Fixing a bath to a wall
Discussion
Got a leak behind the bath which has a shower and glass screen.
I've had several goes at re-sealing around the bath with various silicon sealants.
Today I got a bit carried away and took the whole lot out, shower screen, bath and half the tiles.
The bath was fixed to the wall with 2 brackets which I've fubared as I couldn't reach under the bath to unscrew them from the bath.
I'm planning to PVA seal all walls and the floor, re-tile with a layer below the bath around the shower area and refix the bath.
So - what's the easiest way to secure the bath along the wall? I quite fancy screwing 2x4 batons at either side where there's just about enough room to reach the back wall. Then cross bolting with more 2x4.
Anyone any better suggestions?
I've had several goes at re-sealing around the bath with various silicon sealants.
Today I got a bit carried away and took the whole lot out, shower screen, bath and half the tiles.
The bath was fixed to the wall with 2 brackets which I've fubared as I couldn't reach under the bath to unscrew them from the bath.
I'm planning to PVA seal all walls and the floor, re-tile with a layer below the bath around the shower area and refix the bath.
So - what's the easiest way to secure the bath along the wall? I quite fancy screwing 2x4 batons at either side where there's just about enough room to reach the back wall. Then cross bolting with more 2x4.
Anyone any better suggestions?
I fixed full-length battens along the walls and put screws up from underneath (the bath had a wooden frame set into the fibreglass). The weight is then shared between the battens and the supporting frame under the bath.
Remember to half-fill the bath with water before sealing, just to take up any sag.
Remember to half-fill the bath with water before sealing, just to take up any sag.
rfisher said:
Got a leak behind the bath which has a shower and glass screen.
I've had several goes at re-sealing around the bath with various silicon sealants.
Today I got a bit carried away and took the whole lot out, shower screen, bath and half the tiles.
The bath was fixed to the wall with 2 brackets which I've fubared as I couldn't reach under the bath to unscrew them from the bath.
I'm planning to PVA seal all walls and the floor, re-tile with a layer below the bath around the shower area and refix the bath.
So - what's the easiest way to secure the bath along the wall? I quite fancy screwing 2x4 batons at either side where there's just about enough room to reach the back wall. Then cross bolting with more 2x4.
Anyone any better suggestions?
Apart from the PVA, and the timber probably being too large (2" x 2" will do you fine unless it's a mega bath) you're pretty much there. I've had several goes at re-sealing around the bath with various silicon sealants.
Today I got a bit carried away and took the whole lot out, shower screen, bath and half the tiles.
The bath was fixed to the wall with 2 brackets which I've fubared as I couldn't reach under the bath to unscrew them from the bath.
I'm planning to PVA seal all walls and the floor, re-tile with a layer below the bath around the shower area and refix the bath.
So - what's the easiest way to secure the bath along the wall? I quite fancy screwing 2x4 batons at either side where there's just about enough room to reach the back wall. Then cross bolting with more 2x4.
Anyone any better suggestions?
Build your frame along the back walls then fix your bath to the frame. Half fill the bath then seal any gaps - don't worry about being too neat. Fit some trim which fits under the tiles but leaves a seal on show - this is rather than silicone being on show. You can silicone under this if you like for extra sealing. Before tiling, consider 'tanking' - a bath kit will cost approx £50 from a plumbers merchants (i.e not B&Q). Once its all gone off, tile away using proper adhesive & a separate grout (i.e not B&Q). I can post some pics if you like if it doesn't make sense.
Jobs a good 'un;)
Battens are good, but I've always favoured the following technique:
Level the bath accurately.
Lower the feet furthest from the wall about 5-10mm.
Push the bath hard against the wall.
Fix both feet nearest to the wall with screws (yes, they are difficult to get to).
Jack the previously lowered feet up to level the bath and fix to floor.
This 'nips' the bath tight against the wall.
Then adjust centre leg if it has one and screw wall brackets..
Tiling should sit on the bath rim and as said, fill the bath half full before silicone sealing.
