Noob needs help interpreting demo results- shower

[invictus]

Here's the story, I'll post pictures as soon as I figure out how.

The shower stall floor had some loose tiles (1x1s) and water stains were appearing on the ceiling on the level below.

So I popped off all of the tiles on the floor and continued up the sides a short ways, all around. At this point I could see that the underlying cement had cracked. So I pried out all of that material, a couple inches thick, to expose a fair amount of (moist) gravel. Upon removing it all, I could see the metal liner and the pipe that the drain screws into.

The questions are:
What type of metal is that liner made of? It's very flexible, house built in 1966.

The liner doesn't appear to have any holes in it, aside from the ones around the drain, which appear intentional. Why are those holes there, and should I seal them? It seems to me that if they are the route to water skipping the drain, they do me no good for the future.

Can I re-use this liner?

I'm trying to demo as little as possible so I can rebuild as little as possible. I figure the less that I touch, the less I can mess up. But if stopping where I have is stupid, and I need to demo further before thinking about the fix, let me know.

Bear with me as I attempt to add pics. Thanks!

[invictus]

The basic situation

[ddmoit]

Welcome to the forum, Invictus.

That metal is most likely lead (don't eat it ).

It's not likely at all that you can preserve any part of that pan. Your best bet is to rebuild it from scratch. Whether you decide to tackle this on your own, or hire it done, you should visit the Liberry link in the blue bar above to educate yourself on proper shower construction.

If you want to tackle it yourself, the good folks here are just waiting to help you by answering any and all questions you have (and cheering you on).

[MudGuy]

Invictus - That's an old lead pan and at the base of the drain are weep holes. You're due for a new shower. I'd say that pan has served you well...up to the point it started to leak.

Edit - Yep, what Dan said.

[invictus]

close up of drain area

[ddmoit]

Nice pictures. Those weep holes are there on purpose. They are designed to allow water that seeps through the tile and grout (neither are waterproof) to make it to the drain.

[JTG]

You can do a test.
Get a plug that you can place down in the drain. A ballon works if you can't find one.
Fill the pan up to the height that the previous concrete was and mark it.
Let it sit for 24 hours.

I agree with the others that you are this far into it. I would get the lead pan out of there as its days are numbered even if you rebuild on top of it. You didn't show us the curb. What kink of shape is it in?

JTG

[invictus]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I'll take some time in the liberry to get up to speed and figure out how much of this I want to try out myself.

The curb seems okay to me, it's solid and the tiles seem well-adhered. But clearly I'm not competent to say it's definitely good.

You folks saw how I only took the demo up a few inches until I saw drywall (or is it greenboard?). I'm thinking at this point, I may as well pull all of the tiles off (to the ceiling) and start fresh.. does that seem rational?

Last thing, would you say that if I were thinking of contracting some of this out,that it would be reasonable to think that I can just have the professional do the pan replacement and tiling (curb and lowest 12 inches), and reserve the laying of the rest of the vertical tiles for myself? Then I'm just doing a portion that's relatively much easier, right?

[ddmoit]

I'm thinking at this point, I may as well pull all of the tiles off and start fresh..

Good thinkin'.

[Saldibs]

Might be a copper pan, still see new ones around her all the time.

[ddmoit]

Were it not for episodes of This Old House, I would not know about copper pans. I figured it was just a regional, New England thing.