So,

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'?


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?

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).?

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)?

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

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).

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) ;-)

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?

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?

All the best ..

T i m

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 .. ;-)

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.

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

"T i m" wrote in message
...
So,

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'?


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?

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).?

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)?

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

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).

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) ;-)

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?

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?

All the best ..

T i m

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 .. ;-)


If this shower is for your elderly parents to use, then why not go for a wet
floor system. A wet floor is just a very shallow non-slip glass fibre tray that
sits directly on the surface of the floor. The floor around the tray is built
up slightly to match the narrow edge of the tray so you only need to walk
straight on to the showering part of the floor.

Any kind of screen can be built around the wet floor area to stop splashes
getting all over the place.

T i m wrote:

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 -- like plasterboard but cement based -- made by Knauf
(www.teachmediy.co.uk -- useless flash plugin required site), can be
found in Wickes etc

Or Wedi board (www.wedi.co.uk)



DJC

On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 20:56:54 +0000, John Rumm
wrote:

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.

Ah, good point (and they did suggest the use of a seat or stool). At
some of the Campsites we use they have a small plastic stool (with
soft wide feet) in the shower cubicles and they have acrylic shower
trays (or they looked like it to me?)

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

Could still be worth a look then .. (if not that much more expensive).

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!

Well, I'm not sure how I can? If It goes back against a wall and the
joists happen to run longwise under the plughole, there's nowhere I
can go?

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 are discarding the bath because of the 'difficulty' for my Dad to
step into a bath. I can't see a plyinth being a problem but in this
case I think the lower the better?

They have a range of thermostatic shower mixers, snip

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.

I did spot that .. so that plus a riser bar (~£40) and the shower
flex and head?

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.

Ok, that would be big plus for me but as they are both getting deaf
now ... ;-)

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!

Got it .. make sure it's well tucked under etc ;-)

The ceiling is lathe and plaster snip

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!

True been there, kicked that down but it just feels wrong to put
plasterboard over over the existing .. ;-(

Will it be 'ok' to run the shower into the drain

As long as it is 38mm diameter or better you should be fine.

If it isn't it can be ;-)

I am not
aware of any notification requirements for fitting a shower.

Ok, thanks ..


Aquapanel? Builders merchant probably.

Cheers .. at least I can start with a sensible question .. rather than
"do you stock any of that waterproof shower wood backing sheet type
stuff please"

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.

That was what I was thinking I'd have to do till I remembers this
'special stuff' ;-)

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.

Ok . well I'll have to give her the choice then ;-)

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! ;-)

I know she would!

All the best ..

T i m

On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 21:07:03 GMT, "BigWallop"
wrote:



If this shower is for your elderly parents to use, then why not go for a wet
floor system. A wet floor is just a very shallow non-slip glass fibre tray that
sits directly on the surface of the floor. The floor around the tray is built
up slightly to match the narrow edge of the tray so you only need to walk
straight on to the showering part of the floor.

Thanks for that ... it sounds like a good idea but their bathroom
isn't that big .. if they want the storage etc .. ;-(

Any kind of screen can be built around the wet floor area to stop splashes
getting all over the place.

I noticed someting similar (but smaller) in some of the displays ..
sort of a baffle you walk past so you don't need a door or curtain.
Would look great in the right space ...

All the best ..

T i m

On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 21:40:52 GMT, quisquiliae
wrote:

T i m wrote:

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 -- like plasterboard but cement based -- made by Knauf
(www.teachmediy.co.uk -- useless flash plugin required site), can be
found in Wickes etc

Cool, we got one of them ;-)

Or Wedi board (www.wedi.co.uk)

Spoilt for choice ;-)

All the best ..

T i m

T i m wrote:

Ah, good point (and they did suggest the use of a seat or stool). At
some of the Campsites we use they have a small plastic stool (with
soft wide feet) in the shower cubicles and they have acrylic shower
trays (or they looked like it to me?)

If the stool had wide soft feet you may be ok as long as the fibreglass
tray has a decent thickness of ply bonded to the underside to give it
support.