Never let me down!
Level the bath accurately.
Lower the feet furthest from the wall about 5-10mm.
Push the bath hard against the wall.
Fix both feet nearest to the wall with screws (yes, they are difficult to get to).
Jack the previously lowered feet up to level the bath and fix to floor.
This 'nips' the bath tight against the wall.
Then adjust centre leg if it has one and screw wall brackets..
Tiling should sit on the bath rim and as said, fill the bath half full before silicone sealing.
Never let me down!
Thanks for all the info. - very helpful.
Hadn't thought about tanking but I quite fancy never having to do this again so it's probably worth doing.
I was planning to tile below the level of the bath so that I could then silicone seal between the bath and tile surfaces. Most of the water leak before was at the silicone to plasterboard junction.
Can you tile below a bath and seal to it or will movement just pull the tiles off? I'd always assumed that builders didn't bother tiling below a bath as it was easier to fix the bath to the wall and then tile the wall up from the bath.
Hadn't thought about tanking but I quite fancy never having to do this again so it's probably worth doing.
I was planning to tile below the level of the bath so that I could then silicone seal between the bath and tile surfaces. Most of the water leak before was at the silicone to plasterboard junction.
Can you tile below a bath and seal to it or will movement just pull the tiles off? I'd always assumed that builders didn't bother tiling below a bath as it was easier to fix the bath to the wall and then tile the wall up from the bath.
The seal was to the edge of the tiles but the gap was quite large and SWMBO likes a bit of hard scrubbing when mould appears. That eventually caused a break in the seal in several places.
That's why I want to tile below the bath so I can make the gap smaller and increase the tile to seal contact area.
That's why I want to tile below the bath so I can make the gap smaller and increase the tile to seal contact area.
rfisher said:
The seal was to the edge of the tiles but the gap was quite large and SWMBO likes a bit of hard scrubbing when mould appears. That eventually caused a break in the seal in several places
The thing to do then was to scrape/cut out the old sealant and renew. You can also get mould-repellent sealant, which may help.Oooooooo I'm getting all confused now.
Tiling below bath - bad idea as it won't be flat.
Water-proofing using PVA - bad as the tiles may fall off if damp gets under them (anyone confirm this?).
Tanking using a water-proofing paste - good but will need to skim the plasterboard to allow room for the layer.
Anything else to consider?
Tiling below bath - bad idea as it won't be flat.
Water-proofing using PVA - bad as the tiles may fall off if damp gets under them (anyone confirm this?).
Tanking using a water-proofing paste - good but will need to skim the plasterboard to allow room for the layer.
Anything else to consider?
rfisher said:
Tiling below bath - bad idea as it won't be flat.?
It's also important to lose the curved edge of the bath under the tile to make the seal as small as possible, if you see what I mean.rfisher said:
Water-proofing using PVA - bad as the tiles may fall off if damp gets under them (anyone confirm this?).
I've never heard of PVA softening with damp once it's gone off.rfisher said:
Oooooooo I'm getting all confused now.
Tiling below bath - bad idea as it won't be flat.
Water-proofing using PVA - bad as the tiles may fall off if damp gets under them (anyone confirm this?).
Tanking using a water-proofing paste - good but will need to skim the plasterboard to allow room for the layer.
Anything else to consider?
What sort of flooring have you got ? are they floorboards or just sheet.If its floorboards best put a battons across the boards to help prevent movement Tiling below bath - bad idea as it won't be flat.
Water-proofing using PVA - bad as the tiles may fall off if damp gets under them (anyone confirm this?).
Tanking using a water-proofing paste - good but will need to skim the plasterboard to allow room for the layer.
Anything else to consider?
R5GTTGAZ said:
And fill the bath 3/4 before sealing otherwise when you get in, it will sink. and all your work will go down the toilet.
Also get all the existing sealant off beforehand, clean the surfaces with white spirit and ensure the area being sealed is dry.Otherwise it will seperate.
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