Narrowboat Bathroom help needed

[Avril]

Having trouble deciding how to move forward with my live-aboard narrowboat bathroom....I want to construct a shower to take up about half the space of the little room in the picture (there will be a third wall by then also walls will be primed and actually attached and the fire alarm removed) - so about 900 x 700, I was determined to try make a wet room to save on head space as I can only just stand up but I am worried after lots of research that I will struggle to make it waterproof without adding special boards on top of the floorboards anyway....so maybe a shower tray is the best option (!?!)....also unsure if I can actually tank my plywood, would I need to line the ply with something else or can I tank and tile...I'm on a very small budget, thanks in advance, any ideas or advice welcome 🙂 Avril

 

[Wetroom specialist]

Hi, it's kind of hard to see how much space you have really. You can use a wetroom floor former. This is like a tray but it is generally only around 22mm thick. If your floor has no structural movement in it then you could mechanically fix the floor former to the floor (screws and washers) once your waste pipe is in place. You would use a tanking waterproof tape usually around 150mm ish wide. This goes on the wall and floor joint half of the width of the tape up the wall and the other half on the tray. Then tank the walls and floor. In theory should be easy enough. Even if you can't get exactly the right size former they nearly always can be cut to size. I would look at something like the Rhino floor former. Then tile. Good luck.

 

[Avril]

Hi, it's kind of hard to see how much space you have really. You can use a wetroom floor former. This is like a tray but it is generally only around 22mm thick. If your floor has no structural movement in it then you could mechanically fix the floor former to the floor (screws and washers) once your waste pipe is in place. You would use a tanking waterproof tape usually around 150mm ish wide. This goes on the wall and floor joint half of the width of the tape up the wall and the other half on the tray. Then tank the walls and floor. In theory should be easy enough. Even if you can't get exactly the right size former they nearly always can be cut to size. I would look at something like the Rhino floor former. Then tile. Good luck.

Thanks a million for your reply! I have been looking at floor formers and think you are right that it might be the best option....but I'm on a very tight budget, I have read that maybe I could use Hardiebacker 12mm board instead cut it to size and cut the waste outlet...then tank and tile...does that sound crazy?

 

[CJ]

Hardibacker is not waterproof. Resistant only.

 

[Avril]

Hardibacker is not waterproof. Resistant only.

Thanks for your reply, would it not become waterproof if I tank it with the BAL kit?
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Assuming the hardibacker is a bad idea based on your replies, does anyone know the cheapest wetroom floor former I can buy? Thanks 🙂

 

[CJ]

Wetroom Floor Formers | Impey, The UK's market-leading wetroom brand

Wetroom floor formers, act as floorboard replacements with a pre-formed gradient to a square or linear drainage point which allows for the creation of a level access showering space.

www.impeyshowers.com

 

[Wetroom specialist]

Thanks a million for your reply! I have been looking at floor formers and think you are right that it might be the best option....but I'm on a very tight budget, I have read that maybe I could use Hardiebacker 12mm board instead cut it to size and cut the waste outlet...then tank and tile...does that sound crazy?

In a word Yes. I appreciate that you are on a tight budget. But one of the last things you should do on the cheap is a wetroom. It will probably fail and cost you all over again. I would suggest saving for a while if necessary and do it once.