Should new bath be put on a load-spreading plinth?

[jonnylarge]

We're in the process of installing a new, first floor, bathroom. We bought a bath and a panel online and have run into an issue, and I just wanted to question the advice we have received.

The bath sits 535mm high and the bath panel (longest side required only) is 510mm high, which leaves a 25mm shortfall.

Once the tiled floor is in this will reduce the shortfall to 12mm.

We are advised, by the bath and panel suppliers, that this gap is because we have mounted the pairs of feet at either end of the bath on a 25mm, load-spreading, plinth - with the feet supplied with the bath set to the lowest height they can go to.

Is the advice not to use a plinth correct? The solution for us at the moment is to replace the panel, but I'm slightly concerned as to the advice given.

[Globs]

jonnylarge said:

We're in the process of installing a new, first floor, bathroom. We bought a bath and a panel online and have run into an issue, and I just wanted to question the advice we have received.

The bath sits 535mm high and the bath panel (longest side required only) is 510mm high, which leaves a 25mm shortfall.

Once the tiled floor is in this will reduce the shortfall to 12mm.

We are advised, by the bath and panel suppliers, that this gap is because we have mounted the pairs of feet at either end of the bath on a 25mm, load-spreading, plinth - with the feet supplied with the bath set to the lowest height they can go to.

Is the advice not to use a plinth correct? The solution for us at the moment is to replace the panel, but I'm slightly concerned as to the advice given.

I do not know the details of your floor, but perhaps some 12mm ply would be a good compromise?

Personally I dislike panels and use 6mm ply and some skirting, then paint the 6mm ply the same as the walls - it looks miles better IMO, although obviously not easy to open if you need to. Then the height doesn't matter either..

[miniman]

I've never seen a bath panel that fits precisely. The normal approach is to attach a second strip of plinth at the bottom of the panel.

e.g. this is two pieces - the panel and the plinth at the bottom.

[Gingerbread Man]

You should set the height of the bath to the height of the bath panel. Add a bit for tiles and adhesive, also the ply or what ever the tiles are going on. If the legs are wound right in, but the bath is still too high, you'll have to remove your bracing under the legs.

As mentioned, you can get bath panels that have a separate plinth which take up the slack in the floor angle or slightly out measurements.

[Nickyboy]

I had the same issue when i replaced my 1960's council fitted bath, it was actually dug into the wall so had to sit at the same height, i ended up putting a baton along the bottom that the bottom of the panel is attached to and tiled it.