Shower Floor Repair - Help!

The_MAC said:
This is what I would do.

Strip everything, jackhammer all the crappy slab work, and re-concrete the entire floor with all the drain pipes redone, and waterproof the shower
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This is also what i think to do.

But my issue is right now is the cost implication of this. Im not sure i have enough left now, to do this.

Second, my concern now arises that because this house is raised above the FGL, where else this exact issue might be... i.e: how big is the cavity really? Is it just this bathroom or is it much bigger.

Sleeping on this issue last night, it occurred to me that, short of the shower drain being recessed, i would have never known about the slab issue. Given the house design, it occurs to me that this must be an issue in other houses where owners are blissfully unawares. How would one end up finding such an issue / what would it cause to an unsuspecting owner? I mean, lets be honest - who regularly checks under their floor slabs for this kind of thing.

Lastly, as much as it instills dread, i agree that itd probably best to get an engineer (or a builder, but preferably an engineer) out to asess the issue and determine a way forward for repair. I am based in Randpark. Any recommendations on who to contact, before i go to google for names?
 
RandomRando said:
This is also what i think to do.

But my issue is right now is the cost implication of this. Im not sure i have enough left now, to do this.

Second, my concern now arises that because this house is raised above the FGL, where else this exact issue might be... i.e: how big is the cavity really? Is it just this bathroom or is it much bigger.

Sleeping on this issue last night, it occurred to me that, short of the shower drain being recessed, i would have never known about the slab issue. Given the house design, it occurs to me that this must be an issue in other houses where owners are blissfully unawares. How would one end up finding such an issue / what would it cause to an unsuspecting owner? I mean, lets be honest - who regularly checks under their floor slabs for this kind of thing.

Lastly, as much as it instills dread, i agree that itd probably best to get an engineer (or a builder, but preferably an engineer) out to asess the issue and determine a way forward for repair. I am based in Randpark. Any recommendations on who to contact, before i go to google for names?
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Maybe check if your house structure insurance covers this sort of thing.
 
B-1 said:
Maybe check if your house structure insurance covers this sort of thing.
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I was just going to ask this now- if this wouldnt/ couldnt be covered by my building insurance with Santam?
 
maumau said:
Isn't that a latent defect? Could you get your money back?
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That looks like a sloppy repair/cover-up job if ever I saw one!

There has been serious long-term water leaks in there, even the bottom of the cabinet has since rotted away and the flooring has deteriorated against the shower. The exterior wall is a dead giveaway.
 
I'm no expert either, but doubt whether your insurance will cover as they would argue that the problem didn't happen in your policy's time. You may need to engage a lawyer too - it may be that the previous owner's insurance would have to pay for repairs under his policy.

Engage a lawyer now, before getting the engineer as the engineers cost and all other related costs would need to be considered. You may have accepted the shower defect as a latent issue, but if there is issues with the foundation, then you may have a case to have the sale cancelled.
 
PhreakBoy said:
I'm no expert either, but doubt whether your insurance will cover as they would argue that the problem didn't happen in your policy's time. You may need to engage a lawyer too - it may be that the previous owner's insurance would have to pay for repairs under his policy.

Engage a lawyer now, before getting the engineer as the engineers cost and all other related costs would need to be considered. You may have accepted the shower defect as a latent issue, but if there is issues with the foundation, then you may have a case to have the sale cancelled.
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Wow really? Even after the house is registered in the new owners name and everything?
 
No insurance is going to cover this as a shoddy job led to years of clear and visible erosion both inside and out.

Unfortunately the OP now bought himself a problem. With luck only the bathroom is problematic. Without it extends to other parts of the house. You would have to pay up for an engineer whether you like it or not.
 
@RandomRando are you somewhere near that dip where the vlei is in Randpark? Where that humungous water pipe burst and was left exposed for months?

Not doxxing you just trying to find out where the water's coming from.
 
Rayne said:
No insurance is going to cover this as a shoddy job led to years of clear and visible erosion both inside and out.

Unfortunately the OP now bought himself a problem. With luck only the bathroom is problematic. Without it extends to other parts of the house. You would have to pay up for an engineer whether you like it or not.
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Engineer is one thing, fixing the problem is where the big money comes in.
 
maumau said:
Engineer is one thing, fixing the problem is where the big money comes in.
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Yup. But an engineers report is needed regardless whether he will be fixing it himself or attempt to pursue the prior owner/bank.

That said the shower was always the culprit just at quick glance. Look where the airbricks are. That thing was problematic for many years and the prior owner likely DIY'd it.
 
Rayne said:
No insurance is going to cover this as a shoddy job led to years of clear and visible erosion both inside and out.

Unfortunately the OP now bought himself a problem. With luck only the bathroom is problematic. Without it extends to other parts of the house. You would have to pay up for an engineer whether you like it or not.
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But if the damage has further affected the very foundations of the rest of the house (or even beyond the bathroom) he might have a case, as it is not clearly visible to the naked eye.

An engineer's assessment will tell one way or the other, a minor expense considering what may well be hidden.
 
Supervan II said:
But if the damage has further affected the very foundations of the rest of the house (or even beyond the bathroom) he might have a case, as it is not clearly visible to the naked eye.

An engineer's assessment will tell one way or the other, a minor expense considering what may well be hidden.
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Unfortunately he wont as erosion is an exclusion of cover and you are not insured against damage over time.
 
Cool, you have a hidden cellar under your house! I hope that it doesn't increase your municipal rates :rolleyes:
 
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