Are there any pros and cons of either the cast stone resin shower tray, sold
by screwfix for example,
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...97034&id=16022

compared to this "stilted type" sold by Plumbworld
http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/316-1971

TIA

Jon

jon wrote:
Are there any pros and cons of either the cast stone resin shower tray, sold
by screwfix for example,
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...97034&id=16022

compared to this "stilted type" sold by Plumbworld
http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/316-1971

AIUI the Coram stilted ones are essentially stone resin too, but have
the advantage of the adjustable legs which in theory at least should
make them vastly easier to install. I haven't fitted one myself but
have one coming up to do, and I'm certainly going to give it a go.

The conventional trays are very heavy, and have to be installed on a
mortar bed so they are evenly supported underneath (to avoid cracking);
which is a lot of work and moderately tricky to get level. All should
be far easier with the stilted job.

David

jon wrote:

Are there any pros and cons of either the cast stone resin shower tray, sold
by screwfix for example,
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...97034&id=16022

compared to this "stilted type" sold by Plumbworld
http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/316-1971

The stone trays are harder to install, but (IMHO) feel better underfoot
(i.e. they are solid with no flex or drumming). The stone ones also work
well if you want a very low step height into the shower and can run the
waste under the floor.

For good quality and value enclosures and trays try these folks:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Primrose-Bathrooms

I bought a 800mm quadrant enclosure and tray from them a while back,
which was certainly comparable to the stuff that many shops were
knocking out in the £500-600 range. Cost including delivery was about
£200 IIRC.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

John Rumm wrote:
jon wrote:

Are there any pros and cons of either the cast stone resin shower
tray, sold by screwfix for example,
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...97034&id=16022

compared to this "stilted type" sold by Plumbworld
http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/316-1971

The stone trays are harder to install, but (IMHO) feel better underfoot
(i.e. they are solid with no flex or drumming). The stone ones also work
well if you want a very low step height into the shower and can run the
waste under the floor.

I thought the above Coram ones *were* stone resin too, not those cheapo
acrylic bendy ones - is that not the case?

David

Are there any pros and cons of either the cast stone resin shower tray,
sold by screwfix for example,

I fitted a traditional stone resin one in my mum's house and a Coram
Waterguard in my own. Both are excellent, but have distinct advantages and
disadvantages.

Advantages of stone:

Solid underfoot.
Quality feel.
Lack of upstands make retrofitting to existing walls easier.
Quiet in use.

Advantages of Coram:

MUCH easier to install. 1 person job.
Space underneath for plumbing (and waste pump in my case)
Easier to remove, as not cemented in.
Tiling upstands make sealing to wall a doddle, but only if you are retiling.

The main disadvantage of the Coram is the noise. The lighter construction
does sound like a polycarbonate conservatory roof in the rain.

Personally, I find both trays entirely acceptable and the correct choice in
each case. For example, the stone resin could not have fitted in my
en-suite, as there would have been nowhere for the pump, I had no help to
install it and the weight might have put the marginal joists over their dead
load limit.

Christian.

Lobster wrote:

John Rumm wrote:

jon wrote:

Are there any pros and cons of either the cast stone resin shower
tray, sold by screwfix for example,
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...97034&id=16022


compared to this "stilted type" sold by Plumbworld
http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/316-1971


The stone trays are harder to install, but (IMHO) feel better
underfoot (i.e. they are solid with no flex or drumming). The stone
ones also work well if you want a very low step height into the shower
and can run the waste under the floor.


I thought the above Coram ones *were* stone resin too, not those cheapo
acrylic bendy ones - is that not the case?

From looking at the video on the plumbworld site, they are certainly
not the thin bendy fiberglass type, but by the same token they are not
stone (i.e. concrete) either. They look like a more solid thick
fiberglass substrate with resin/gelcoat surface.

"stone resin" usually means a cast concrete tray with a resin/gelcoat
surface. If you dropped one of these in the way shown at the start of
the video you would have lots of bits of tray!

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

Christian McArdle wrote:

Personally, I find both trays entirely acceptable and the correct choice in
each case. For example, the stone resin could not have fitted in my
en-suite, as there would have been nowhere for the pump, I had no help to
install it and the weight might have put the marginal joists over their dead
load limit.

