Home › Projects › Southampton, Bucks County
Project · Southampton, Bucks County
Southampton bathroom leak: tracing water from the shower to the attic
In short: Wet drywall beside a tiled shower in Southampton could have come from the shower pan, the valve or the roof. CRS moisture-mapped the wall, opened the attic access above it, confirmed the path of the water and dried the cavity without tearing out the finished tile.
Water damage · leak detection
Southampton, PA 18966
Moisture mapping + attic inspection
Finished tile preserved
Job photos
Moisture mapping shows elevated readings in a shower wall, Southampton
Pin moisture meter reading on a bathroom wall, Southampton
Attic access opened to trace the leak path, Southampton
Attic insulation inspected above the bathroom, Southampton
Photos are from this job, taken by CRS technicians during the work. Customer names and addresses are not published.
What we found
The homeowner noticed soft, discolored drywall at the top of the wall next to a large tiled shower. Pin readings on the wall ran from the high 80s to over 95 percent, well above the dry readings on the opposite side of the room.
Rather than open the tile, we went up. The attic access above the bathroom let us check the roof deck, the insulation and the top plate directly over the wet area, which is how we separated a plumbing leak from a roof leak.
What CRS did
Scope of work
✔ Moisture-mapped the bathroom walls and ceiling and photographed every reading for the file.
✔ Opened the attic access, inspected the insulation and framing above the wet wall and documented the findings.
✔ Set targeted drying in the wall cavity and monitored readings until the drywall and framing came back to normal.
✔ Protected the cabinetry and finished surfaces so the homeowner did not lose a working bathroom.
Why we trace the source before we demo
Tearing out a tiled shower is expensive and often unnecessary. Moisture mapping and a look from above cost a fraction of that and tell you where the water is actually coming from. On this job it kept the repair small and gave the homeowner a clear answer about what to fix.
Related
Where to go next
All projects
More real jobs across Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Philadelphia Counties.
Questions
Common questions about this type of job
How do you find a hidden leak without opening walls?
Pin and pinless moisture meters, thermal imaging and a physical look from the attic or the floor below usually pinpoint the wet area and the direction the water is traveling. Demolition comes after that, not before.
Will my tile have to come out?
Only if the water is coming from behind it, such as a failed pan or valve. If the source is above, the wall can usually be dried from the back or through a small opening.
Do you serve Southampton and Upper Southampton Township?
Yes. Southampton is about 15 minutes from our Trevose office and we respond 24/7.
Dealing with something similar?
Call or text (610) 215-7111, 24/7. We will tell you what it is, what it will take and what your insurance is likely to cover.