Removing tiled bath panel

[charlieb_5]

Hello!

I’m trying to replace the tap to my bath, however struggling to get access under the bath due to a tiled bath panel around it.

I’ve managed to locate a couple of tiles which appear to have silicone rather than grout around them, so have tried to cut this silicone away. The tiles appear to move very slightly now if pushed.

I can’t see any obvious screws anywhere, and it looks like the tiles are on a wooden board behind them. Ideally trying to remove them without having to break a tile!

Just wondering if anyone has any other suggestions or if I’m missing something obvious!

Thank you in advance!

 

[Elkato531]

Looks like you're just going to have to try prising them out. Either the tile will come away from the board underneath or the board has been cut to come out with the tiles. It all depends how it was all fitted. The fact that the tiles have been grouted with silicon could indicate that the installer was trying to make it possible to remove a section for future maintenance.

 

[matlob]

I've had similar. I used a sucker to attach to the tile and then was able to pull forwards

Don't think yours are smooth enough to do that but could try and insert a tent peg/hook through the gap and twist/pull

Mine were hold on with a few small blobs of silicone

 

[Madrab]

Typical ar$ehole bathroom fitters/tiler that don't have a clue what needs to happen when the bath needs serviced. Panel should always have fixing screws accessible but alas ....

As suggested - piece of thin wood to save the tile that's being levered on and then try lever bar or plain screwdriver and see if you can lever out a tile or 2.

 

[charlieb_5]

Thank you very much for your replies! Been removing as much of the surface silicone that I can see as possible and trying to lever it but worried it may crack a tile! Might have to try the suggestion of using a thing piece of wood to hopefully lower the chances of breaking one as don’t think I have any spare! Thanks again!

 

[Madrab]

but worried it may crack a tile!

....and unfortunately it is a very real possibility. Many time I've had to take a hammer to a tiled bath panel to get access.

Worst case is you break your way in and replace the bath panel with an modern adjustable one - it would actually bring the look up to date TBH.

Tiled bath panels are 'so last year'

 

[opps]

I have a customer in Barnes that has single slabs of marble as their bath panels. In one of the rooms, you have to remove the vanity unit to get the panel out. Such a PITA

 

[charlieb_5]

Not sure why they design them like that! The bottom tile appears to be ‘wobbly’ now, but it’s still staying on there strong! When I try lever it, it moves a few mm to the side, so pretty sure it’s going to have silicone on the back of the tile holding it on! Will keep trying and hopefully make a bit of progress lol!