[Fishindude]

I'm so old I remember putting sheets of Transite (asbestos) on the walls for tile backer.
It was actually pretty darned good stuff.

We sawed and drilled that stuff and never gave it a second thought.

 

[hdavis]

Cold climates that top plate corner is the coldest spot in the wall, and you'll get condensation there before anywhere else.

 

[rrk]

When I came across the pile o'squirrels after cleaning I could see daylight through the hole in the ceiling corner

 

[Leo G]

I agree, I just re did my 30 year old bathroom that only had green board with tile directly over it and studs were immaculate. No window and a very poor fan too.

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It was done like that for decades and decades without any real major issues as long as it was still stable. The inspector nazis found small issues and wrote pages and pages of requirements because of a few small things that happen. Now we need a pool as a shower just to pass inspection.

 

[rrk]

I'm so old I remember putting sheets of Transite (asbestos) on the walls for tile backer.
It was actually pretty darned good stuff.

We sawed and drilled that stuff and never gave it a second thought.

I never knew that came in large boards, I had a house with transite roof shingles once

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

Well, rot stops abruptly at the plate.

My guess is that the rot worked it’s way up the studs.

It’ll get new shear and siding anyway.

Spotty places with rot on the siding, which corresponds with cracks from the sun.

If it was coming in from outside I’d see a lot more damage to the shear and siding. 👍

 

[rrk]

Thats really high for leak damage

 

[VinylHanger]

Thinking the same here. Especially that much in a shower you said wasn't used much.

A totally outdoor shower wouldn't have that much rot. Something is going on there.

It may just be bugs and termites that did it I suppose.

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[rrk]

Its coming from the top I think, look at the amount of corrosion on the copper in the ceiling. That insulation had to have been drenched for a real long time for that. Condensation would not be that bad above the ceiling although the recessed light does not help

 

[hdavis]

Its coming from the top I think, look at the amount of corrosion on the copper in the ceiling. That insulation had to have been drenched for a real long time for that. Condensation would not be that bad above the ceiling although the recessed light does not help

Bath fan leaking into a ceiling can get a lot of condensation.

 

[rrk]

I dont see one in that bay and if it was just vapor from the fan the TJIs and the subfloor above would be discolored

 

[avenge]

Probably all the mouse urine.

 

[Kowboy]

Every once in a while, we get pictures we can smell. Thanks, SDFO.

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

🙄

New tile turns into major structural repair.

It’s definitely an interior problem.

No moisture above the ceiling at all.

Fan is vented outside.

No moisture in the cavity with the can light.

It just looks like soaked drywall and framing, and capillary action couple with bugs, to spread it slightly above the shower head level.

Im bringing in an exterminator. There is a major bug infestation. I thought they were ants. Someone said they might be termites.

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

No, I’m not done with demo.

Lot more siding coming off.

Later on this year maybe I’m supposed to replace that whole gable end

 

[rblakes1]

Was there a downspout along that corner?

That doesn't look like any other vapor drive I've seen, more like the back pitched gutter wall repair i did 2 years ago (and that was only a 1' gutter)

I'd be looking more around that outside corner if those copper lines are solid.

That's just a vent line, not a waste line going up the wall, right? Maybe it got hit with a nail

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[rrk]

I have never seen moisture wicking that bad before
Surprise here is your $20k shower

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

Was there a downspout along that corner?

That doesn't look like any other vapor drive I've seen, more like the back pitched gutter wall repair i did 2 years ago (and that was only a 1' gutter)

I'd be looking more around that outside corner if those copper lines are solid.

That's just a vent line, not a waste line going up the wall, right? Maybe it got hit with a nail

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Don’t believe there was a downspout. Not positive though.


With so many folk saying the same thing, I’m definitely investigating this more.

Should be on temp wall and framing tear out tomorrow, anxious to see what kind of damage below the subfloor.

 

[Joe Fairplay]

IMO .. It definitely had a top down issue.
I suspect a moisture problem occurred both at the top of the wall and also at the bottom where it met the floor. Certainly not uncommon to see this in a corner of a shower when the service wall is an exterior wall. The top and bottom of the exterior service corner are notorious for leaking over time (cracked tile and grout in the corner).
You do not see it as often or as severe in a bath or shower that are not built on exterior walls. How often have you ever tore up a shower not on an exterior wall and found this?
Exterior walls have more moisture transfer and also flex more (cracked tile and grout) than interior walls.
That is why we do not design and build showers or water features on exterior walls anymore except for a water closet or sink.
Granted this is an extreme example but we all know this is not that uncommon. Almost all bathroom and shower areas built more than 20 years ago look like this.
These extreme examples come from a home that lacked proper maintenance and from homes that have had extended periods of time that it was unoccupied or used sporadically.

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

Well, more I tore into it, the more damage I found.

Ended up removing a good piece of the gable end wall.

There was substantial rot under the lower windows. Upper ones are fine.

The interior was remodeled about 3 weeks ago. 😳

Im trying to save what I can.

Put in a new rim board, new studs and plates, new sheathing.

The edge of the subfloor was rotted, so I cut a 5“ strip of it out.

I built my own “I-Joist” out of rim board and plywood and set it on the inside of the plate, to support the original subfloor and the new strip.

Got most of it framed up.

Im under the gun here. Tile guys are scheduled for next Wednesday to install the shower.