Shower control

[ma701ss]

Hi, this photo shows a close-up of the top of a shower control handle/lever, which rotates to turn on the water, and the back plate fixed to the tiled wall. There is a gap between them and if you look closely can just see the brass valve to which the lever is fitted. Water is getting in here, as the hole in the tiles and backer board around the brass valve where it pokes through is not sealed. I suggested filling around the hole with sealant to close it up, someone else has said a chrome ring plate is missing from around the lever, which fixes to the front plate and seals the hole to stop water getting into the wall void behind. What usually would happen here, is it typical to fill the hole with sealant or is there usually a proper seal for this?

 

[JCplumb]

I'm guessing that when that was fitted it was nice and flush. Best bet is a retaining screw has loosened over time and needs tightening up.
If there's a little cover on the front that pops off, ther'll be a screw under it. Give it a tighten, or you may need to undo it to get at the fixing screws and tighten them if the first one doesn't sort it.
Can't really tell by looking at that photo though, so use your judgement before undoing anything

 

[ma701ss]

Thanks but I suspect that even if tightend and the gap is closed up between the lever and the faceplate, even a gap of 1mm is going to let water bypass and pour through the hole cut through the tiles and backer board around the valve. Some other controls I've seen appear to have a rubber seal.