[lwenger63]

I found a soft spot on the vinyl floor where it meets the shower stall basin in the second floor bathroom. The spot is in a corner of the floor against an adjoining wall. The soft area is only a couple inches round. All other area around it is completely dry. I fear however that it could be wet under the shower basin, and possibly uncer the adjoing wall. Since neither are readily accesable, is there any way of determing the possible extent of the damage without ripping out the basin? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Ron6519]

It's obvious that the floor will need to be replaced. So the shower base will need to come out whatever you do. You can delay the inevitable by opening the ceiling below to see how bad it is, but that just gives you another place to repair.
It's just a matter of how you want to proceed. Since the joist bays will restrict the view from below, you might need to take out a few bays worth of ceiling to veiw the extent of the damage.
That might be benificial if the house is old as these traps can rot out over time. It gives you the opportunity to replace that if it needs to be replaced.
Ron

 

[lwenger63]

shower stall

Thanks Ron. What is involved in removing a pre-fabricated resin shower basin? I would prefer if possible to not having to do excessive removing of the tiles in the stall if at all. The stall is 36" square.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Ron6519]

Thanks Ron. What is involved in removing a pre-fabricated resin shower basin? I would prefer if possible to not having to do excessive removing of the tiles in the stall if at all. The stall is 36" square.

Thanks again for the advice.

The base has a flange that goes up under the first row of tiles about an inch or so. You would need to remove them to get the base out. Along with disconnecting the shower drain.
Ron

 

[lwenger63]

stall shower base

Thank you again Ron. I assume that the stall shower base rests on a wood sub floor? The home is 24 years old, so I do not know if they would have had the basin rest on any other type of material?

 

[Ron6519]

Thank you again Ron. I assume that the stall shower base rests on a wood sub floor? The home is 24 years old, so I do not know if they would have had the basin rest on any other type of material?

Prefab units, if installed a certain way, would be sitting on/in a thick bed of plaster to keep the base from flexing and to eliminate the hollow sound associated with them. If that's the case, you might need to take out enough tile to lift the base above the plaster. Or if you can, break the plaster's connection with the wood subfloor.
If you knock on the base, you should be able to determine if it is indeed embedded in any material. It will sound very solid.
Ron

 

[lwenger63]

stall shower

Ron thank you again. If I decide to have a professional pull the basin, repair/replace subflooring beneath the 36" insquare stall, and replace removed tiles, what is a ballpark range I should expect to pay? I do know that the water damage is not a result of a plumbing problem. It is from improper sealing and caulking by the old owner around the original glass shower door. Once again thank you for all your continued advice.

 

[Ron6519]

Ron thank you again. If I decide to have a professional pull the basin, repair/replace subflooring beneath the 36" insquare stall, and replace removed tiles, what is a ballpark range I should expect to pay? I do know that the water damage is not a result of a plumbing problem. It is from improper sealing and caulking by the old owner around the original glass shower door. Once again thank you for all your continued advice.

Very rough guess would be between $1000-1500. It really depends on the extent of the damage and what needs to be done to repair it. Hopefully, the floor joists are not involved.
Ron

 

[lwenger63]

stall shower

I do know there is no signs of water damge on the ceiling in the kitchen below. So I hope that is a good sign