Bodged Or Not? aqua-dec Shower Former Drain Issue

[Julia]

We are really worried about damaging the wet proofing underneath - I don't mind the hard work of getting them out but ripping the whole lot out to re-do the wet proofing is pretty epic on the disaster front. Just wondering about using a travertine filler - do you think you could hide the wrong lines with that? Am I grasping at straws?

 

[Gazzer]

Just take it up and get it done the way you are happy with. Never seen anyone do the falls this way before. I would be looking at that every time i had a shower.
Never mind if the taking needs redoing, you wont be happy with the way it is.

 

[Dan]

I think we're making a mountain out of a mole hill here.

Hammer and chisel the back three tiles until you're back to the adhesive, then if needs be, he can skim the back of the new tiles going in there a little to take off some thickness to fit them in. It's not the end of the world. They're going to have a fall anyway.

 

[Tile seller]

.
I think it looks ok and so long as the water drains well I'd be happy with it. That said, its you that needs to be happy so if your not, definitely redo it. It's costing a lot too, so I'd want exactly what I wanted for that. Nice looking tiles by the way.
But I have to say, I think there be really hard to get off the tray without causing damage to the tray. That said, I've not handled these aqua trays before.

 

[Dan]

If it's one of those things that would annoy you when you have a shower like @Sir Ramic says then it's a no brainier.

 

[Dave]

If it's the GRP Aqua tray , they'll break out fine..

 

[Julia]

I think it's more the wet proofing / tanking ontop of the tray which has everyone concerned.
If that is damaged then all the tiles have to come up - not just 3 - and they extend over the other side of the room not shown in the photo, then we have to re-tank the whole floor and retile. I'll have to buy all new which - aside from the expense take a week or so to arrive - and we are at a standstill till floor is done, and have no toilet. Living the dream!
So damaging the tanking sheet underneath would to my mind be quite bad. Damaging the Aqua deck tray which has a wall built on top of it - catastrophic.
That said I feel pretty sure we should be able to just get 3 tiles out because looking at it it looks doable. It's weighing up the risk I guess.
There is a summit to discuss in the morning which I am looking forward to enormously....

 

[Dan]

You have big balls Julia.

 

[widler]

He has just centred the tray.Like whats been said he should cut to each corner of the drain.
Get the tiles out tonight is my advice, get your hubby on his hands and knees, the addy will still be green, imo be a lot easier

 

[Diggy]

If its set already ( rapid set ) , I'd leave it until finished ( grouted ) and see how it works . If it doesn't drain right the only extra job is removing the grout , if its ok , then it's just a case of whether or not can live with it . Dont forget once the grouts in it should blend a little better and you might not notice so much.
I'm not making excuses for anyone here , just saying it's not the end of the world . All said and done though you are the paying customer so it's entirely up to you.
For me it doesn't look terrible , odd maybe , but not terrible.

Just as a side issue ( and this nothing against the OP ) I dont understand why more people don't go for a matching mosaic in the former , looks miles better than all the envelope cutting imho , aesthetically , just my view though.

Diggy

 

[Dan]

Good point. If the adhesive is going to be set by tomorrow for sure for sure for sure (yes, really set), then perhaps go with it and maul the tiles up at a later date and refix those? See if it's a grower? Might grow on you.

 

[Dan]

Just out of curiosity is the drain on a tilt or is that level?

 

[Julia]

Well - on closer inspection, where the drain meets the centre line of tiles it's completely flush. On the other corner it's about 2mm proud. The drain itself is level but it means we don't have a flush grate finish.
Also it's my understanding that the fall is acceptable anywhere within that rotating circle so you'd still be able to cut to all 4 corners of the grate.
The more I look the unhappier I am and I am definitely going to ask him to take up those 3. It's all rock solid now so should be fun.
There is a lot of speculation as to whether it's right or wrong but I think I'm erring on the side of wrong rather than just aesthetically irritating.
I'll send a photo of the not so great grate.
This is all before he even attempts the ridiculously priced glass mosaics which are staggered like house bricks so almost every one needs to be cut! I am not looking forward to the next couple of days!

 

[Julia]

Grate....
The bottom and right hand side are flush but the top and left hand side are not - tiles sit proud by about 2mm

 

[John Benton]

If the tiles had been cut to each corner then the cover would be flush all the way round and no tiles standing proud. As you say the devil is in the detail, not to mention that it's cut incorrectly, but it would bother me the same as it is you.

 

[Dan]

Yeah I wouldn't be happy with that sitting proud regardless of how the tiles are cut.

 

[John Benton]

Thats the only reason the tiles stand proud Dan because they are not going to the correct corners of the drain. Pretty sure that if the falls on the former had been adhered to, pardon the pun, then the 2mm lip would definitely not be there.

 

[Dan]

Thats the only reason the tiles stand proud Dan because they are not going to the correct corners of the drain. Pretty sure that if the falls on the former had been adhered to, pardon the pun, then the 2mm lip would definitely not be there.

I thought if the drain was slanted it wouldn't stand proud though and perhaps was slanted and tiled like that for dodging a joist which was mentioned in the earlier post. Hence me asking to be honest.

 

[Julia]

The joists were cleared by the rotating panel in the tray. Before tiling all was flush.

Thanks so much everyone, I really appreciate it. I will update you in the morning! Wish me luck! I've bought both the builder and tiler sandwiches and cake in a bid to smooth things over .... But it might take a bit more than that.... Feeling very uncomfortable!

 

[Dan]

Awwwww I feel for you!

You'll laugh when you're showering in it and stand on the symmetrical drain that's totally flush and not weird at all.

 

[Dan]

@Impey Showers - Just realised we have them on the forum.

 

[Julia]

So we have had our meeting with the builder and tiler this morning.... Obviously they didn't want to take up the 3 tiles. It got a bit confrontational as they argued it couldn't be done and the waste tray 'thing' would never go flush even if they went to the 4 corners. We stood our ground and insisted it would go flush (so you guys had better be right!) and pointed out it was unlikely a tray would be manufactured in such a way as to make getting it flush impossible.
Nonetheless we have decided to rip them out - not a decision taken lightly - and he's chiseling away as I type.
Cost was touched on - apparently it is our risk and extra time for the tiler.
In my mind it was just wrong so it's had to be done.

 

[Old Mod]

Bravo for standing your ground for the room u want,
and not for the room others think u should have!

 

[Dan]

Of course it can be flush! If you cut tiles the width of each side of the drain, they would fit flush even on a 45 degree angle let alone a 4.5 degree one!!!!!

It's the fact a tile is trying to wrap around the drain that means as soon as you lift it, you get a lip. Life that 45 degrees you'd have a gap. Obviously.

I think they were having you on with that conversation but I can understand them getting a bit 50p 20p 50p 20p over lifting the tiles.

 

[Julia]

Live update: tiles are out and new ones are being cut!