Wandering off topic a bit... I have installed stone trays a number of
times on my own, and found the following trick makes it doable without
wrecking your back:

First mix and spread your bedding material (I usually use mortar, but I
have seen it done once on bonding plaster). Try and level the bed
reasonably well before going much further. Then to lay a couple of
offcuts of pipe (a bit longer than the tray) over the mortar going front
to back. Take the tray and deposit the edge of it down onto the pipes.
These will push into the mortar, but will stop the tray from making
contact with it. Now you can tilt the tray toward you and slide the far
edge toward the wall on the pipes. Once almost in place, you can lower
it down flat on the pipes and slide it the last bit of the way. Once in
position you can pull the pipes free from under the tray, and in so
doing, dropping it onto the bed. Finally tap/wiggle it level to get it
nicely bedded on.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

"John Rumm" wrote in message
...
jon wrote:

Are there any pros and cons of either the cast stone resin shower tray,
sold by screwfix for example,
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...97034&id=16022

compared to this "stilted type" sold by Plumbworld
http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/316-1971

The stone trays are harder to install, but (IMHO) feel better underfoot
(i.e. they are solid with no flex or drumming). The stone ones also work
well if you want a very low step height into the shower and can run the
waste under the floor.

For good quality and value enclosures and trays try these folks:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Primrose-Bathrooms

I bought a 800mm quadrant enclosure and tray from them a while back, which
was certainly comparable to the stuff that many shops were knocking out in
the £500-600 range. Cost including delivery was about £200 IIRC.

--
Cheers,

John.

Cheers for the link, some good prices there, almost half as much as screwfix
are charging.

Jon

"Christian McArdle" wrote in message
.. .
Are there any pros and cons of either the cast stone resin shower tray,
sold by screwfix for example,

I fitted a traditional stone resin one in my mum's house and a Coram
Waterguard in my own. Both are excellent, but have distinct advantages and
disadvantages.

Advantages of stone:

Solid underfoot.
Quality feel.
Lack of upstands make retrofitting to existing walls easier.
Quiet in use.

Advantages of Coram:

MUCH easier to install. 1 person job.
Space underneath for plumbing (and waste pump in my case)
Easier to remove, as not cemented in.
Tiling upstands make sealing to wall a doddle, but only if you are
retiling.

The main disadvantage of the Coram is the noise. The lighter construction
does sound like a polycarbonate conservatory roof in the rain.

Personally, I find both trays entirely acceptable and the correct choice
in each case. For example, the stone resin could not have fitted in my
en-suite, as there would have been nowhere for the pump, I had no help to
install it and the weight might have put the marginal joists over their
dead load limit.

Christian.


Cheers Christian, will probably go the the Coram, as it looks just as sturdy
as the cast resin ones, but more flexible to install.

Jon

Cheers Christian, will probably go the the Coram, as it looks just as
sturdy as the cast resin ones, but more flexible to install.

Go for it. IMHO, this is a case of there being two right choices, rather
than one right and one wrong, unless one of the advantages/disadvantages is
compelling.

Christian.

John Rumm wrote:
Christian McArdle wrote:

Personally, I find both trays entirely acceptable and the correct
choice in each case. For example, the stone resin could not have
fitted in my en-suite, as there would have been nowhere for the pump,
I had no help to install it and the weight might have put the marginal
joists over their dead load limit.

Wandering off topic a bit... I have installed stone trays a number of
times on my own, and found the following trick makes it doable without
wrecking your back:

First mix and spread your bedding material (I usually use mortar, but I
have seen it done once on bonding plaster). Try and level the bed
reasonably well before going much further. Then to lay a couple of
offcuts of pipe (a bit longer than the tray) over the mortar going front
to back. Take the tray and deposit the edge of it down onto the pipes.
These will push into the mortar, but will stop the tray from making
contact with it. Now you can tilt the tray toward you and slide the far
edge toward the wall on the pipes. Once almost in place, you can lower
it down flat on the pipes and slide it the last bit of the way. Once in
position you can pull the pipes free from under the tray, and in so
doing, dropping it onto the bed. Finally tap/wiggle it level to get it
nicely bedded on.

All I did with mine was to mix up some rapid set tile cement...tip the
tray on the plinth against the wall..splodge a 10cm load of cement on
the plinth and lower the tray down, and tape with a rubber bonker till
the spirit level showed true. My tray had recesses under the lips where
the surplus muckite squidged up.

Then a quick sort of the tray lips with silicone before tiling locked it
all in place.