Pre-built showers/enclosures

k3lvc

Finally a bonus this year allows for the installation of a decent shower in our main bathroom. We've not used the current shower after finding the installer/previous owner had installed it against a plasterboard wall with no waterproofing under the tiles.

We've looked at a variety of options given we've 1800mm x 1200mm to play with but something like the attached looks interesting

Anyone any experience of these either from a fitting or using point of view ?

http://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/aqualusso-alto-50-1200mm-x-900mm-steam-shower-polar-white.aspx

Doozergirl

I have a terrible aversion to these things.

First of all, you're going to need huge amounts of water pressure and a boiler capable of firing through the level of heating required for the volume of water.

Secondly, they are impossible to clean with all of their nooks and crannies, look like legionella waiting to happen and frankly, they're a bit ugly. The up close shots just look like bog standard, cheap stuff. For that money you could have something beautiful, and more conventional (not a bad thing, imo).

With the number of moving parts and the requirement for electricity, the chances of breaking are increased. Note the 3 year guarantee. Not the worst, but not great. I wouldn't install anything in a client's house that didn't have at least 10 years on it.

It's a lot of money for something they only have confidence in for 3 years.

Just my opinion.

Furts

My approach would be to sort out the defective tiling. Your proposal simply ignores this. I accept that you say you cannot use the current shower, but why not spend the money addressing this?

Removing tiles and plasterboard is straight forward. Your post suggests that the tiles may be loose already.

If one thinks back a couple of decades then showers were always installed in new build homes onto normal plasterboard. This worked, and there were not huge problems.The key was water resistant or waterproof adhesive and waterproof resistant grout.

I accept that plasterboard is better now and I am not advocating using normal plasterboard. I am simply being pragmatic and suggesting a more cost effective proposal. Or to put it another way, I have my money saving forum hat on!

Plus, to edit this after posting, I second the view put forward by Doozergirl. I was thinking the same but thought to express this view might cause offence! I believe these products are cheap, hideous, and a durability nightmare. There is no way that I would specify this product for my home or for a client with a new build proposal.

k3lvc

Furts wrote: »

My approach would be to sort out the defective tiling. Your proposal simply ignores this. I accept that you say you cannot use the current shower, but why not spend the money addressing this?

Removing tiles and plasterboard is straight forward. Your post suggests that the tiles may be loose already.

If one thinks back a couple of decades then showers were always installed in new build homes onto normal plasterboard. This worked, and there were not huge problems.The key was water resistant or waterproof adhesive and waterproof resistant grout.

I accept that plasterboard is better now and I am not advocating using normal plasterboard. I am simply being pragmatic and suggesting a more cost effective proposal. Or to put it another way, I have my money saving forum hat on!

OK so give me an idea of cost to remove 1800mm of plasterboard, replace, waterproof and then presumably either retile or install a panel. On top of that we're then looking at £600 for a reasonable screen, tray and rain/handheld combi + installation ?

Water pressure/boiler isn't an issue - we've a spare outlet on the shower pump (which currently feeds jacuzzi bath)

thescouselander

k3lvc wrote: »

Finally a bonus this year allows for the installation of a decent shower in our main bathroom. We've not used the current shower after finding the installer/previous owner had installed it against a plasterboard wall with no waterproofing under the tiles.

We've looked at a variety of options given we've 1800mm x 1200mm to play with but something like the attached looks interesting

Anyone any experience of these either from a fitting or using point of view ?

http://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/aqualusso-alto-50-1200mm-x-900mm-steam-shower-polar-white.aspx

That's a bit extreme. I know a lot of people are obsessed with tanking showers but in reality I've never found this to be a requirement in the domestic situation. As long as the tiles and grout are in good condition it should hold.

If it was me I wouldn't even bother re-doing the whole job - I'd just put right any damage that has occured making the wall waterproof again.

phoenix_w

k3lvc wrote: »

OK so give me an idea of cost to remove 1800mm of plasterboard, replace, waterproof and then presumably either retile or install a panel.

