Replacing a bath without removing tiles? Can it be done?

[ALawson]

I fell over while stepping into the bath this morning, the result is that my heel went through the side of the plastic bath. So while we can still use the shower over the bath, I need to replace the bath PDQ.

We recently retiled the whole bathroom when we added the wall shower so I am loathed to have to replace and retile the room.

I may have a few spare tiles left over (fingers crossed), if not is there any way to fit a new bath without having to remove any tiles?

From memory the two existing metal tabs fixed to the wall and bath are behind the tiles. If I cut the bath out carefully and the timber batten on the back of the bath I could probably locate the metal tabs and try and remove two tiles (thats if I have replacements).

The tiles were from B&Q and I think I still have the batch colour code, but they have probably expired and will not be able to get a match.

Any thoughts on what to do? Can you epoxy a bath to a wall ?

[Simpo Two]

ALawson said:

From memory the two existing metal tabs fixed to the wall and bath are behind the tiles. If I cut the bath out carefully and the timber batten on the back of the bath I could probably locate the metal tabs and try and remove two tiles (thats if I have replacements).

That could work, yes.

ALawson said:

Any thoughts on what to do? Can you epoxy a bath to a wall ?

If you screw a strong batten to the wall (say 3"x1") then you could put the new bath in position and screw upwards into the wooden edge they usually have inside the glass fibre. Or of course if you have to remove tiles to undo the existing metal tabs, then you have an area in which to put new ones. Before making good with sealant, half-fill the bath with water so that it assumes something like its final position.

Maybe with a Dremel etc you could cut through the offending tabs and so leave the tiles intact?

[King Herald]

If the worst comes to the worst, couldn't you run a single line of contrasting colour tiles around the bath edge, make it look 'intentional'?

We (I) extended our bathroom tiling recently, and, of course, couldn't match the colour or patter, so my wife (me) intermingled some of our original spares into the new plain white tiles, and it came out surprisingly effective.

[mackg]

If you put plenty, and i mean plenty or silicone on and push the bath into place and like said on 1 of the other posts half fill the bath and leave over night it will not move, don't forget to remove the thin protection film before you apply the silicone. Clean any excess of with silicone wipes

[VxDuncan]

Friend of mine has removed a whole row of tiles from the base of his shower to replace the shower base, and got them all off without breaking any by using a dremel and grout removing attachment to remove the grout first, then they are relatively easy to get off. If you have a few spares I would be tempted to do something similar, or cut away the tiles in front of the tabs with an angle grinder so you don't have the heavy impact of a cold chisel on the wall.

[sploosh]

Have you checked your insurance?

Accidental damage would probably cover it

[ALawson]

sploosh said:

Have you checked your insurance?

Accidental damage would probably cover it

Worth checking.

[Gingerbread Man]

Would be hard to get at due to the tabs being on the back edge, maybe impossible even, but could you unscrew the tabs from the bath and remove the bath that way? Maybe reusing the tabs depends on where they lye with the new bath, or cut them off and start again.

[davidspooner]

King Herald said:

We (I) extended our bathroom tiling recently, and, of course, couldn't match the colour or patter, so my wife (me) intermingled some of our original spares into the new plain white tiles, and it came out surprisingly effective.

You married yourself?

[King Herald]

davidspooner said:

King Herald said:

We (I) extended our bathroom tiling recently, and, of course, couldn't match the colour or patter, so my wife (me) intermingled some of our original spares into the new plain white tiles, and it came out surprisingly effective.

You married yourself?

Well, she decides what 'we' are going to do, how 'we' are going to do it, then she lets me do it all, whilst she supervises, then she tells her friend what she has done. "Oh, I remodelled the bathroom last week, put some new tile up...."

[ALawson]

May cut the bath out and put new tabs upside down at the bath ends so to speak.

[bimsb6]

last year our shower tray got damaged around the plug hole (i suspect by a large bottle of shampoo falling in it ) and the insurance covered an entire new shower cubicle and tiles, so may be worth asking .

[ALawson]

Right can anyone recommend good value bathroom suits, I have already looked at B&Q, Wickes, Bathworld (but will not be going there due to horror stories of missing bits).

Also looked at Tesco Bathrooms which seem good value was looking at this suite.
http://www.tescobathrooms.com/bathroom-suites/stan...


Can anyone recommend anything similar but butter quality/value?

Thanks again.

[Gingerbread Man]

I thought you were just going to replace the bath. If you had a crap platic one, don't put the same back. Put a metal one in e.g. Bette Baths

[ALawson]

Just thought that I would give you an update, there is a bath repair service available. The chap filled the back of the bath and hole. Then sprayed the repair to match, good workmanship and cheaper than a new bath.

So if you damage your bath or need an avacado suite respraying give Gregg a call.

http://www.thebathbusiness.co.uk/

No connections just impressed with the service.

[Simpo Two]

You have an avocado suite and you paid to have it fixed?

[ALawson]

Simpo Two said:

You have an avocado suite and you paid to have it fixed?

Na, pink. Light pink.

[condor]

What's wrong with avocado? It's very 70s and I'm sure it will soon be the fashionable colour to have again