HI Folks

Our downstairs shower room is a disaster!
The guy who installed it was trying for a sort-of wet-room approach -
so there's an area (6ft x 2'6"ft) across the width of the room - tiled,
with a 6" high tiled 'barrier' along the 6' width - all sloping to a drain.

Trouble is, the slope's wrong, the grouting is recessed between the
tiles & it don't drain ! g There are more problems - but I don;t want
to bore you g

So - plan is to plant a slimline (45mm deep - 800mm sq) tray on top of
the tiled barrier - suitably supported - and raise the level of the
other half of the area to provide somewhere to step out onto - probably
covering it with vinyl. A pivoting shower door & side panel will enclose
the cubicle...

This is going to require an additional hole through the wall for the new
tray drain (not a big problem).

What I can't decide is how best to arrange the supporting for the tray
and the raised area. Don't really want to get involved with tonnes of
concrete ...

...so I was thinking about a timber structure, topped with 'green'
flooring grade chipboard - well siliconed around the edges and maybe
varnised...?

How much support do these slimline trays want ? -
http://www.flairshowers.com/tray1.php - they're plastic rather than
anything more fancy...

Thanks
Adrian

Adrian coughed up some electrons that declared:


..so I was thinking about a timber structure, topped with 'green'
flooring grade chipboard - well siliconed around the edges and maybe
varnised...?

I might consider marine ply (or any water resistant variant) topped off with
some tile backer board, eg aquapanel, which will give a totally waterproof
layer. Grout joints *always* spring minute leaks given time, and I think
green chip isn't the best option.

Or at least just use marine ply as your not expecting to flood the area any
more.

In either case, can you arrange some small amount of ventilation from under
the structure to outside the shower room? That will help the timber in teh
long term.

Cheers

Tim

HI Tim

Tim S wrote:
Adrian coughed up some electrons that declared:


..so I was thinking about a timber structure, topped with 'green'
flooring grade chipboard - well siliconed around the edges and maybe
varnised...?

I might consider marine ply (or any water resistant variant) topped off with
some tile backer board, eg aquapanel, which will give a totally waterproof
layer. Grout joints *always* spring minute leaks given time, and I think
green chip isn't the best option.

Hmm - I was trying to avoid things that come in 8' x 4' sheets g -
as it's only a 6 x 2.5 that I need (got a shed full of 'left-over'
bits... (haven't we all ?)


Or at least just use marine ply as your not expecting to flood the area any
more.

I'll ask the the local Builders Providers..


In either case, can you arrange some small amount of ventilation from under
the structure to outside the shower room? That will help the timber in teh
long term.

Well - there's the (soon-to-be-redundant) drain from the existing shower
- I was going to seal that off - but I could just leave it open..

Thanks
Adrian

Adrian coughed up some electrons that declared:

HI Tim

Tim S wrote:
Adrian coughed up some electrons that declared:


..so I was thinking about a timber structure, topped with 'green'
flooring grade chipboard - well siliconed around the edges and maybe
varnised...?

I might consider marine ply (or any water resistant variant) topped off
with some tile backer board, eg aquapanel, which will give a totally
waterproof layer. Grout joints *always* spring minute leaks given time,
and I think green chip isn't the best option.

Hmm - I was trying to avoid things that come in 8' x 4' sheets g -
as it's only a 6 x 2.5 that I need (got a shed full of 'left-over'
bits... (haven't we all ?)

B&Q do sell ready cut ply in more convenient sizes - not sure what their
stock of WBP ply in smaller pieces is like though.


Or at least just use marine ply as your not expecting to flood the area
any more.

I'll ask the the local Builders Providers..


In either case, can you arrange some small amount of ventilation from
under the structure to outside the shower room? That will help the timber
in teh long term.

Well - there's the (soon-to-be-redundant) drain from the existing shower
- I was going to seal that off - but I could just leave it open..

Might not be a bad idea - stick a bit of mesh over the end to keep the bugs
out (ali car repair mesh from Halfords would do). Just in case water vapour
does build up in the void, at least it's got a way to breath out rather
than condensing everywhere.

HI Tim

Tim S wrote:
Adrian coughed up some electrons that declared:

HI Tim

Tim S wrote:
Adrian coughed up some electrons that declared:


..so I was thinking about a timber structure, topped with 'green'
flooring grade chipboard - well siliconed around the edges and maybe
varnised...?
I might consider marine ply (or any water resistant variant) topped off
with some tile backer board, eg aquapanel, which will give a totally
waterproof layer. Grout joints *always* spring minute leaks given time,
and I think green chip isn't the best option.
Hmm - I was trying to avoid things that come in 8' x 4' sheets g -
as it's only a 6 x 2.5 that I need (got a shed full of 'left-over'
bits... (haven't we all ?)

B&Q do sell ready cut ply in more convenient sizes - not sure what their
stock of WBP ply in smaller pieces is like though.

I was going to say that we don't have B&Q over here in Ireland - but it
appears that we actually do have a few.... (but they're not close to here!)

I'll ask around....


Or at least just use marine ply as your not expecting to flood the area
any more.
I'll ask the the local Builders Providers..

