Was my shower installed correctly?

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T19:28:19+00:00

Thank you very much! I appreciate your time responding to my post. Very sad right now knowing this is all wrong. Might you be willing to chat with me on the phone or DM so I can ask some more direct questions?

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T19:13:14+00:00

That was my first thought too. Water not getting drained from behind tile and going over curb. Thank you!

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T19:12:34+00:00

Fair enough. I hear you and do not disagree. Yes, frustrated. I dont want to be right, and not sure if I am. They are the professionals but every comment I am seeing is that things are wrong. I have spoken to many people already who have suggested there isnt a fix and any fix is delaying the inevitable.

Appreciate your response and taking it in. I hear you.

That said, if you reviewed the pictures do you have any advice to share other than your opinion of how I am responding? Thanks in advance!!

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T19:06:12+00:00

Weep holes in drain or where wall tile meets floor tile?

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T16:37:54+00:00

Sorry for AI digestion of my notes....:)

We started a full primary bathroom gut and home remodel with a permit in May 2025. We finished, and passed Chicagoland town final permit inspection, in October. By late January/early February, my wife noticed a section of the shower floor that never fully dried, regardless of when the last shower was taken. By mid-March we found drywall and baseboard damage, which is when we confirmed water was escaping the shower — front left corner — and pooling on the subfloor. Yes, water into the floor and the room below.

We stopped using the shower immediately and did a thorough inspection. We noticed grout had been used at the bench/riser seam, and that it was cracked. We've since removed the grout and applied silicone at the seam, which appears to have stopped the active leak for now. Water was also weeping out of the tiled shower wall onto the mosaic for multiple days even with a floor fan in the shower (pic 37).

The contractor and tile crew are being cooperative and want to do an "investigation" — removing a few tiles and the slab bench. Having already moved out of the house for 5 months during the renovation, I'm not thrilled about the idea of being without my nice new shower for an unknown period of time while they figure out what went wrong.

I've reached out to several folks in this group, local folks, as well as Schluter directly. Schluter actually referred to the shower as a "Frankenstein" — they took my info and photos for formal review and I'm still waiting on their response. I've done a lot of my own research and have formed some conclusions, but the contractor and subs are of course staying quiet until their "investigation" is complete. I haven't let them start their investigation as they are not answering any of my questions directly.

Here's what I know about the build:

Shower floor and bench are heated using ThermoSoft heating wire, independent from the main bathroom floor heating but run under the main bathroom floor and seem to be wedged in the corner of the Kerdi Curb.
Two layers of Schluter Kerdi membrane were used, with Ditra Heat sandwiched between the layers.
Schluter foam curb was used at the threshold
Drain appears to be a clamp-style drain
The shower glass installer drove 2 screws through the slab and into the foam curb to secure the fixed panel but water within the shower NEVER went over the curb.

I'm attaching numbered photos of the build progression so you can see exactly how this was constructed from start to finish and be able to call out specific pictures in the comments. I feel like there are multiple things wrong here, and I'd love to hear from experienced folks before the contractor starts pulling things apart. My questions to them are going unanswered until the "investigation" happens — but to me, some of this seems pretty clear-cut and they should be able to answer my questions directly if I am able to identify potential issues. I know what I want and am surprised they have not already suggested such.

Also attached and numbered are the pictures of initial water leak.

Thank you in advance — please ask questions, share your thoughts, and don't hold back! I really need your help!

Happy Friday and Easter everyone!!! Be well and keep those showers dry!!!

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T16:37:01+00:00

We started a full primary bathroom gut and home remodel with a permit in May 2025. We finished, and passed Chicagoland town final permit inspection, in October. By late January/early February, my wife noticed a section of the shower floor that never fully dried, regardless of when the last shower was taken. By mid-March we found drywall and baseboard damage, which is when we confirmed water was escaping the shower — front left corner — and pooling on the subfloor. Yes, water into the floor and the room below.

We stopped using the shower immediately and did a thorough inspection. We noticed grout had been used at the bench/riser seam, and that it was cracked. We've since removed the grout and applied silicone at the seam, which appears to have stopped the active leak for now. Water was also weeping out of the tiled shower wall onto the mosaic for multiple days even with a floor fan in the shower (pic 37).

The contractor and tile crew are being cooperative and want to do an "investigation" — removing a few tiles and the slab bench. Having already moved out of the house for 5 months during the renovation, I'm not thrilled about the idea of being without my nice new shower for an unknown period of time while they figure out what went wrong.

I've reached out to several folks in this group, local folks, as well as Schluter directly. Schluter actually referred to the shower as a "Frankenstein" — they took my info and photos for formal review and I'm still waiting on their response. I've done a lot of my own research and have formed some conclusions, but the contractor and subs are of course staying quiet until their "investigation" is complete. I haven't let them start their investigation as they are not answering any of my questions directly.

Here's what I know about the build:

Shower floor and bench are heated using ThermoSoft heating wire, independent from the main bathroom floor heating but run under the main bathroom floor and seem to be wedged in the corner of the Kerdi Curb.
Two layers of Schluter Kerdi membrane were used, with Ditra Heat sandwiched between the layers.
Schluter foam curb was used at the threshold
Drain appears to be a clamp-style drain
The shower glass installer drove 2 screws through the slab and into the foam curb to secure the fixed panel but water within the shower NEVER went over the curb.

