T i m wrote:

I took Mum into Homebase today (there's some stuff on sale and 10% off
everthing else) and I think she's settled on a rectanglar shower
cubicle with sliding door. Now this comes with a 'plastic' (acrylic?)
base as std, or a stone one for more money.

1) Are these acrylic ones ok?
2) What would be the advantage of 'stone'?

If you are thinking of the possibility of using a stool in the shower
(as per your previous post) then I would discount all thoughts of
anything other than a stone tray since you are likely to get hole
through a acrylic/fibreglass one.

The resin caped stone trays are not that expensive. I got a 800mm square
one from B&Q for under 60 quid.

The shower base is one of the low ones so I assume the waste will be
under the floorboards. Knowing my luck, the waste will have to go
'across' the joists, sigh but what does one do if the trap ends up
'on' a joist?

Position it so it does not!

You may find it simpler to build a small plinth for the shower to sit
on. The stone trays are quite low profile, so even sat on a 4" plinth
they whole base will be no lower than many fibreglass trays.

They have a range of thermostatic shower mixers, some with really
modern controls. others more traditional. With the discounts we are
talking about £250. Looking on Screwfix something similar is a similar
price (plus I can get it easily from Homebase and take it back if
there's something wrong etc). I assume they would use someone elses
units .. anyone know what make they might be please (for future
spares).?

Sorry no, not looked at them. FYI I fitted a thermostatic bar mixer that
I bought in Makro for 45 quid. Seems to work very well. Screwfix do
something similar.

They also do a double ended pump (didn't note the make or spec) for
about £130, but should I spend a bit more and go for the Stuart Turner
(as we might ebay the pump later if she goes for a Combi boiler
thing)?

The STs certainly have a good reputation, especially regarding noise.

Pre-empting the instructions .. do I fit the shower tray and tile down
to it or tile the wall first?

Fit it and then tile down to it. That way you ensure that the run off
from the tiles is already over the tray. On my one fitted the tray
first, rendered down to it, and then tiled over the render just to be
absolutely sure!

The ceiling is lathe and plaster and has quite a few crack / holes
etc. *My* intention is to pull it all down and fit plasterboard
instead .. I don't like the idea of fitting stuff over the top of
existing? (Ignoring time here as I'm doing it (or as much of it as I
can) to help my Mum).

Can't see anything wrong with putting the PB over the existing ceiling
so long as it is screwed to the joists and not the lath. Taking down a
lath and plaster ceiling is a seriously unpleasent and messy job!

Will it be 'ok' to run the shower into the drain that the bath has
been using (for the last 60 years .. I'm thinking regs here). Talking
of regs .. do I need to tell anyone about this refit (I'm not trying
to avoid doing so . straight question) ;-)

As long as it is 38mm diameter or better you should be fine. I am not
aware of any notification requirements for fitting a shower.

The shower is going to go up against one wall and what is currently
the airing cupboard. We thought about extending (deeper) the cupboard
(the same depth as the shower cubicle) and I though I remember there
was a sheet material ideal for these wet areas? What is it called and
where would I get it from please?

Aquapanel? Builders merchant probably.

You can also DIY with a sheet of WBP ply, staple expanded metal lath
over it, then render with a mortar mix containing some water proofer.
Tile straight onto that.

Last (possibly stupid) question .. does one have a skirting board in a
bathroom these days? Mum want's it tiled top to toe if that makes any
difference?

Down to personal preference I guess. Our existing bathroom (came with
the house) is tiled floor to ceiling. No skirting, but has coving. The
one I just built however has skirting.

p.s. In spite of her tumble in the carpark yesterday my 74 yr old Mum
asked me if she could borrow my hammer and bolster and start getting
the tiles off the wall! They don't make em like that any more .. ;-)

Giver her a SDS and stand well back! ;-)


--
Cheers,

John.

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