Basic DIY question

Masomnia

This is pretty basic, but we have a glass shower screen which is attached to the wall via some screws thusly:



My question is basically enough if I unscrew it and take it off, is it simply a matter of screwing it back on afterwards?

Will I need to replace anything that holds screws in place? Those plastic plug things? Will I be damaging plaster or anything? Sorry if I'm using too much jargon.

I know this is newbie stuff, so thank you for bearing with me

flashg67

You should be able to just re-screw them in afterwards. It may depend on how well the job was done originally - I have had occasions when the plugs pull out as well which will need a new (larger) plug, or even re-drilling slightly larger and a new plug inserting.

If you've no choice but to remove the fitting then hopefully you'll be ok. Is it just to re-paint the wall - you could mask the fitting off or use a steady hand and paint round it...?

martinthebandit

As has been said, you should be fine, it should just screw straight back in.

One tip though before putting it back fill the screw holes with sealant and after you have finished putting it back just wipe any excess sealant off, it will ensure that water does not penetrate into the wall.

Masomnia

Great! Thanks.

The shower is over the bath and it needs resealing, I tried doing it around the base of the screen but I'm pretty sure it's leaking through.

I'll give it a go later. And I'll definitely put some sealant in.

Thanks again.

martinthebandit

Masomnia wrote: »

Great! Thanks.

The shower is over the bath and it needs resealing, I tried doing it around the base of the screen but I'm pretty sure it's leaking through.

I'll give it a go later. And I'll definitely put some sealant in.

Thanks again.

In that case I hope your using something like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rubber-Plastic-Seal-For-Bath-Shower-Screen-Fits-4-8mm-Glass-1-30mm-Gaps-/280813911994

Masomnia

martinthebandit wrote: »

In that case I hope your using something like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rubber-Plastic-Seal-For-Bath-Shower-Screen-Fits-4-8mm-Glass-1-30mm-Gaps-/280813911994

Yeah there's something like that already attached, it's looking a bit tired though so I think I'll replace it while I'm at it.

[Deleted User]

Masomnia wrote: »

is it simply a matter of screwing it back on afterwards?

Ideally, but there are no guarantees, it will depend on what your walls are like, and how competently it was fixed. You may find that the plugs turn in the hole when you try to remove the screws. This can happen if they're plated screws that have gone rusty, or if the wall is soft breeze block, of if the plugs were put into low density plaster rather than into the brick.

Sometimes you can retrieve the situation by drilling an oversize hole and fitting an oversize plug. If the fitting doesn't have room for an oversize screw you can fill the plugs with matchsticks and use the same screws. Failing that, you would have to make the hole much larger, then fill it and re-drill. Sometimes a better alternative can moving the fitting to another part of the wall.

paddyrg

+1 for matchsticks (but I am speaking as a matchsticks and gaffer tape bodger) which seem to solve more issues than all the fancy rawl plugs combined