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!


Well, I'm not sure how I can? If It goes back against a wall and the
joists happen to run longwise under the plughole, there's nowhere I
can go?

Well you could have a look at the joist layout before you buy the tray.
Some have a waste outlet in a corner, some the middle of one side.
Beteeen the different designs and also rotating the tray to position the
waste for best fit, you should be able to get away with it.

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.

(that should have said "no higher" ;-)

They are discarding the bath because of the 'difficulty' for my Dad to
step into a bath. I can't see a plyinth being a problem but in this
case I think the lower the better?

As you say, lower is probably better. If you did need to use a plinth
then you could mitigate the issue by making the plinth twice the width
of the tray such that there is a staged area in front (or beside) of the
shower. That way the step into the shower is no higher than the tray
itself (although there is a step onto the stage - it gives you two bites
at the total ascent).

The tray I got was 10cm tall in total IIRC. I put it on a plinth to ease
the drainage since the joists ran the wrong way to make running the
waste under the floor.

If the step is a real issue then perhaps you would be better looking at
a wetroom type setup where you build a waterproof floor section.

Either way, designing in hand rails as you go would probably help.


They have a range of thermostatic shower mixers, snip

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.


I did spot that .. so that plus a riser bar (~£40) and the shower
flex and head?

For the screwfix one that sounds about right. The one I got was actually
45+VAT all in, including the head and riser etc.


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

Got it .. make sure it's well tucked under etc ;-)

And lashings of silicone at each stage of assembly ;-)


--
Cheers,

John.

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

On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 20:27:56 GMT, T i m wrote:

I took Mum into Homebase today

They have a range of thermostatic shower mixers, some with really
modern controls. others more traditional. With the discounts we are
talking about £250.

In my experience (having taken the family round all the shops, then
going back to get the one SWBMO liked) Homebase will have a big pile of
cards all saying "available from stock" but when you've queued up for
half an hour behind people taking things back they'll tell you that they
don't have any, they can be ordered, and it won't take more than a few
weeks. They may well then tell you about another HB that the computer
says have some in stock. You can then repeat the queueing and offer to
order process.

That was Sunday morning. Sunday PM was web search for same model, and
delivery from TLC was Tueday. And it was more than 10% cheaper.
--
On-line canal route planner: http://www.canalplan.org.uk

(Waterways World site of the month, April 2001)

On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 10:29:48 +0000, Nick Atty
wrote:

On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 20:27:56 GMT, T i m wrote:

I took Mum into Homebase today

They have a range of thermostatic shower mixers, some with really
modern controls. others more traditional. With the discounts we are
talking about £250.

In my experience (having taken the family round all the shops, then
going back to get the one SWBMO liked) Homebase will have a big pile of
cards all saying "available from stock" but when you've queued up for
half an hour behind people taking things back they'll tell you that they
don't have any, they can be ordered, and it won't take more than a few
weeks.

Hmm, we had a different experience with them ... We had a quick look
round and was gently approached by a nice sales 'girl' asking if we
needed any assistance. Mum had a few questions re models and prices
and they were all answered with honesty and a smile. We were told up
front that these things would all need to be ordered, would take
around 6 weeks and she printed out a list of items we had discussed so
they could be formally added to an order when we were ready.

She showed us where then stayed with us while we looked at tiles etc
and even got an assistant to get a trolly and stick 25 packs of tiles
in it for us!

They may well then tell you about another HB that the computer
says have some in stock. You can then repeat the queueing and offer to
order process.

Well, we have a bit to do before we start fitting any bits back in but
you may be right re the ordering and delays etc .. nothing like
collecting it there and then .. ;-)

That was Sunday morning. Sunday PM was web search for same model, and
delivery from TLC was Tueday. And it was more than 10% cheaper.

Well, that's where I'm at with the extra bits like shower mixer and
pump etc. I think I might wait and see how the bathroom (building)
modifications pan out before I go any further with the other bits ..

All the best ..

T i m