A few questions, HOW DO YOU....

[Martino]

Hi i have tried many different ways to fit bath,s whats your best way...

Fit a wooden battern along the 3 walls to stop movement (especially on cheapo baths)
Not needed on more expensive rigid baths,

Do you mastic the bath or use a bath seal...if mastic do you tile straight to the bath or leave a spacer gap?

I have done all of these in my time, i find leaving a spacer gap and using mastic to be the better seal, havent used a bath seal for years!....batern to support bath too although on the bath i just fitted it was really strong and didnt think it was really needed...still did it tho!

 

[steveb]

batten every bath no matter how well it's made. Silicon then tile with spacer gap then Silicon again never leaks then. always fill bath before second siliconing and leave water in until Silicon is set.

 

[martin1c]

Agree. Always batten and always double Silicon

 

[Plumbing Tiler]

Totally agree with above, spot on, and always use a good quality Silicon like Dow Corning.

 

[Muse2k8]

Yup same as above. I sometimes use 3 lengths of timber used vertical with a notch cut in for the bath lip. 2 along long end and one on short end (or if at wall both ends use a bit on each). Uses less timber and with the notch which is easier to add on single bits it's bombproof.

 

[bugs183]

Always a problem this! 99% of plumbers will still not batten, remove the protective polythene and/or silicon the bath properly, bless them. But its the tilers fault everytime the bath leaks.
I've gone to loads lately where the plumber just tells the customer to tile down past the bath height and he'll silicon the bath to the tiles.
Now when i measure a job and the plumber hasn't been in before me, i tell the customer that the bath needs to be battened and siliconed, and guess what it never happens!!

 

[Muse2k8]

Hence why it's not a bad thing for somebody to be trained as both a plumber and tiler because then they can do all this and know what's best

 

[tfs]

Baths should realy be fitted using brackets supplied. Any additional timber would be a plus. I have not seen many peeps use the brackets for a while. Too many cowboys these days across all trades.

 

[Martino]

Never seen a a bathroom tiles and then the bath put in...this would just be really bad!! why would anyone do that!!!..i have put a battern up a tile above the bath before and got most of the tiling done before the bath is fitted then cut to bath but never have i seen a bath siliconed to tiles! thats just totally wrong imo

 

[bugs183]

It is totally Martino, and of course the corners of every room are always square so the bath fits in all snug.
I've seen it quite alot, and don't the plumbers moan when i tell the customer it has to come out.

 

[Muse2k8]

Baths should realy be fitted using brackets supplied. Any additional timber would be a plus. I have not seen many peeps use the brackets for a while. Too many cowboys these days across all trades.

The brackets supplied with a bath are useless. Why waste time fitting them when you are going to put in your own support that would hold an elephant (in some cases it needs to!).

 

[tfs]

The brackets supplied with a bath are useless. Why waste time fitting them when you are going to put in your own support that would hold an elephant (in some cases it needs to!).

Many people who add support to baths put a batton under but, not all people cut a rebate/ lip on timber supports to stop the bath moving away from the wall. Thats one of the ideas of the bracket.

So, if someone puts supports under a bath that wont stop the bath from moving in every direction and this still leaves room for failure of the sealants etc.

I know the brackets are crap in terms of downward weight but they will stop moving in other directions.

 

[Muse2k8]

Fair do I always cut a notch in mine so thats probably why I bin them every time. But your right just a batten will not prevent sideways movement. I still prefer to use a few shorter vertical lengths than one long horizontal. Also means you can go down to the floor and if you only have 4 or so inches up its easier to notch. And holds like there's no tomorrow!