Tiling beside bath - tile from floor or bath up?

[Mossop]

I had assumed that when tiling on the long wall beside a bath that the bath would be installed and tiling would commence from the bath up.

A tiler informed me that he usually tiles from the floor up first, then once completed, the bath is installed. It means if the bath is changed to a new bath or to a shower unit that that section of the wall does not subsequently have to be tiled with tiles that may no longer be available in any case.

If the tiling is put in first from the floor, does the bath still need a full length timber along the wall (under the bath lip) to support it to help prevent the seal along the wall from breaking?

All the floor would be tiled, including under the bath.

 

[Qwerty]

He cant be a tiler! Baths are fitted first, then tiling commences afterwards.

Tiling a whole room including under a bath is a waste of time and money unless it is a fully free standing bath.

 

[Mossop]

Baths are fitted first, then tiling commences afterwards.

Tiling a whole room including under a bath is a waste of time and money unless it is a fully free standing bath.

Aside from the cost of the additional tiles, as I think I might buy in enough tiles that would allow tiling below the bath if this were ever needed e.g. if the bath was changed or changed to a shower unit. It's probably a good idea to have the tiles as probably wouldn't be able to buy an exact match in the future if ever required.

So considering the additional cost would solely be the labour, and this probably isn't going to be a great deal more since it would only be the area of a bath wall.

Would there potentially be a gap between the tiles and bath if the bath is pushed up against a tiled wall? The floor would be tiled under the bath right up to the wall.

 

[Qwerty]

Yes, potentially there may be a gap. Baths are not always flat on the side edge, walls may be out of square And you will have a rounded top edge too! Do you have a shower above the bath?

Fitting the bath last is just not the done thing

 

[Mossop]

Do you have a shower above the bath?

Yes, there'll be a shower above the bath.

 

[Qwerty]

Trust me, fit the bath first

 

[Mossop]

Thanks Geoff.