Concerns about en-suite refurb - waterproofing

firefox1956

Doozergirl wrote: »

Marine ply?! Oh my.

No really worth responding too................

RainbowLaura

andyhop wrote: »

Then you also have ceramic tiles that absorb 20% moisture

Ceramic tiles used to be glazed on all 4 sides, now to get a extra few tiles in the kiln they scrape the edges. Another reason why I always advise the customer to use porcelain

Oh dear, we've gone for ceramic... with a natural stone border! Eek. Will just have to make sure it is sealed well I suppose.

Furts

andyhop wrote: »

Then you also have ceramic tiles that absorb 20% moisture

Ceramic tiles used to be glazed on all 4 sides, now to get a extra few tiles in the kiln they scrape the edges. Another reason why I always advise the customer to use porcelain

It is called "progress". I have posted elsewhere about a lowering of standards in house building since around 1985-97. When builders were fitting out bathrooms and showers the tiles were made in the UK, and glazed, guaranteed, and with quality control and accreditation. Further, they were fixed without grout joints.

The plasterboard may have no water resistant properties (too long ago for me to recall what was being ordered, but I do not remember anything other standard board). However this could receive a water resistant pva coat and a scim.

It is wrong to say the tiles fell off because the scim came off. Tiles did come off but this was because movement joints were not considered - so this was bad tiling practice, not bad plastering.

Then we moved into the "Porcelenosa" era. Builders started buying tiles from Mexico, Spain, Portugal - all over the place and mixing materials and formats. Low price was everything combined with bling. Tiles and bathrooms became a short life throw away concept. Quality no longer mattered. Good for you because it keeps you in work!

andyhop

The worst tiles now are made in the UK.

I'd rather smear dog poo to the walls than fix the likes of Johnsons tiles

RainbowLaura

I am now worrying about the fit of the shower tray (I've spent the whole weekend worry and obsessing over this job)... Will try to upload an image, comments appreciated:

Doozergirl

Most people want low level 40mm shower trays. In new builds, it is generally easy to drop the trays off the legs on a refit as they only keep them high on the building site so they can do the bathroom fittings in one cheap fix. A bit more effort gets a better streamlined bathroom.

It's pretty obvious that the board should be nearer touch the tray. You seal it once before tiling and then again after. Ideally the tray butts up to the board, not flies under, but if there isn't enough space there isn't enough space. Is it fitting into an alcove?

RainbowLaura

Doozergirl wrote: »

Most people want low level 40mm shower trays. In new builds, it is generally easy to drop the trays off the legs on a refit as they only keep them high on the building site so they can do the bathroom fittings in one cheap fix. A bit more effort gets a better streamlined bathroom.

It's pretty obvious that the board should touch the tray. You seal it once before tiling and then again after. Ideally the tray butts up to the board, not flies under, but if there isn't enough space there isn't enough space. Is it fitting into an alcove?

Yep it's in an alcove. When he started he said he would try to get it as close to the floor as possible, but apparently because of the existing plumbing it wasn't possible... Is the way it's sitting under the board going to cause any problems? Starting to miss my tired old shower cubicle and wish I'd never bothered with all this

Doozergirl

It shouldn't be. It will have been done thousands upon thousands of times up and down the country. We aren't blessed with the bifgest bathrooms.

There are belts and braces ways of doing things. The reality is that most people don't do it that way and it ends up fine. The people that do it with belts and braces are not going to be cheap and they would always know from the outset that they were going to replace existing plasterboard etc. If you're paying a fortune and he's doing it all like this then you'd be really worried but if your priority is a cheap job...

RainbowLaura

Thanks Doozergirl. The original quote was £760, with our only other expense being the tiles, but now we're having to pay for the plasterboard and I suppose the tanking as well since apparently they weren't going to do that originally. We're just having the shower done, not any other part of the room. Feeling a bit stupid and sorry for myself today.

andyhop

The tray is fitted badly. The upstand should be flush with the wall