Bath Fitting Questions

[robsartain]

About to fit a bog standard cheap bath from a well known DIY place starting in B and ending in Q.

Q1... Am I better off fitting the tiles round the bath/shower area first. Main reason is for easy access (because bath isn`t there) and secondly is it wise to fit the tiles so they end at the top of bath height or fit the tiles lower than the bath so no need to cut and then mastic between the tile and the bath ?

Q2... Obviousily a bath needs to be angled towards the plug end. Do modern baths have a base that already slope towards the plug end, due to the way they are moulded and so meaning that the top of the bath is perfectly level. I hope that makes sense.

Any other tips welcome along with mickey taking comments

[Herbie58]

Fit your floortiles before you fit your bath, if it ever needs to be replaced or moved you wont' have to re-tile. Fit your wall tiles after your bath has been fitted, from bath upwards to roof, cutting tiles to fit into roof - so that your bath can be flush with the wall and your wall tiles will at least give the impression of being straight from the bath level and any slant will be on the tiles at the roof end.

Your bath will have to be leveled off (the feet are designed for this) as your floor probably won't be as level as you think it is.

I may be wrong, but it's how I did it.

[jas xjr]

whilst it would be easier to tile first you will get a better finish once the bath is in. what you could do is tile all but the last row ,put the bath in , then tile to the bath.

the bath should be angled as standard. if you level it up with the adjustable feet , the water should run to the tap end. half fill the bath before you apply the mastic

[robsartain]

Thanks guys,

quite obvious now you have said about tiling all but the last row...easy when you know how.

[HiRich]

Whatever material bath, but particularly plastic, think very seriously about putting it in a supporting frame. Do not have it simply standing on its feet. The risk is that the bath will flex, and no silicon bead will accommodate the movement.

Frame would ideally be 2x4", along both long edges. Wall edge can be gripfilled and screwed to the wall, front face needs a rectangle or H-frame. Set it dead-level at a height you choose. Bath edge supported (and still use the feet). Bath panel screws securely to the frame (keep it removable so you can always get to the plumbing in an emergency).

[Ferg]

Never fit a bath to an already tiled wall. You need to lose the rounded edge.

Make sure you put some 4" x 1" flat under the feet to spread the load, level the bath accurately then lower the bath 10mm on the feet nearest the panel. With the bath pushed hard against the wall, secure the feet nearest the wall to the timber. Yes, it's a bd to do, but you want this to be secure don't you? Once this is done wind the previously altered feet to achieve level. This will 'pinch' the bath hard against the wall and once tiled and sealed it won't move. Finally adjust up the centre foot and screw the feet nearest the panel to the floor.

[Herbie58]

robsartain said:

Thanks guys,

quite obvious now you have said about tiling all but the last row...easy when you know how.

what are you going to do when you realise that the roof isn't level if you do it that way.

It's like wallpapering, you never have a straight edge at the top or bottom, and if you take your starting line from the roof and work your way down, you're going to have to cut the tiles into the bath at a diagonal angle. Doesn't look good at all! Work from
the bath up! After it's been fitted so that any diagonal tiles are cut into roof.