I have a framed glass shower, the type with a metal channel along the bottom that has weep holes for water that falls down the glass to escape back into the shower floor. Both sides of the glass have a channel along the metal frame, that has been covered with a rubber strip that has become brittle and needs replacing. Just outside the shower, mold has formed on the wall, in a patch about 4 inches round, and growing slowly.
I have also noticed that on the outside of the metal frame, water has begun collecting, I assume the seal between the inside and outside has broken - I don't think the outside of the channel should be wet. Even though water should not be getting through I still can't quite connect this with the mold. I realize water is getting though into the walls but I just can't figure out exactly how.
I am tempted to run a bead of silicone caulk down in the inside of the channel, but not at all comfortable that's either wise or sufficient to fix the problem.
Questions:
1) Is the metal frame just resting on the tile or is it screwed in ? If so, then could water be getting through the screw holes ? If so, what the heck would I do about that ?
2) Do I run the danger of clogging the weep holes if I caulk inside the channel ? It appears I could caulk down in the crevice between the glass and the channel without building it up high enough to meet the weep holes. It might be tricky but doable.
3) Am I going about this the right way or do I need a different approach ?
See attachments (I was able to paste the screen shots directly into the original message, but they aren't showing up in the finished post, so had to attach them).
Here is the front of the shower: OverallShot.JPG
Close up of the mold on the wall and you can see the metal channel with rubber strip removed. Both sides of this channel were pooling water, I already dried that out.
CloseUpOfMold.JPG
Same section of channel on the inside with rubber strip laying to one side: InsideOfChannel.JPG
Suspicious discoloration on grout inside shower door: DiscoloredGroutOnInside.JPG
Slightly discolored grout on outside of shower door: DiscoloredGroutOnOutside.JPG
You can also see signs of mineral scale, not sure if that has had anything to do with the issue, but I have working on that with some CLR, its helping.
I have also noticed that on the outside of the metal frame, water has begun collecting, I assume the seal between the inside and outside has broken - I don't think the outside of the channel should be wet. Even though water should not be getting through I still can't quite connect this with the mold. I realize water is getting though into the walls but I just can't figure out exactly how.
I am tempted to run a bead of silicone caulk down in the inside of the channel, but not at all comfortable that's either wise or sufficient to fix the problem.
Questions:
1) Is the metal frame just resting on the tile or is it screwed in ? If so, then could water be getting through the screw holes ? If so, what the heck would I do about that ?
2) Do I run the danger of clogging the weep holes if I caulk inside the channel ? It appears I could caulk down in the crevice between the glass and the channel without building it up high enough to meet the weep holes. It might be tricky but doable.
3) Am I going about this the right way or do I need a different approach ?
See attachments (I was able to paste the screen shots directly into the original message, but they aren't showing up in the finished post, so had to attach them).
Here is the front of the shower: OverallShot.JPG
Close up of the mold on the wall and you can see the metal channel with rubber strip removed. Both sides of this channel were pooling water, I already dried that out.
CloseUpOfMold.JPG
Same section of channel on the inside with rubber strip laying to one side: InsideOfChannel.JPG
Suspicious discoloration on grout inside shower door: DiscoloredGroutOnInside.JPG
Slightly discolored grout on outside of shower door: DiscoloredGroutOnOutside.JPG
You can also see signs of mineral scale, not sure if that has had anything to do with the issue, but I have working on that with some CLR, its helping.
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