found
In an established Pakenham home the screen to floor and wall joints needed proper sealing, and floor tiles near the shower were chipped and broken.
Why broken tiles matter
A cracked tile is a route for water into the bed below. Near a shower that can mean damp floors and swelling joinery.
Checking for leaks
We look for staining, lifting skirtings and swollen cabinet edges, and take moisture readings where something looks suspect.
The fix
Reseal the screen and replace damaged tiles. If moisture readings are high, find the source before re tiling.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Pakenham. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
