Problems and fixes
Leaking shower tray: causes and fixes
Most shower leaks come from the seal around the tray, the grout above it or the waste below it. Finding which one is the whole job.
A leaking shower tray is usually caused by one of four things: a failed silicone seal where the tray meets the wall, cracked or porous grout letting water behind the tiles, a loose or perished waste fitting under the tray, or a tray that flexes because it was never bedded properly. The fix depends entirely on which one it is, so the first step is always finding the route the water takes.
This guide explains how each fault shows itself, what you can check safely yourself, and when a repair stops being worth it and the shower area needs rebuilding.
Shower leaking through the ceiling below
A brown ring on the kitchen or lounge ceiling is the classic sign. Note when it appears. If it shows up only after someone showers, the leak is in the wet area: seals, grout or the waste. If it is damp all the time, suspect the supply pipework instead, which is a plumbing repair rather than a tiling one.
Do not ignore it. Water sitting in a ceiling softens plasterboard and can rot joists over time, and a small stain often hides a much wider wet patch above.
Failed shower grout and silicone
Grout is not waterproof. In a well built shower it sits over a tanked wall, so cracked grout is unsightly but harmless. In an older shower with no waterproofing behind it, every crack lets water into the plaster or board. Silicone is the more common culprit: once it shrinks, lifts or turns black, water runs straight down the back of the tray.
- Silicone pulling away from the tray edge
- Grout that crumbles when scraped with a fingernail
- Tiles that sound hollow when tapped
- Dark staining spreading out from a corner
Shower tray leak: repair or replace?
If the tray is solid and the leak is limited to sealant, careful removal and resealing can be enough. If the tray moves when you stand on it, the seal will keep breaking however often it is redone, because the joint is being flexed every day. That points to lifting the tray and bedding it properly.
When tiles have come loose, board behind them is soft, or the shower was never tanked, patching only buys time. Stripping the area back, waterproofing it and retiling is the lasting answer, and it is the kind of work our team does every week.
Checks you can do before calling anyone
Run water only into the tray, aiming at the waste, without wetting the walls. If the ceiling stain grows, the waste or tray is at fault. Next, spray only the walls. If that is what makes it worse, look at grout, silicone and the tiles above. Keep each test short so you are not adding to the damage.
Stopping it coming back
A rebuilt shower should have a tanking system behind the tiles, a tray bedded on a solid base, flexible sealant at every internal corner and good extraction so the room dries quickly. Our wet room tanking guide explains what that waterproofing layer is and why it matters.
Questions
Frequently asked
Why does my shower only leak when someone is standing in it?
Usually because the tray flexes under weight and opens up the seal at its edge. Resealing alone rarely fixes that; the tray needs proper bedding.
Can I just reseal the shower myself?
Yes, if the old silicone is fully removed and the surfaces are dry. If the leak returns within weeks, the cause is deeper than the seal.
Is a leaking shower covered by a quick repair?
Sometimes. Seal and waste faults are small jobs. Loose tiles or soft board behind them usually mean stripping and rebuilding the wet area.
Do you repair showers or only fit new bathrooms?
We can survey a leaking shower and quote for the repair or rebuild it needs. Call Martin to arrange a look.
Services in this guide
Related guides
Free home survey
Ready to plan your bathroom?
Talk directly to Martin about your room, priorities and budget.