Hello, so my shower drain has clogged up (hair). Unfortunately, it seems the previous owners decided to grout over the drain so I can't remove it...
I've been trying to work around the grout but have been struggling to break it free...
Is there a chance there's some glue or something that's holding it down (tips how to handle if true)? Or do I just need to persevere here...?
Grout is usually brittle and can be chipped away to free the grate. It's very unlikely it's glued. Keep in mind you'll need to remove the screws to remove the grate. Important to not lose the two stainless steel screws as they are very hard to find (from experience). Just chip the grout around the outside of the grate and it should come free if the screws are removed.
fordmaple wrote: ↑
Grout is usually brittle and can be chipped away to free the grate. It's very unlikely it's glued. Keep in mind you'll need to remove the screws to remove the grate. Important to not lose the two stainless steel screws as they are very hard to find (from experience). Just chip the grout around the outside of the grate and it should come free if the screws are removed.
Thanks for the reassurance. I've been working it bit by bit.. trying to avoid scratching the tiles as much as possible. However despite chipping away so much, it's still stuck.. hoping I have just a bit more to go. See attached..
What concerns me is the hole at the top.. seems there's a pocket underneath the tiles??? I suppose I can keep chipping away and pull the grate out but will I need to use some kind of sealant to hold it back afterwards to avoid water leaks ?
techman7 wrote: ↑What concerns me is the hole at the top.. seems there's a pocket underneath the tiles??? I suppose I can keep chipping away and pull the grate out but will I need to use some kind of sealant to hold it back afterwards to avoid water leaks ?
If it's built correctly, there should be a waterproof layer under the tile to allow water to go into the drain. Tile and grout is only cosmetic, so it doesn't matter (for waterproof-ness) if there is a void in the thinset or grout.
you won't need any sealant. Your shower pan is likely all rubber or vinyl so water wont get through. Just get a pick, knife, thin screwdriver under one corner of the grate and lever it....it should "unstuck itself". Under the grate is a square plastic drain a few millimeters larger than the grate like a funnel holding it. Good luck....you can do it. btw - it's been 15 days.... el chapo broke out of prison in less time. Get going!
