Blistering shower tray All aspects of plumbing questions and answers, help, tips and information

[toplondonchef]

Hi all,
Had a shower fitted about 5 years ago with a stone resin shower tray.
Have recently noticed that there are loads of "blisters" forming under the glaze of the shower tray.
Although these blisters have not yet cracked the glaze, I am concerned that if the glaze does become cracked, would the shower tray then be prone to leaking.
Does anyone know the cause of these blisters and is it a common problem with this type of shower tray.
Thanks for your time in reading this post.

[plumbbob]

I can't say I have ever seen "blistering" in a stone resin shower tray so it is not a common fault.

The surface "glaze" of a tray is in fact a 5mm thick acrylic sheet stuck to a 10-15mm thick resin substrate and unless this is fractured through its entire thickness, it will not leak.

Should the blisters crack it might result in sharp edges being exposed.

[toplondonchef]

Thanks plumbbob for your reply

I,ve has so many problems in the house over the years with work carried out, appliances, etc and when I push to get the problem rectified, that's the usual answer I get - "Can't say I've ever seen this before" (by the way, not a dig at your good self Mr Bob)

After 5 years of use I don't think I'll get anywhere with the supplier, although I would have thought that a lifespan of more than 5 years was not unreasonable for a shower tray. I suspect a fault during the production ofthe tray

Thanks anyway

[dougbrewster]

I've got exactly the same issue with a 7 year old tray that I'm in process of replacing. I'm guessing that bacterial growth under the waterproof coating may be involved. There has been water damage under the tray because of leakage elswhere and bacteria have formed in some visible areas so maybe in the tray material also...

[Dick Puller]

I've seen this happen on RB shower trays with water getting under the top skin or if there was air pockets when the tray was manufactured. Sorry, but replacement is the only answer.