fitting a bath back

[percypineapple]

Hi,

Had to move the bath out as a pipe was leaking under the floor under the bath. the bath had two metal fixings that were secured to the wall, under the tiles, which I had to hacksaw through to move the bath out. Do I need to replace these fixings ( don't really want to destroy the tiles and have to re-tile the whole room) or is it o.k. free standing and silicone sealed to the wall?

thanks,
Percy.

[Zacs-Master]

Simple answer is, if the bath is unsecured it could move, causing services and waste to leak.

[tonyav]

The bath will move about without those fixings, percy. Well it will while someone is in the bath, and the silicone will most likely get pulled from the tiles. You shouldn't have to do any retileing the fixings should be underneath the lip of the bath.

[Mick-Talbot]

Silicone is amazingly strong and if done correctly it will hold the bath against the wall.

By correctly I mean do not just put the bath against the wall and run a bead of mastic on the top. Make sure you put plenty of mastic on the bath side then push against the wall. Do not use the bath for at least 24 hours.

[Mick-Talbot]

Don't forget to fill the bath up with water, about 2/3s

[Zacs-Master]

Yes silicone is so strong that a bath full of water sloshing around will pull the plaster off the masonary.

[Mosaic]

You have to replace the bath in a way that ensures it will not move. So start by examining the floor it will sit on. Any shifty floorboards? Screw them down. Might help to put a piece of 5mm ply under where the bath will stand.
Most acrylic baths have useless little metal legs - if so use these to support the final position for your bath, tight against the wall, but then the fun starts.

I would recommend using housebricks and timber offcuts to create a firm and secure base AND SURROUND underneath the bath. I have emphasised the surround because this typically gets sat on, and if it flexes in being sat on then starin will ease the bath out of its watertight sealing.
When you think your packing is good, stand in the bath (no shoes on), sit, move around in it - does it move? If so back to the packing till it is rigid. Ditto with the edges that people my sit on.

During this process judicious use of builders foam may help on the wall edge - any that oozes up can be cut off when cured.

Lastly, when all is rigid, you can fill up the bath with cold water and proceed with your waterproofing, tiling and sealing. Leave the water in until all has hardened and cured.

And that should sort it.

[Mick-Talbot]

Well mine has stood the test of time. The weight of the water tends to gravitate downwards not outwards.

Fix a wooden batten along the wall just below where the bath will eventually sit, put plenty of mastic on that and the side of the bath. It will work.

[Mosaic]

Mick, you are clearly blessed with unmoving floors and stable walls. My method has been honed in the world of wonky floorboards and dodgy plasterwork.

[Mick-Talbot]

I am Mosaic .... I did the floor myself ;0)

I agree with you on the next to useless metal legs. I will see if I can find a pic of what I do about that.

[woofgang]

Mosaic, you must have seen my house!!

[tonyav]

Use the fixings, percy.

[Mick-Talbot]

http://s1033.beta.pho...920307196481416493685

[Mick-Talbot]

http://s1033.beta.pho...947038056826688608003

[percypineapple]

Thank you all for your input,
Yes, those legs on mine look pretty feeble, I was going to support the bath base on some timbers as well as the legs. I like the idea of a batten on the wall and mastic or
" good as nails" type glue for the timber to timber, and silicone the lip of the bath to the wall.

percy.

[The Builder]

I'm a bit concerned about Mosaic's "shifty" floorboards. Perhaps they're mixing with the wrong sort of timber Moses?

Anyway ......... my 2 cents' worth ......... everyone has already said it. Silicone will certainly hold it if applied in the right way, BUT, it does depend on the stability of the floor. If in doubt, lay a piece of ply or chipboard over the area that the legs stand on. That'll tie everything together.

Go Perce ;o)

[percypineapple]

Hi All,
Plan "A" was not good, spend hours measuring timber to go on the wall, made cut outs to go over the frame that holds the legs, then made cut outs to go over what was left dangling from the tiles of the existing metal ties, up the shop for screws, drilled it in, got nice and level, exactly below the last tile run, it looked great, lifted the bath on, and, you need a ladder to get into it, the wooden surround on the bath is 7" down, thus the bath has risen by 7".
May not sound much, but o.h. is adamant that she is not getting into it, as she suffers with vertigo. So, tomorrow is another day, another dummy run, but at least the bath is not in the middle of the floor at the moment, just halfway up the wall, just like the o.h.
Percy.

[Mick-Talbot]

Sorry percy but that has me lolling.

I'm not sure how you have managed to get it 1/2 way up the wall.