All the caulk in the world may not prevent your shower and glass door enclosure from leaking.
In fact, caulk can make it worse.
I have done posts in the past about not caulking the connection where tile shower and/or tub enclosure meets the tub or the one-piece shower base.
In the following picture one can see a typical tile shower and its one-piece plastic base.
These types of shower assemblies are very common in modern construction and perform very well when installed properly.
While I don’t want to get too technical, suffice it to say that if the connection is caulked, any moisture that eventually finds its way through the grout lines (and some will over time) will not have a route of escape. The moisture is then trapped behind the tile.
This results in unsightly mold growth behind the caulk around the base of the shower (or tub) and in many cases will result in the water being directed “outside” the shower where it can find its way into the wall and floor outside the shower.
Damage to the baseboard visible in the picture below is very common with this caulking mistake.
It was once considered “best practice” to only grout the wall/shower base connection. The TCNA (Tile Council of North America–the Gods of how to do tile installations properly) used to approve two methods of sealing this connection between the shower (or tub) base and the tile enclosure. You could either grout the entire joint or caulk the entire joint–but not caulk “over” the grout. The 2015 Best Practice Guide from TCNA calls for use of “flexible grout” in nearly all applications. This flexible grout is neither caulk nor grout but does the job of both with the exception that it is not a vapor barrier like caulk would be.
It is also important to make sure the weep holes built into the shower base are left open–as an escape route for trapped moisture.
Tubs do not have these weep hole details so not caulking over the grout on a tub/tile wall connection is even more important.
Everyone has likely seen the unsightly blackening of caulk around this connection. No amount of scrubbing and bleach seems to have any impact at all. That is because the black is “behind” the caulk and merely visible through the semi-translucent caulk.
It takes considerable attention to detail to get these connections sealed properly.
This improper caulking detail is not the only cause of damage like this to the walls and floor outside of the shower–but those other reasons will be the topic of future posts.
By Charles Buell, Real Estate Inspections in Seattle
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Ed says
Hi, you didn’t really answer the question by suggesting what to specifically do to stop the leaking.
Charles Buell says
You simply have to clear the weep holes and get rid of the vapor proof caulks—use the proper sanded caulk or grout at the tile/base connection.
Alex Kogan says
are you saying that this problem is caused by the weaping hole being blocked and opening it up will resolve it?
Thank you
Charles Buell says
Blocking the weep hole is certainly part of the problem, but if yours does not have a weep hole it would be caulking around the base of the tile in general that would be the problem.
Werhat says
I have EXACTLY this problem on a brand new shower done with tile over Redguard over cement board above an Onyx Collection shower base. I ran the shower for less than a minute to test and found the baseboard wet outside the shower hours later. It’s a neo-angle layout with a glass door. Tile runs along the walls and into the shower. The joint to the base is caulked. There are no weep holes engineered into the base.
Could water be blasting in through the holes of the channel and leaking into the wall from the channel?
The contractor installed it per the shower base manufacturer’s instructions.
I’m afraid I’m going to have to rip the whole bathroom out and start over :(.
Charles Buell says
Hard to say and likely will require invasive investigation and likely redo.
Sofia says
Hi! Does this apply if it is all tile, walls and basin of the shower stall? Thanks
Charles Buell says
In an enclosure that is all tile walls and floor, there would typically be no caulk anywhere—all joints grouted.
Jake says
This information is not correct – and it is repeated several times.
Any change in plane should be caulked with a good quality silicone sealant. It should not be grouted.
Grout is not waterproof. It’s also not flexible and will crack at wall to floor joints, corners, tile to tub, etc.
Charles Buell says
The information is correct. Take a look at the installation recommendations from the tile institute of america.
Ck says
I have a shower stall door that leaks over into the outside baseboard of the shower., similar to your photo. Shower is completely tiled. No weepholes in either pan or in base of the shower door. Inside and outside of frame are caulked. I cannot figure out what should be caulked and what should be uncaulked. Help
Charles Buell says
Any reputable tile installation contractor that specializes in shower installations should be able to direct you better. Does this have a one piece plastic base or a tile base?
Ck says
it has a one piece plastic base.
Bryan says
In your example, are both the inside and outside bottoms of the aluminum caulked? Should they be?
Charles Buell says
Both sides were caulked in this case. At least the outside needs to be caulked and it is easier to keep clean if both sides are caulked.
Brent says
Thanks Charles, I have had all of these issues. I just cleared my weep holes (the builder plugged). To be clear, are you recommending I do not apply silicone caulk to the base of the tile wall and plastic shower pan (where they meet) and allow the thin gap to breathe?
Charles Buell says
Brent that is correct. Use a color matching sanded caulk—but nothing vapor proof.
Jan says
You did not address the rubber that leaks from the shower DOOR!!!! jan.
Brian Moscogiuri says
HI,
I have a plastic shower pan with weep holes on either side. Water is somehow getting out of the pan behind the shower wall, across from the shower head. I tested areas with water and the leak seems to only take place when I shoot water toward the weep hole. Is it possible that the weep hope itself has an issue and is creating the leak?
Charles Buell says
I guess anything is “possible,” but I would need more information, pictures etc.
Brent says
I dont have a tile shower. Its plastic. But have leaking around the bottom. What would be the beat way to correct this?
Charles Buell says
please attach some pictures
Eric says
Hi. Do I caulk the bottom of these shower frames or the weep holes on the inside of the shower? Or should water flow through for draining?
