Is it best to tile behind or on top of bath?

[John the tile]

Just wanted to know peoples preferences or if it doesnt matter, or what the reason are for either?

Tiling behind the bath before its fitted or ontop of the bath after its fitted?

thanks

[Sir Ramic]

A normal bath ?

[doug boardley]

onto top of bath golddigger

[Del W]

Fit bath first.You cut tiles to suit.much better IMO

[whitebeam]

More chance of a better seal tiling on top of the bath.

[blocko]

Dont forget to fill with water first!

[Daz]

Surely the majority of baths (obviously, excluding the free standing variety) are "recessed" into the walls?

Generally, a small channel is cut into the walls for the bath and then batons installed to provide support. The bath would then be sealed to the walls prior to tiling. Install the tiles, then seal tiles to bath, too.

[jolly fix]

i have done them like that,but it does depend on the profile of the bath,so many profile styles these days.just chased in an old cast bath,if i didnt then the tiles would have sat behind the bath role profile making a small silicone water trap channel.about 10mm wide.

[nybor62]

on top of bath

[doug boardley]

always best to cut tiles onto top of the bath too, very rare that you get a pan flat level bath top.

[masterbuilders]

Personaly I would prefer Daz's method. Firstly put bath in position, level it, make recesses into wall or walls (as its unlikely to find perfect 90 degree walls). Fix bath into position connecting plumbing and waste, fill up bath with water, check if bath is level again, seal around bath to walls with a good quality silicone, tile on top of bath and seal again after grouting. The double sealing reduces the risk of water leaking

[aph257]

Always fit bath first then tile.

[Bri]

Fit bath first for me, seal it (and tank if necessary) then tile, then seal again. Masterbuilders made a very good point about very few walls being 90 degrees, so if you fit the bath after tiling you could end up with a silicone bead that is 4mm in places and 20mm in others, or worse still, your bath won't fit.

[Stewart]

If it's a standard bath fit first then tank n tile. If it's a Jacuzzi type bath with jets, then always check fitting instructions, as fitting first then tiling could invalidate the warranty.

[John the tile]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Its a normal bath. The double seal is good advice and im also thinking that in most cases a full tile along the bath is best, which might not happen if you tile first from the floor.

Thanks again

[whitebeam]

I don't do a full tile on the bath, the chances of it dead flat are slim and depends on the setting out as well.

[tommyzooom]

Some baths, inc "Jaccuzi" are designed to be tiled first, you will have trouble to fit the panel if you don't

[Derry]

Personaly I would prefer Daz's method. Firstly put bath in position, level it, make recesses into wall or walls (as its unlikely to find perfect 90 degree walls). Fix bath into position connecting plumbing and waste, fill up bath with water, check if bath is level again, seal around bath to walls with a good quality silicone, tile on top of bath and seal again after grouting. The double sealing reduces the risk of water leaking

+1 agree with all of the above.

[IvegotsTILE]

Always have the bath fitted first and get a double seal