In either case, can you arrange some small amount of ventilation from
under the structure to outside the shower room? That will help the timber
in teh long term.
Well - there's the (soon-to-be-redundant) drain from the existing shower
- I was going to seal that off - but I could just leave it open..

Might not be a bad idea - stick a bit of mesh over the end to keep the bugs
out (ali car repair mesh from Halfords would do). Just in case water vapour
does build up in the void, at least it's got a way to breath out rather
than condensing everywhere.

Good plan!
Thanks
Adrian

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Adrian
saying something like:

I was going to say that we don't have B&Q over here in Ireland - but it
appears that we actually do have a few.... (but they're not close to here!)

I'll ask around....

Your local farmers' co-op will cut you ply to suit and charge pro-rata.

HI Grim

Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Adrian
saying something like:

I was going to say that we don't have B&Q over here in Ireland - but it
appears that we actually do have a few.... (but they're not close to here!)

I'll ask around....

Your local farmers' co-op will cut you ply to suit and charge pro-rata.

Never thought of that - now there's an idea

(Just bought the shower tray & screen off them at 50% off list -
so they know me!)

I knew they'd do odd bits of iron etc cut-to-length - never thought of
seeing if they'd do the same with sheet wood...

Thanks
Adrian

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Adrian
saying something like:

Your local farmers' co-op will cut you ply to suit and charge pro-rata.

Never thought of that - now there's an idea

(Just bought the shower tray & screen off them at 50% off list -
so they know me!)

I knew they'd do odd bits of iron etc cut-to-length - never thought of
seeing if they'd do the same with sheet wood...

Mine do, and will happily sell half and quarter sheets; they won't get
into doing odd sizes, but it's still a saving.

Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Adrian
saying something like:

Your local farmers' co-op will cut you ply to suit and charge pro-rata.
Never thought of that - now there's an idea

(Just bought the shower tray & screen off them at 50% off list -
so they know me!)

I knew they'd do odd bits of iron etc cut-to-length - never thought of
seeing if they'd do the same with sheet wood...

Mine do, and will happily sell half and quarter sheets; they won't get
into doing odd sizes, but it's still a saving.

Hmm - hadn't thought of that......
Mind - I'm looking for 6ft x 2ft 6inches - which is a bit over the
half-sheet - maybe I'll just have to bite the bullet and buy an 8x4 -
can always make some more shelves g

I've got an 8x4 of 18mm MDF in the shed - but I think that's probably
tempting providence! g

I'm guessing that these slimline shower trays want supporting across
the whole area..? (less the bit where the waste fits!)

Thanks
Adrian

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Adrian
saying something like:

I'm guessing that these slimline shower trays want supporting across
the whole area..? (less the bit where the waste fits!)

Is it a cast resin/stone one or plastic?

Plastic trays are rubbish altogether - I haven't seen one yet that's
lasted anything like a cast one and even if they don't get cracked or
holed they just never feel solid enough.

Skinny cast ones also need proper support, but the end result is
definitely worth the extra effort. That's the difference, imo - you go
to a lot of trouble to make a plastic one feel ok, but it's still ****
in the long run.

HI

Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Adrian
saying something like:

I'm guessing that these slimline shower trays want supporting across
the whole area..? (less the bit where the waste fits!)

Is it a cast resin/stone one or plastic?

Plastic trays are rubbish altogether - I haven't seen one yet that's
lasted anything like a cast one and even if they don't get cracked or
holed they just never feel solid enough.

Skinny cast ones also need proper support, but the end result is
definitely worth the extra effort. That's the difference, imo - you go
to a lot of trouble to make a plastic one feel ok, but it's still ****
in the long run.

Think its a form of plastic.... looked reasonably strong in the shop -
I'll just make sure that it's sitting on someting fairly firm...

Regards
Adrian

Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:

Plastic trays are rubbish altogether - I haven't seen one yet that's
lasted anything like a cast one and even if they don't get cracked or
holed they just never feel solid enough.

We had to have a plastic tray, Showerlux, for the bathrom because of
problems with the age of the floor, clearance for drainage and the weird
slope due to the age of the building. I was reall unsure about using it,
because all previous trays have been good quality ceramic, but we didn't
have much choice.

I've actually been pleased with it. It is as solid as a cast tray, it
was a doddle to install and level. It doesn't move or creak, it feels
absolutely solid.

Adrian wrote:
HI

Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Adrian
saying something like:

I'm guessing that these slimline shower trays want supporting across
the whole area..? (less the bit where the waste fits!)

Is it a cast resin/stone one or plastic?

Plastic trays are rubbish altogether - I haven't seen one yet that's
lasted anything like a cast one and even if they don't get cracked or
holed they just never feel solid enough.

Skinny cast ones also need proper support, but the end result is
definitely worth the extra effort. That's the difference, imo - you go
to a lot of trouble to make a plastic one feel ok, but it's still ****
in the long run.

Think its a form of plastic.... looked reasonably strong in the shop -
I'll just make sure that it's sitting on someting fairly firm...

Fill any hollows with expanding foam, and bed the whole thing down on a
plywood plinth with car body filler.


Regards
Adrian