Charles Buell says
The weep holes should not be caulked and the frame should be caulked on the outside
Jay says
Thanks for the post. This helped me to understand the issue with my shower. I closed the week hole. I am planning recaulk leaving the weep hole open.
Can you please help me with the picture. This is taken from inside my shower. What are those holes on the panel. is it required to keep it open?
Thanks
Charles Buell says
should not be caulked
Faye says
For the sweet love of all things holy, please tell me what I am doing wrong! We have a corner shower with a rounded base. It has always leaked, I’ve caulked like crazy. I’ve stripped the caulk, followed someone directions on YouTube, carefully recaulking and it is still leaking!! Why?
Charles Buell says
Sorry, no way to tell from here. Hire someone that installs them—someone other that whoever installed this. It should not leak.
Kim Kisor says
Our home was built in 2005 and it was only in 2019 that we corrected and opened the weep hole caulking after having a very large leak on the floor outside the shower. The shower was completely regrouted and sealed but this keeps happening. A contractor told us to remove the bottom tile to inspect, do you agree? Do you have any suggestions? Thank you so much!
Charles Buell says
It should not leak, so something was done wrong. I think opening it up may be necessary.
Kim Kisor says
Thank you so much for your opinion! If it only happens after taking a shower, would that make a difference in terms of needing to remove the tile? Is it bad to remove the tile to look? What would you look for? Who she do this?
Charles Buell says
Go to the best tile store you can find (not a big box store) and ask them who their best installers are and consult with them.
Kim Kisor says
One more question, since your blog is one of the few to warn against this caulking over the weep hole issue, what would be the worst consequence of having left this so long? Would it be a simple fix to caulk where the bottom tile and shower pan meet? Thank you so much again!
Charles Buell says
The weep holes should be left open and the joint between the plastic base and the tiles should be grounted or a sanded caulk used. Many caulks are vapor proof and should not be used.
Kim Kisor says
You are referring to the seam on the right side of the bottom tile in the photo, correct? Why does a vapor proof caulk (like silicone?) cause a leak? I am having a hard time wrapping my head around that. What is better about the grout or sanded caulk? I think this is the whole point of your blog post and I am embarrassed to say that I don’t understand the concept. Thank you for your valuable information and time!
Charles Buell says
The joint I am talking about is “inside” the shower. The idea of this being vapor permeable is for moisture that normally gets behind the tile, has a way to get out. Silicone type caulks can trap it. The vapor permeable caulk/grout in conjunction with the open weep hole, will allow for that moisture to find its way into the shower instead of outside the shower. Whether this is the cause of your issue is another question.
Kim Kisor says
Aha! If this is “inside” the shower, then how is it remedied if the wrong caulk was used? Does the shower have to be totally redone? We had a professional tile installer caulk the shower. The first two readers to comment also asked if this is the cause of the leaking. Do you have another post on what causes this type of problem in general?
Charles Buell says
Too many questions for me to answer with any degree of confidence. The improper caulk can certainly be removed. But, again I am not sure this has anything to do with the leak you are experienced. This brings me back to my orginal recommendation of finding a really good tile person to figure it out. Perhaps walls that are easier to repair in adjacent rooms can be opened up to at least see what is going on or how it has been contructed. This might give a better idea if the whole thing needs to be redone. Improper substrate and sealing behind the tiles is a likely culprit, but it can also be the water line from the valve to the shower head.
John Overstreet says
In 2018, I had a “handyman” install remove our tub & install a shower, that i purchased from Home Depot. Every since it was installed, i have been dealing with leaks, at the corners of the shower door frame. I have applied, removed & reapplied silicone, several times, but can not stop the leaking. any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated. I have attached a photo, but not sure I did it correctly.
Charles Buell says
John, you do not say what your shower walls are, and they do not show in the picture, my guess is tile? If it is plastic, it may be a leak from somewhere else, Is this the side with the fixture?
Jenny says
I. Have a 1/2” x 1/2” gap where the shower door frame meets the tile wall and shower pan. It runs the thickness of the shower door frame, from inside to outside the shower. This is due to the tile installed over the shower pan lip, and the door frame installed to the tile.
What is the best way to fill this gap? It was filled with caulk and backer rod piece but still leaked – I could feel the outside caulk was wet. The door frame and shower pan have no weep holes. The gap between pan and tile was caulked, which has been removed and will be replaced per your recommendations.
Thanks for your help!
John says
Hi Jenny, have you fixed your issue?
Currently I have similar issue. I am doing research how to properly address it. Once I have a plan, I will keep you posted.
Thanks!
dinh says
Thanks for the post.
New shower was installed 2yrs ago and now leaking at wall corners.
1. Is the show pan or base level – mine was not.
2. Just had entire shower frame recaulked inside and outside.
3. More work and more money but better result is to remove he shower frame, cleanup, apply caulk.
Keeping fingers crossed.
Daniella says
Hi! I have a leak exactly where you mentioned. I do not have weep holes in my shower pan. The inside is entirely caulked (i have not checked for a leak since caulking the metal frame with the weep holes (not covering the weep holes). I also cleaned out the weep holes which were clogged. I have not yet caulked the outside since i want to make sure there is no leak. Should the entire inside of the shower be grouted instead of caulked? Just the bottom grouted? Everything ok caulked as it is? I dont know if water is leaking from the weep hole bars ends?
Adrienne Crawford says
This blog was a lifesaver! Dealing with a leaking shower enclosure can be so frustrating, but the information provided here gave me some valuable insights into possible causes and solutions. Thanks to the author for sharing their expertise and helping us tackle this pesky issue.