Do I install my new bathroom suite THEN tile the floor, or do I tile the floor then install the bathroom suite?

Help is much appreciated.

depends on what you are installing a bit more info please

Originally Posted by jay

depends on what you are installing a bit more info please

Basically its a new bath, basin and toliet. Im going to take out the old bath, basin and toleit (olive green currently) and replace with a white suite. The floor is currently vinyl lino, with plywood underneath.
I want to take up the lino and replace with tiles but cant figure out if I need to put the suite in and then cut the tiles around the new units or if I need to lay the tiles and put the suite on top.
Thanks for your reply!

its always best to tile all floor area if possible , what substrate are you tiling on

as marbleman says always try tile the full floor,leaves a cleaner finish than cutting round pedastel and toilet, also what thickness is the ply,you may need to rip it up and put some thicker ply down. as most vinyl is layed on 6mm.

I like the bath in first, then tile the floor and walls, finally fit toilet and basin

as doug says Bath tile basin and toilet

I would remove the ply as well as the old suit (chances are the ply would have suffered water damage under the vinyl), put down new 15mm ply if you can come up that high, if not a tile backer board at whatever thickness you need. Then install the bath, tile the floor (and walls) then fit the basin and toilet so that you get a nice finish and the bath panel can be cut to sit on top of the floor tiles. Hope this helps.

A BIG THANK YOU to all of you that have replied. *bow's*
OK... so I should tile first. Now I'm thinking I may have to put thicker ply down as it was vinyl before. What thickness Should I use?

Thanks everyone!

If the bath is fitted first , take care with the height regarding the bath panel.

I wouldnt tile on ply thinner than 12mm and that would only be if I couldnt come up any higher in the door way or if the sanitary ware would not line up with the existing pipes if you used thicker. I would suggest using No More Ply or another backer board but these can be more expensive than ply. If you decide to use ply, my advice would be use as thick a board as you can get away with.

if you use a smaller ply i like to use pink grip grip fill over the sub floor then screw 300mm centers i use skrim tape over the joints then a small blob of tile cement along them first then tile away
or even use 6mm ply from frunt to back pink grip then 6mm ply left to right there is your 12mm ply screw 300mm centers

Originally Posted by tiling spread

if you use a smaller ply i like to use pink grip grip fill over the sub floor then screw 300mm centers i use skrim tape over the joints then a small blob of tile cement along them first then tile away
or even use 6mm ply from frunt to back pink grip then 6mm ply left to right there is your 12mm ply screw 300mm centers

Hopefully Noob has his bathroom in now. two layers of 6mm won't achieve the ridgidity of a 12mm sheet regardless of how much 'pink grip' is used

Originally Posted by tiling spread

if you use a smaller ply i like to use pink grip grip fill over the sub floor then screw 300mm centers i use skrim tape over the joints then a small blob of tile cement along them first then tile away
or even use 6mm ply from frunt to back pink grip then 6mm ply left to right there is your 12mm ply screw 300mm centers

6mm is definately wrong and so is two layers of 6mm, ?

12mm at the very least.

I like the bath in first, then tile the floor and walls, finally fit toilet and basin

Thats the way like but make sure to acknowledge this:

If the bath is fitted first , take care with the height regarding the bath panel.

As above, but 2 layers of 6mm ply? I would prefare 18mm minimum 12mm if to much height increase. Backer-board.

2 layers of 6mm
SCARY like a horror movie

Dont like the sound of 2 sheets of 6mm ply

yes, I agree to tile the floor first

Hopefully this job has been completed by now

but for future reference,15 mm is the minimum for overboarding with ply
15mm is not available so the next size up is 18mm

if theres height issues remove the floor , brace the joists by adding noggins and fix 18mm ply to the joists
do not use 6mm or 12mm for under tiles as they not rigid enough and will allow deflection in the floor even if the joists are braced