Bathroom refit advice

[markyrp]

Hi All,

I'm doing my first bathroom refit and was looking for some advice before I start tiling.

New bath fitted and supported by feet mounted on 3 x 2 timber supports and batten running around 3 sides of the bath. Walls to be tiled have been tanked and I have put silicon between bath and walls with bath full.

The first question I suppose is whether to tile the floor first or not.

The 2nd question is whether or not you would start first row of tiles above the bath and would they be fitted with the bath empty or would you put water in the bath first. It is an acrylic bath and even with the support I have put in place, there appears to be a little bit of flex. I don't want to leave a gap between the bath and tile only to find a large gap when bath is filled.

My last question is on the best way to seal between the tile and bath. I don't want to use tile trim. I would rather have tile going straight down to the bath. The reason I ask is that I have had issues in the past with silicon sealant peeling off acrylic baths. Is there a specific or recommended sealant that has good adhesion to acrylic.

Many thanks in advance,

Mark

 

[Russell brown]

I always tile the walls first leaving the bottom cut to the floor. I then tile the floor and finish the bottom cuts to the floor as I think it's neater this way. If I have decent cuts to the ceiling and floor I'll start with a full tile, if not a cut. I tile with an empty bath, after I've grouted up I then fill the bath and Silicon leaving the bath full over night while the Silicon goes off.

 

[cam_low]

is this job in your own home ?

 

[White Room]

is this job in your own home ?

It's under the DIY heading, so hopefully his own bathroom.

 

[cam_low]

Good spot!

 

[markyrp]

Thanks for the replies.
Yes, the job is in my own home.

 

[Mouldy]

Personally, I wouldn't have the bath fitted yet. Set the bath out, tile as much as possible and then fit the bath. Makes the tiling easier and if you do happen to drop something the bath ain't there to catch it...........

 

[markyrp]

Unfortunately, the bath is already in and sitting in a frame which is also going to be tiled.
I come back to my question about would you tile right up to the bath and would you do this with bath full, empty....?
Also, does anyone recommend a sealant for around an acrylic bath?
Many thanks for the replies so far.

 

[Andy Allen]

Tbh if your bath moves that much it ain't fitted properly. ...I would not fill it to tile I would leave a small gap to the bath only a millimetre or two then silcone with the bath full but like I said it shouldn't move that much if fitted correctly.....use dow cornering or mapei Silicon make sure it bone dry and it should stick no problem..

 

[markyrp]

Thanks,
I placed a batten on the edge of the bath when empty and marked the wall above. Filled the bath and checked my line and the outside edge hasn't budged. I am happy that the bath is level and I could have a full tile as my first row above the bath.
Would I start my first row of tiles above the bath and would it be ok to sit this first row on the bath edge or do I need this 1-2mm gap between bath and tiles directly above?

 

[Andy Allen]

Start full tile from the bath just put 2 mm spacer under it or pack it with pieces of card wait till it gose off and fire on up with the rest..

 

[markyrp]

Ok. Thanks very much for the advice.

 

[markyrp]

Sorry. Might be a daft question but will this gap between the bath and the first row of tiles be grouted first or is it simply for the Silicon.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Simply for the Silicon!