Shower Tray type/base and installation

[davey-j]

Hi,
I am installing a shower tray 1400x800 in a space the bath used to be. There are various pipes that sit above the floorboards which I can't really re-route.

I wanted to ask can I build a solid wooden frame secured to the floorboards and to the joists and ply over the top, then put the tray on top of this?

Also what type of tray would you go for, stone resin , acrylic etc as there are mixed reviews on the cheaper ones, or are the acrylic ones okay?

How would you secure this to the ply if its possible to do so I.e use a concrete mix??
Thanks for any help much appreciated.
Dave

 

[Chalker]

Hi
I've not come across many pipes that can't be moved. Just the lack of wanting to move them!
If you don't move them you can make a structure, like you mention. Use good quality plywood and screw everything.
As for trays. Use a quality resin capped tray. These stand knocks more then the foam core type. All will chip, of somthing heavy or sharp,is dropped.
You can use sand and cement to bed the tray. But I find whenever I take one out the cement adheres to nothing. Better option is to use powdered tile adhesive. Prime the ply first. Then, for belt and braces, tank the shower out before tiling.

 

[davey-j]

That's a nice polite way of saying stop being lazy and re-route my pipes haha!
Fair enough!
I think I'll take a look at moving the pipes but failing that will build a frame.

You say take the tray out before tiling? wouldn't you leave it in and tile down onto the tray and then silicone?

Thank you for the reply

 

[Chalker]

Sorry. That's a typo!!
Meant to say " tank" the shower out. As in waterproof the internal area of the shower.
Will edit.

 

[davey-j]

Thanks again for your time and advice, it's much appreciated.
D

 

[Dumbo]

Even if you reroute pipes I would still take out floor boards and put ply back in place before fixing shower tray

 

[JMC tiling]

you might have to have a raised shower tray anyway because of the waste/joist positions. You can get riser kits with the shower tray that come on adjustable legs with a plinth to finish.

 

[Flintstone]

Is the try raised due to issues with having enough fall?

 

[Just Rizzle]

any pipe can be moved it just needs experience or a plumber

 

[Just Rizzle]

this week and last weve been revamping an ensuite shower room and bathroom if we had to lift the shower tray above the existing pipes the shower tray would be 13 inchs above the floor,
weve ripped every pipe out replased the old tank with a 210 ltr unvented hot water system which gives us 3 bar pressure all round weve tanked the whole rooms and fitted new bette shower trays flush withe the floor tiles which weve tiled under and fitted German style as well as a bette bath again fitted German style will get some photos and let you guys see when we finish.
the wall and floor tiles are a dream 900x450

 

[SJPurdy]

........ and fitted new bette shower trays flush withe the floor tiles which weve tiled under and fitted German style as well as a bette bath again fitted German style will get some photos and let you guys see when we finish.

I don't understand!
What is German style?

 

[Just Rizzle]

a lot of the trays and baths we fit are German made ie Bette and there instructions on fitting are to tile to the walls and floors tanking out like A wet room and the trays fitted to the tiles and not the tiles into the trays as the trays screens have only 5mm tolerance

 

[davey-j]

Yes the waste is above the floorboards that travels across the middle of where the shower tray is going to be, along the skirting board and through the wall and down through the house as we are on a septic tank. Also we have an extension to our house so the waste for the sinks and toilets pass through the middle of the new and old part , under the garage and into the septic tank which is located under our drive.
Bit hard to explain, but quite hard to re-route under the floorboards as the waste to the main bathroom meets up with the wastes in the en suite next door, and both travel through the middle of the new and old part of the house.
I've built a solid frame and have ply'd on top and am going to lay a bed of rapid set and mount it onto that hopefully that's right?

 

[Just Rizzle]

would a mass orator improve things

 

[davey-j]

??