Is Your Shower Tile Leaking? Here’s How Mr. Handyman Can Fix It!

Is your shower tile leaking? Tile is perhaps one of the sturdiest materials people use in their homes. It boasts exceptional taste alongside adding a dramatic flair to an otherwise drab interior living space. This makes sense as tile has been adorned on everything from ancient castles, palaces, or holy places of worship abound. It’s versatile, too, as it can adhere to multiple surfaces, from your flooring surfaces to kitchen and bathroom backsplash to your shower backsplash and floor. Tile is predominantly adopted in more moisture-prone areas of the house as it’s mostly waterproof and doesn’t contain any textured pores but is more solid in nature, which prevents the buildup of mold, mildew, and soap scum.

So if anything, tile bodes well in your bathroom and shower area as it’s incredibly durable and will ward off permanent and costly water and moisture damage. Preferably most homeowners opt for stone or porcelain tiles for their shower floor, which will prevent a slippery surface, whilst selecting a glazed ceramic tile for their backsplash, which will showcase a shiny and glossy finish. Every Norfolk County homeowner must consider the vast difference a tile installation will make in transforming their home’s aesthetic appeal, all thanks to the cultivated refinement of shower tile, as you can opt for a wide variety of cuts, colors, and designs.

But a shower tile leak signals a serious problem and that’s where your Norfolk County handyman comes in to take care of maintenance, repair, and improvement needs. Learn from our local professionals how they fix a leaky shower tile plus many other tips!

Why Proper Upkeep Of Your Shower Tile Is A Necessity?

Is your shower tile leaking? Some homeowners allow their tile to fail into disrepair, especially when they forgo any routine maintenance whatsoever, including cleaning off any accumulated debris. As a result, their shower tile is leaking, and as it rapidly deteriorates, it will exhibit telltale signs of damage, including but not limited to the following:

Hairline cracks, fractures
Scratches, dents, chips or gouges
Small or big holes, including leakages
Discolored grout
Loose tile pieces
Peeling or bubbling paint
Brittle texture
Hollow sound due to water damage
Receding or faded caulk around bottom flooring tiles
Odd, musty odors

Suppose your shower tiles are backlogged with excessive water. In that case, they will begin to deteriorate, resulting in unsightly water stains, bacterial buildup, and foul odors as your shower area becomes increasingly dam. So at this point, it’s obvious your shower tile is leaking, and you need a tile repair or replacement service. Remember, tile is a worthwhile investment so long as you are keen on its proper upkeep, including scrubbing away any residue on the tile’s grout with white vinegar and baking soda once in a while. Although you can always opt for vinyl, a plastic-based substitute for tile installation, it’s not aesthetically pleasing as it’s tacky and won’t boost your home’s curb appeal.

Even though tile is multi-faceted and used in many areas of the house, from your kitchen and bathroom backsplash, hallways, countertops, fireplace walls, bars, and then some, most homeowners find tile more appropriate for their restroom. During your daily grooming routine, your bathroom gets steamy from excessive condensation as water and soap droplets consistently splash against the walls, floors, and ceilings. Shower tile, then, serves as a repellent as it deters liquids from sticking to the surfaces, thereby preventing moisture damage, including peeling paint and mold. If your shower tile is leaking, you may need an expert handyman to refurbish it through a tile repair or replacement.

Shower tile usually deteriorates due to water sneaking behind the tiles, which damages the drywall the tile is attached to. The drywall will expand, which places extra pressure on the shower tile, resulting in fissuring of the tile’s surface. As a result, this causes hairline or microscopic fractures to snake across the tile itself. Plus, as water seeps behind the tiles, it spreads dampness and moisture throughout the backer board. Consequently, the material never dries out enough as the tiles are directly attached to the surface itself. Eventually, the backer board decays, rendering it completely useless, and a shower tile that’s leaking. If the water damage is extensive, you may need drywall repair before you are permitted to replace your shower tile.

During your on-site service appointment, your skilled handyman will perform a thorough inspection of your current shower tile alongside the condition of your wall and floor surfaces and provide the best course of action for stopping the leak. Some homeowners find it hard to tell whether they might have a shower leak due to a leaky water pipe. We’ll be able to figure that out for you, too.

Upon inspection, we will assess the surfaces for any prior damages and take the proper measurements by calculating the exact amount of tile material needed for a shower tile repair or replacement based on the bathroom’s square footage. For example, we start by removing damaged tile pieces and old glue adhesive and replacing them with brand-new tiles using a joint compound. That’s why we recommend Norfolk County property owners keep an extra stash of tile material as, given the tile’s fragile nature, it can easily chip during a tile repair, from excessive humidity, or simply from heavy foot traffic.

Home Remodeling 101: Upgrade Your Shower With A Tile Replacmenet!

Let’s be real–your shower tile is likely to get battered over the years and needs to be refinished for minor repairs, so you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg for a costly tile installation for your shower backsplash. But if you are looking for a transformation of your bathroom area, a shower tile leak is a good excuse to swap to a different tile material from porcelain to ceramic or even design from subway tiles to vertical tiles. You should be open to exploring the possibilities. Tile is a lucrative addition to your home as it bodes well in moisture-prone areas, can mostly withstand heavy pressure, and handles fluctuating temperatures too.

But specific materials need more maintenance compared to others. For example, natural stone is an organic material and, unlike its porcelain tiles counterpart, will differ in timers of its upkeep. Natural stone is great for your shower’s floor surfaces as it’s practical, slip-resistant and comes in a wide variety of designs, and is absolutely stunning. But you must practice routine maintenance by scrubbing the tile at least every six months with pH-balanced cleaners without any toxic chemicals or bleach that won’t erode its surface. It’s best not to outright ignore a shower tile that is leaking as a chipped tile is also a safety hazard as you can accidentally trip, tumble and injure yourself on a loose tile piece.

Notably, a professionally tiled shower area can last you upwards of 20 years so long as it’s cleaned and maintained through re-grouting and resealing every handful of years. Surprisingly, there are many options for fixing a shower tile leaking, including swapping out for a more robust material, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages. Although a tactical handyman can plug up any minor holes or fix fragmented tile pieces, you can benefit from upgrading your tile material and design for greater durability and improved aesthetics. Our knowledgeable handyman can customize a solution based on your personal preferences and budget. So feel free to get creative with a shower tile replacement from ceramic subway tiles to porcelain vertical tiles for your bathroom and shower area backsplash. For example, there are some of the materials we can swap out for in your shower area:

Different Types Of Shower Tile Material

Natural Stone

This material offers a pleasant presence in your bathroom area as it’s made from organic materials, including marble, granite, slate, limestone, etc. Although natural stone tile is fairly durable, it’s more susceptible to water damage and will showcase signs of wear and tear, including scratches, chips, and dents. Its tile surface can also get quite slippery when wet, so we only recommend slip-resistant and lightly textured stone slabs with more narrow grout lines. Also, you need to reseal the tile regularly as the tile is constantly exposed to a wet environment.

Ceramic

A ceramic tile is made in a clay oven at scorching hot temperatures and is durable, resistant to water damage, and comes in either a glazed or unglazed variety. Best of all, it mimics the appearance of natural stone without all the hassle of extra maintenance.

Porcelain

Porcelain is similar in nature to ceramic as it’s water resistant and impervious to moisture damage, is durable, and can handle fluctuating temperatures. It doesn’t dent or chip easily as it has a higher density, so it is more robust against incoming physical impact. A porcelain tile also mimes the appearance of natural stone without being wholly pure in nature, so it’s great if you are not into doing yet another boring chore of maintenance.

Vinyl

As a plastic material, vinyl is always an easy and go-to choice as it’s generic and inexpensive for most home remodels. It’s durable and waterproof and can withstand heavy impact and temperatures. Plus, it comes in various colors and designs as it can be more readily customized. But, of course, it’s an artificial material. Although it may be affordable because it’s glued to your shower wall surfaces, it cannot be repaired or refinished for a shower tile repair. Apart from looking garish, plastic tile also emits volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can result in indoor air pollution. Being more flimsy, standard vinyl tile won’t bolster your home’s curb appeal either.

Glass

We’ve all seen a glass shower backsplash in our gym’s shower area, and it’s a popular choice as not only is it incredibly durable, but it can brighten up an otherwise decrepit living area as it will reflect more natural sunlight. As a result, your shower area will seem more spacious than it is. It’s also great for hygienic purposes as a glass shower tile will allow for a more sanitary environment because it can be cleaned easily of any grime or grease with vinegar or soapy water. It is more expensive, however, compared to other shower materials.

How Mr. Handyman Can Fix A Leaky Shower Tile

Although you can attempt a makeshift DIY tile repair for a shower tile that’s leaving, we suggest you rely on a certified, licensed, and fully insured Norfolk handyman from Central - Eastern Norfolk County & S.Shore for professional tile repair or replacement. Despite your best-kept effort and motivations towards maintenance, you may still discover your shower tile grout joints have caked off, and individual tile pieces may be dented or cracked, causing water to bleed through the walls or floor space, damaging the subsurface, including backboards. As a result, you may need a home remodel to replace your old and damaged shower tile.

Here is how we conduct a tile repair service for a shower tile leaking:

Out With The Old: For starters, our handyman will remove all the damaged tiles, including any sticky adhesive which binds them to the surfaces, including cement underneath the tile. We will use a grout saw to remove the grout line from the tile joints, which encase the damaged tile piece. This can be tricky as sometimes you need to chisel away the tile into smaller bite-sized pieces as the tile piece doesn’t come undone in one go. If you’re not careful, you can accidentally break adjacent shower tiles or even cut into the waterproof membrane beneath the tile, so it’s best to leave this task to a skilled contractor. Oftentimes the shower tile piece that’s leaking just won’t budge, so we have to use backup methods, including:
Punctured Holes: If our handyman finds that the tile piece is difficult to remove with the saw, they will use a masonry bit to drill multiple holes in the middle of the tile piece to loosen it up. Again this needs to be done carefully to not damage the waterproof membrane underneath.
Break It Down: Now, we will use a chisel to break the tile into smaller pieces.
Sticking Around: Next, we proceed to remove any lingering residue, such as the thin-set mortar behind the shower tile piece. This is required as it ensures there is a smoother and clean surface for a tile replacement or installation.
Backup Support: Next, we will inspect the waterproof membrane situated underneath the shower tile to confirm it is not damaged in any way whatsoever. Especially if you have a vinyl membrane, you must ensure there is no leakage under the tile, as every tile material responds to water damage somewhat differently.
Super Glue: Now, we will apply new tile adhesive using a notched trowel to ensure the porcelain or ceramic tile pieces stick to the walls.
Secure Attachment: Finally, we will replace the tile piece by firmly placing it on top of the adhesive or thin-set so that it aligns with surrounding tile pieces and sits flush against the wall.
Bone Dry: We will allow the tile adhesive to dry and cure. Next, we will follow up by grouting the joints that encase the new tiles we have just replaced.
Minor Imperfections: For any blemishes, we recommend using a bathroom sealant that is waterproof or caulk to hide any joints that grouting seems to miss.

Mr. Handyman Will Make Your Shower Tile Impervious To Water Damage–Ask Us Today!

We all envision a luxurious lavatory for our daily grooming and bathing routines. And we can almost guarantee an intact and gleaming shower tile will make your daily cleanse more light, fresh and invigorating and allow you to truly indulge in your shower thoughts. If your shower tile leaking has been a crisis, and you require a trustworthy handyman to restore it to pristine condition, go ahead and reach out to one of our courteous customer contact representatives, who are eagerly awaiting your response and are on standby. We also serve the surrounding areas of Quincy, Norwood, and Braintree. If you are curious about other bathroom home renovation for residential services, from lighting fixture installation and shower door replacement to vanity mirror repair, also be sure to inquire!