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Community and Q&A

Wet drywall above shower with recessed light

merges | Posted in General Questions on

I recently bought a 12 year old home here in ON, Canada and as a part of reno  installed a recessed light above my master bath shower (previously had a bulb within sealed glass enclosure). I ensured that the recessed light was “wet rated” and, since I had attic access at that time, I also installed a boot (see link 1) securing it to the existing poly vapor barrier on the attic side using blue tuck tape. The bathroom has an exhaust fan that I have on timer and use religiously.

Everything was fine for a few months then the light just stopped working. When I went to replace it, the drywall around it was wet and simply ripped off. The light itself seemed to have been exposed to a lot of moisture and there was moisture everywhere both between the drywall and the original vapor barrier and inside the boot itself.

Question 1: Am I correct in assuming that the moisture came from the shower and probably due to failure of seal between the recessed light and the drywall?

Question 2: What can I do to fix it properly from inside the bathroom (vs from the attic side, as I spent a lot of money in removing existing insulation and replacing it with blown-in cellulose)?

Appreciate any insights you can provide and thanks for taking a look!

Link 1: https://www.homedepot.ca/product/spex-lighting-by-liteline-recessed-fixture-vapour-barrier-extender-for-use-with-4-inch-and-6-inch-fixtures/1001533718

Link 2: https://imgur.com/a/LqpWjiM

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Replies

  1. Expert Member
    DCcontrarian | | #1

    Could it be that when you installed the light you created a spot without insulation, and that when it's cold out the drywall gets cold enough for condensation to form on it?

  2. John_Harvey | | #2

    Hey there! Sorry to hear about the moisture issue; it can be a real headache. It does sound like the moisture could be coming from a failed seal between the recessed light and the drywall, especially since everything was fine for a while. Given that you've got a wet-rated light, it's crucial to ensure the seal is watertight. You might want to consider using a high-quality silicone sealant around the fixture to prevent steam from the shower from getting in. Also, double-check the exhaust fan's effectiveness—it should help reduce moisture. Fixing it from inside the bathroom might involve removing the light, addressing the seal, and then ensuring everything is dry before reinstallation. Good luck!

  3. walta100 | | #3

    I understand the cosmetic appeal of recessed lighting but the reality is they make big holes in our air barrier and displace insulation making holes in our thermal boundary. In short, they are a nightmare especially in showers and sloped ceilings.

    Seems like you will need to put it back the way it was more or less.

    Walta

  4. merges | | #4

    thanks for all the comments - but we had a bout of rain today and turns out there is actually a hole in the roof right above and that appears to be the primary source of water above the shower stall ceiling. now got to go figure it out..

    1. Expert Member
      DCcontrarian | | #5

      It's funny, when I read your original question, "Am I correct in assuming that the moisture came from the shower and probably due to failure of seal between the recessed light and the drywall?" my immediate thought was in this business you can never assume anything.

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