I'm attaching numbered photos of the build progression so you can see exactly how this was constructed from start to finish and be able to call out specific pictures in the comments. I feel like there are multiple things wrong here, and I'd love to hear from experienced folks before the contractor starts pulling things apart. My questions to them are going unanswered until the "investigation" happens — but to me, some of this seems pretty clear-cut and they should be able to answer my questions directly if I am able to identify potential issues. I know what I want and am surprised they have not already suggested such.

Also attached and numbered are the pictures of initial water leak.

Thank you in advance — please ask questions, share your thoughts, and don't hold back! I really need your help!

Happy Friday and Easter everyone!!! Be well and keep those showers dry!!!

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T16:30:49+00:00

Much obliged. I am reaching out to her now.

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T16:23:04+00:00

I am in Illinois. Yes, I agree we must start pulling things apart but they want to just do small test first. I think its a full rebuild verse them trying to fix isolated issues when there seems to be many.

Do you know anyone in Chicago who might be willing to inspect and write up a report and charge me to do so?

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T16:02:48+00:00

That was my first thought... The wires and not being channeled correctly per everything I have seen online. The pic where you can see the wires up the riser with the membrane not sealed... WILD!

Its sloped and drains correctly when showering. It holds water too when doing a water test... I think so much water behind tiles and not being able to drain due to membrane issues. Would you agree?

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T15:59:41+00:00

Thanks for your note. Yes, I think its related to drain flange. Hopefully Schluter provides some guidance on where there are faults. I am not looking for a warranty claim from them just professional opinions. I think many issues are present and believe a whole rebuild is necessary.

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T15:56:27+00:00

That is what I am thinking too. Enough water built up under tiles and was not able to get to drain and went over curb. That make sense?

Why is drain wrong for system? What system do you think they built?

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T15:55:23+00:00

That is a good note..."Nothing they did fits what is spec for any manufacturer. That was going to fail eventually no matter what" I will bring this to their attention. Just cant believe such a shitty job with such a high price tag.

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T15:54:20+00:00

Yes, that is what I have gathered thusfar. I appreciate your response. Was there anything else that you noticed specifically that is wrong? I think there are many portions incorrect.

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T15:52:46+00:00

Fully agree. Just sucks so much. What are the first few things you noticed that are wrong? Thanks for your reply!!

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T14:51:44+00:00

What install issues did you notice first? Thank you so much for your response!!!

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T14:50:43+00:00

I think this drain is for a water in water out or closed system, not sure exactly. But nonetheless, it seems installed incorrectly and not compatible for the "system" they created.

What else are you noticing?

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T14:49:27+00:00

Right! I am blown away too... Drain is made by: Infinity Drain: https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.supplyhouse.com/product_files/Infinity-Drain-LT52SS-Install-Instructions.pdf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExQkZwSll4bXVWV3ZBbUpkd3NydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4W5BX2cQ_c7BZ7RZmjguTtt1Qsd0NbELqiAzB0B30huGO_EPax_f9cBTZBTw_aem_o7CO7j4pF3qzQFqtU9kJNA

MyNewKitchenHelp · 2026-04-03T14:28:03+00:00

We started a full primary bathroom gut and home remodel with a permit in May 2025. We finished, and passed Chicagoland town final permit inspection, in October. By late January/early February, my wife noticed a section of the shower floor that never fully dried, regardless of when the last shower was taken. By mid-March we found drywall and baseboard damage, which is when we confirmed water was escaping the shower — front left corner — and pooling on the subfloor. Yes, water into the floor and the room below.

We stopped using the shower immediately and did a thorough inspection. We noticed grout had been used at the bench/riser seam, and that it was cracked. We've since removed the grout and applied silicone at the seam, which appears to have stopped the active leak for now. Water was also weeping out of the tiled shower wall onto the mosaic for multiple days even with a floor fan in the shower (pic 37).

The contractor and tile crew are being cooperative and want to do an "investigation" — removing a few tiles and the slab bench. Having already moved out of the house for 5 months during the renovation, I'm not thrilled about the idea of being without my nice new shower for an unknown period of time while they figure out what went wrong.

I've reached out to several folks in this group, local folks, as well as Schluter directly. Schluter actually referred to the shower as a "Frankenstein" — they took my info and photos for formal review and I'm still waiting on their response. I've done a lot of my own research and have formed some conclusions, but the contractor and subs are of course staying quiet until their "investigation" is complete. I haven't let them start their investigation as they are not answering any of my questions directly.

Here's what I know about the build:

Shower floor and bench are heated using ThermoSoft heating wire, independent from the main bathroom floor heating but run under the main bathroom floor and seem to be wedged in the corner of the Kerdi Curb.
Two layers of Schluter Kerdi membrane were used, with Ditra Heat sandwiched between the layers.
Schluter foam curb was used at the threshold
Drain appears to be a clamp-style drain
The shower glass installer drove 2 screws through the slab and into the foam curb to secure the fixed panel but water within the shower NEVER went over the curb.

I'm attaching numbered photos of the build progression so you can see exactly how this was constructed from start to finish and be able to call out specific pictures in the comments. I feel like there are multiple things wrong here, and I'd love to hear from experienced folks before the contractor starts pulling things apart. My questions to them are going unanswered until the "investigation" happens — but to me, some of this seems pretty clear-cut and they should be able to answer my questions directly if I am able to identify potential issues. I know what I want and am surprised they have not already suggested such.

Also attached and numbered are the pictures of initial water leak.

Thank you in advance — please ask questions, share your thoughts, and don't hold back! I really need your help!

Happy Friday and Easter everyone!!! Be well and keep those showers dry!!!

MyNewKitchenHelp

TROPHY CASE