Shower problems

Hi everyone!

I have removed and replaced the caulk around my tub 3 times in the past 7 years and it is black again. I think there is moisture inside the walls and the mildew is coming from inside since I can't scrub it off or even fade it with bleach. Another reason I expect moisture from the inside is that I always have ants in that bathroom even when it is freezing outside. (The yard outside that side of the house is a toxic waste of ant killers. I don't see them outside, just in the bathroom.)

So, I am assuming that I need to take down the tile wall, which isn't all that bad because the previous owner was a DIY'er who did an awful job of the tile work.

How do I go about this? Pop each tile off or just get a sledge hammer and have at it?

After I get this part done, I will post on what I find inside. I am expecting wet insulation and a colony of ants!

Thanks!

Suzi

hire an exterminator who will be licensed to use stronger odorless ant killer than you can buy. he might just knock out the ants in one effective visit. if you are spraying the usual hardware store spray anywhere but at their trail or nest you may be accidentally detouring them. buy some extra shower curtain liners and adjustable rods to get you thru the tile job ahead. hire the plumber, he will cut an inspection hole in the wall to see exactly where the tub leak is occurring, maybe at the fixture, maybe at the showerhead riser, maybe at the overflow tub fitting, maybe at the drain, maybe when you stand in the tub the water deflects to the showerhead wall and runs to problem areas. the moisture might be coming from overhead roof/eaves/gutter/downspout leak. clean out roof gutters and have the plumber snake any outdoor downspouts and traps.

sp628 wrote: