trader-of-some-jacks wrote:
On Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:21:05 -0500, Jeff Wisnia
wrote:

I've got a similar tiny leak in one of our bathroom, I think it may be
from water pooling on the tile floor if someone's sloppy while showering
and then doesn't wipe it up immediately. A small wet spot would occur
on the ceiling below when that happened.

I *wish* this was our problem. We're extremely vigilant about water
pooling outside the shower. It rarely happens, and when it does, we
towel it up immediately.

In the past week, when the leak has become more noticeable (probably
because the last vestiges of absorbent wallboard under the leak have
washed away), the bathroom floor is bone dry near the shower.

From all the discussion so far, I am 90% convinced your orignal hunch
is correct- something on the faucet wall is funneling water down into
the wall. I don't totally discount a cracked shower pan, but I would try
the test you mentioned about draping the faucet wall with plastic, and
see if that affects the leak. If it does, I would either regrout, or
even just touch up the more eroded-looking cracks with silicone. If the
lower seal between tile and pan is one of those peel-and stick L-shaped
caulk strips, rip it out and replace with real caulking. If the drape
has no effect, time to take the closet apart, and start cutting some
inspection holes so you can reach in with a flashlight and your hand,
and see what is damp right after a shower. May want to open up ceiling
below before you do that, since it has to be repaired anyway, just to
rule out the drain and pan.

I do feel your pain. This place had a similar problem when I moved in-
idiot previous owner had fitted faucet stems that were too short, such
that there was no room for a trim plate to water-seal the wall. His
solution was to take down shower rod, and make it a bath-only bathroom.
Cost me a chunk of change to get faucet guts changed out with something
plumber scrounged. I didn't want to retile, and 2-handle tub faucets are
getting rare around here. (Plumber, although highly recommended, turned
out to be an idiot, but that is a tale of woe for another day.)

--
aem sends...