Why are you assuming you need to do that much work? Do you know what the state of the plasterboard is? Another thing to consider is that you can get plasterboard which you can tile directly to - are you sure the previous occupant hasn't done this?

As long as there's a good amount of waterproof adhesive on there, the tiles are in a reasonable state and the grout is all in place I don't think I'd be concerned at all.

If there was a chance of ingress I'd strip off the tiles, and if the plasterboard was in good nick get the wall skimmed, a coat or two of watered down PVA and re-tile.

martinsurrey

phoenix_w wrote: »

Why are you assuming you need to do that much work? Do you know what the state of the plasterboard is? Another thing to consider is that you can get plasterboard which you can tile directly to - are you sure the previous occupant hasn't done this?

As long as there's a good amount of waterproof adhesive on there, the tiles are in a reasonable state and the grout is all in place I don't think I'd be concerned at all.

If there was a chance of ingress I'd strip off the tiles, and if the plasterboard was in good nick get the wall skimmed, a coat or two of watered down PVA and re-tile.

If it was damaged I wouldnt skim, while the tiles are off, take out the sections of board in the splash zone and put

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Knauf-Aquapanel-Tile-Backing-Board-1200x900x12-5mm/p/220561

up, tile straight onto it, and forget about it forever, these panels are more expensive than plasterboard, but cheaper than plasterboard+skim, and can be done by any general handyman.

I dont like those prefab showers, great until something breaks, or cracks, then you're back to square one.

andyhop

All the bathroom pods for households are generally poor, we done from the very basic, mid -range Frog items to top of the line Porcelanosa .....now of them have lasted more than 5yrs before seals, pumps etc fail

Get yourself a decent tray from Mira. Well supported underside, a reasonable quality enclosure from Manhattan, coram or New Era. Tanked plasterboard and tiled and you should have something that will last 20+ yrs. Preperation and the correct materials spec'd on suitability and durability and not on price alone will see you achieve this

k3lvc

OK - I'm convinced

So assuming we aim for 1400-1800mm x 800-1000mm with a decent tray/screen and a £300 (B&Q price) Mira shower is there a ballpark figure you can give me for the whole thing inc fitting

Furts

k3lvc wrote: »

OK - I'm convinced

So assuming we aim for 1400-1800mm x 800-1000mm with a decent tray/screen and a £300 (B&Q price) Mira shower is there a ballpark figure you can give me for the whole thing inc fitting

If you buy the materials I suggest a tradesman would easily do your job in a day. So if he is peeved at no profit margin on the materials, or is pricing high on the day rate, or you are in London perhaps £250 would be a fair figure.

If you are asking him to quote for the job who knows what he might submit? But base your negotiation on a days work.

You could assist the work by stripping back and disposing of the waste. If the plasterboard is ruined then either take it to your recycle centre or just loose it in your wheely bin. Likewise if you are having new tiles.

andyhop

Furts wrote: »

If you buy the materials I suggest a tradesman would easily do your job in a day. So if he is peeved at no profit margin on the materials, or is pricing high on the day rate, or you are in London perhaps £250 would be a fair figure.

If you are asking him to quote for the job who knows what he might submit? But base your negotiation on a days work.

You could assist the work by stripping back and disposing of the waste. If the plasterboard is ruined then either take it to your recycle centre or just loose it in your wheely bin. Likewise if you are having new tiles.

A days works to re-tile and fit a new enclosure??? are you kidding folk on?

99% of enclosures we get called to leak due to poor fitting. The tray must be fully sealed with silicone before the enclosure is fitted , it needs drying time before fitting the enclosure and final perimeter seal

It makes me laugh where people say tanking isn't needed in residential property. We constantly tear out bathrooms that fail due to water ingress through the grout. Neither the adhesive or grout is water proof , the term manufactures use mean it won't break down under water but will allow water to pass

The UK is a third world country when it comes to decent trades and good building regs , tanking should be mandatory given the simplest kits cost less than £30 per bathroom