Shower tray on floating floor
Discussion
I think floating floor is the right term but just in case it's not... An attached garage is being converted to a room. In doing so, I'll level off the existing concrete floor, then add membrane and insulation on top and then chipboard on top of that. That's a floating floor right?
Anyway, the complication is that there will be an ensuite in this room. It's mainly being built to cater for aging relatives who aren't as limber as they once were so a raised shower is not an option. The original plan had been to put a wetroom shower tray in but I don't know how that would be done without joists to stabalise it all, or can the tray just rest on the insulation? Or maybe I could make a frame underneath it?
If not, the next option would be to have a tray sat on top of the floor with drainage below floor level so leaving just a 40-50mm step. I'm fine with that as a compromise but when I've done this in the past, I'd use something like no more ply on top of the chipboard first to stiffen everything up and add some water protection. I presume there is no reason not to just do the same here?
Anyway, the complication is that there will be an ensuite in this room. It's mainly being built to cater for aging relatives who aren't as limber as they once were so a raised shower is not an option. The original plan had been to put a wetroom shower tray in but I don't know how that would be done without joists to stabalise it all, or can the tray just rest on the insulation? Or maybe I could make a frame underneath it?
If not, the next option would be to have a tray sat on top of the floor with drainage below floor level so leaving just a 40-50mm step. I'm fine with that as a compromise but when I've done this in the past, I'd use something like no more ply on top of the chipboard first to stiffen everything up and add some water protection. I presume there is no reason not to just do the same here?
you dont need insulation below your tray, you need a frame onto the concrete. if your putting down 50mm insulation onto concrete with a say 18mm eng floor you have 70mm to play with for a tray and frame which is perfect, but main point is drainage and flow which with only 70mm isnt going to work unless you dig out a nice hole and channel to the drain whereever that is.
With elderly people i would aim for a wet room, tank the whole area so that you can wheel in a chair or seat if you need to in the future.
With elderly people i would aim for a wet room, tank the whole area so that you can wheel in a chair or seat if you need to in the future.
Edited by z4RRSchris on Thursday 16th October 10:34
A 'floating' floor will cause issues with sealing the shower tray to the walls/tiling/whatever.
I'd be looking to ensure the shower tray does not 'float' relative to the walls.
If the floor nexts to expand/contract relative to anything else, the movement can be in the other 3 corners of the room.
You could make the tray independent of the floor, but that might just move the issue to the tray/floor joint.
I'd be looking to ensure the shower tray does not 'float' relative to the walls.
If the floor nexts to expand/contract relative to anything else, the movement can be in the other 3 corners of the room.
You could make the tray independent of the floor, but that might just move the issue to the tray/floor joint.
We've got a Jackoboard 4 sided linear drain shower tray in our groundfloor wetroom. It was done by our builders so I don't know the installation details, but they did dig a hole for the drain, and the whole floor was screeded up to the height of the rest of the ground floor.
The shallow drain has given us trouble even with the system being vented. The trap holds very little water. Jacksons sent us a flapper type instead and that works OK.
The shallow drain has given us trouble even with the system being vented. The trap holds very little water. Jacksons sent us a flapper type instead and that works OK.
Thanks folks. Very much appreciated. Relative movement is very much my concern so I'm glad I asked about this. I'm kind of wondering if I'd feel more comfortable about just putting a shallow tray in as it would then move with the floor and walls. Small step of course is the disadvantage but I'm kind of thinking that if a 35mm step is a big issue we probably have far bigger problems elsewhere in the house.
One thing on my side here is that the soil pipe comes in below concrete level so if I channel the sub floor I can get good fall on the wastes.
One thing on my side here is that the soil pipe comes in below concrete level so if I channel the sub floor I can get good fall on the wastes.
Magooagain said:
Just make the bathroom a solid screeded floor and the shower area laid to fall into a waste with a trap that s accessed from the top. Wet room is the best for older folks.
Cheers Screed over insulation or straight onto concrete? I realise it might have been helpful to have mention the levels I have to play with. Existing concrete floor has a little bit of fall on it so the plan was to use some self leveller on that. It looks like I'd then need either 75 or 100mm of insulation prior to laying chipboard or whatever goes on top to bring the finish floor heigh level with the adjacent hallway. Gad-Westy said:
Magooagain said:
Just make the bathroom a solid screeded floor and the shower area laid to fall into a waste with a trap that s accessed from the top. Wet room is the best for older folks.
Cheers Screed over insulation or straight onto concrete? I realise it might have been helpful to have mention the levels I have to play with. Existing concrete floor has a little bit of fall on it so the plan was to use some self leveller on that. It looks like I'd then need either 75 or 100mm of insulation prior to laying chipboard or whatever goes on top to bring the finish floor heigh level with the adjacent hallway. Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff