Shower walls are popular locations for water damage at home. The problem is often caused by leaks in the shower or condensation on the tile behind the shower.
If left unaddressed, water damage can lead to mold growth and structural damage to your home. So have you noticed any sign of water damage behind your shower walls?
Fortunately, there are a few simple steps that you can take to repair water damage behind shower walls. As a result, a little time and effort can help fix the problem and prevent further damage.
So keep reading to learn more about how to repair water damage behind shower walls!
Assess the Cause
Many small clues can help to detect water damage to shower walls. Even though you can’t always notice water damage beneath your tile, you should look out for them.
One vital sign could be an odor. The damp, mildew odors you can’t seem to get rid of may be from water damage growing behind your shower walls.
In addition, If the issue is directly behind a tiled area, water seeping through the backer board is probably to blame. For example, tile damage around the shower base frequently indicates a plumbing leak behind the shower tiles.
So look toward the bottom of the shower wall, where the tile and the shower base meet. It will help you identify the source of the water damage.
The solution can be as simple as re-grouting the tiles or putting in a new caulk line. But it all depends on the source of the water damage.
Even if there are no problems with the tile, grout, or caulk, leaking pipes inside the wall could still result in water damage. On that note, you might wish to contact a certified plumber to do the plumbing repairs.
Remove Damaged Tiles
The next step after determining the source of damage is to remove the damaged tiles. In some cases, you might be able to take the tiles by hand. But using a putty knife or a tiny pry bar is simpler.
Tile removal should be done gently and slowly to prevent breaking them. After removal, you should also dispose of it in a bucket with warm water and home cleaner. This way, the tiles may get a proper cleaning.
Remove Damaged Dry Walls
After removing all the defective tiles, the soft or damaged drywall must be cut out. You can also do this manually.
After that, use a utility knife or wallboard saw to trim an additional few inches of drywall around the damaged area. Also, you must remove any nails or screws in the region. You should now have enough room to install fresh drywall.
Also, ensure your wall studs are still solid, don’t forget to inspect them. The reason is they can also often become waterlogged and need replacing.
More so, scrutinize the insulation around the shower. Rotted insulation reduces your home’s efficiency and promotes mildew and microbial growth.
Set Up the New Cement Board Patch
Cutting and setting up a new cement board fix is what we are doing next. The repair needs to be cut to match the space left after the damaged drywall was taken down. Make sure the cement board patch you choose has the same thickness as the drywall. Then screw them straight into the studs.
Also, the board’s bottom edges should be sealed with latex caulk. Then, spread tile glue around the joint directly between the old drywall and the new cement board. Finally, adhere fiberglass tape to the adhesive after letting it dry.
It’s a good idea to use a waterproofing barrier as a membrane. However, that will be if you’re trying to retile the complete shower.
Finish things Up!
It’s been a tedious journey, but we’re almost done. The next and final thing to do is to replace the tiles and caulk. Using a notched trowel, apply a thin, even coating of thin-set glue to the wall. After that, install the tiles into the wall while lining up the joints with whole tiles.
Apply grout to fill the joints after the glue has had time to cure. Make use of grout that resembles the original. Applying an excellent grout sealant to the grout will complete the installation.
Final Takeaways
If you discover water damage behind your shower wall, it is vital to take quick action to prevent further damage.
You will need to remove the damaged drywall and insulation, clean the area, and install new drywall to repair the damage.
This process may seem daunting, but it is pretty simple if you follow these steps. So use the above information and say goodbye to the water-damaged shower wall.