How do I remove sealant around shower taps?

[Calum007]

Hi. I recently bought a house and the shower is leaking. I'm guessing it just needs the washers replaced. However, when I started to have a look I noticed some kind of sealant between the tap body and the opening in the tiles. I can't get to the tap with a spanner to unscrew it as the sealant is covering the part I need to get the spanner onto. See photos here.

It feels very hard. I'm assuming its there to prevent any water running down the tiles from entering inside the wall. I don't have much access to it as I can't remove the skirt around the tap without unscrewing it.

Does anyone have any idea what this sealant is? How do I remove it (without risking damage to the tiles)? And what should I use to seal this up again after I have replaced the washers?

Any help appreciated. I'm a plumbing novice.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Looks bodged tbh might be best to factor in a replacement

The handle should come off then this allows you to remove the shroud and chip away at what looks like epoxy

 

[Ricky]

does the cross head have a screw in the side or is it hiding under the very diffucult to get outindices

 

[Calum007]

does the cross head have a screw in the side or is it hiding under the very diffucult to get outindices

No I can't see a screw anywhere to release the head, not in the side or underneath. I've added below to show the underside of the head. It seems like unscrewing the shroud gives you just enough space to get a spanner in there and unscrew the tap. It seems like a crazy tap design to me.

 

[Calum007]

Looks bodged tbh might be best to factor in a replacement

The handle should come off then this allows you to remove the shroud and chip away at what looks like epoxy

Do you mean replacing the entire tap assembly? I believe this bathroom was renovated just a few years ago, as part of a larger renovation which I believe should still be covered by a 7 year warranty. Is this something I could go back to the company who did the renovation and claim that this is not serviceable and they should fix it?

What would you expect to see in this application? What would you normally use to seal that hole, and how would you remove it?

Regarding, removing the handle, please see my previous reply to Ricky's post, including photos.

 

[gmartine]

Looks like a repair putty as it's been "thumbed" in, there's normally some sort ot bezel ring fitted between the tap and the tile to divert water but not always.

 

[Calum007]

Looks like a repair putty as it's been "thumbed" in, there's normally some sort ot bezel ring fitted between the tap and the tile to divert water but not always.

Do mean something like the picture below? Would you still need to add sealant between the edge of this kind of plate and the tiles?

 

[gmartine]

Could do but to answer your question you'd normally just fill the gap with silicone so not sure why you'd use a putty or epoxy unless you're also trying to fix a leak. What does the other tap look like, has the cavity also been filled with the same sort of product?

 

[Calum007]

Could do but to answer your question you'd normally just fill the gap with silicone so not sure why you'd use a putty or epoxy unless you're also trying to fix a leak. What does the other tap look like, has the cavity also been filled with the same sort of product?

Yes, both taps in the shower have been filled with the same stuff. It looks like the exact same tap product is used for the bath taps, but there is no putty/epoxy around them, there is just exposed hole between the tiles and the tap. I'm assuming that is ok as you are not expecting water to be running down the walls above the bath.