Tiling a shower floor

[deuce22]

Hi.

I am constructing my own shower cubicle in my bathroom as it is to big to buy a tray to fit.

The entrance has about a 60mm step to stop the water from running out and I will be fitting a linear type drain along the front with a slight fall from back to front.

I am fitting Porcelain tiles throughout the Bathrroom, but I am unsure if these would be OK to fit in the shower.

I would also like to know what other things I can do to make it as waterproof as possible.

I have been told by a tiler that fitting the tiles on a flexible adhesive and using waterproof flexible grout will be sufficient.

Thanks.

 

[Richard C]

I have been told by a tiler that fitting the tiles on a flexible adhesive and using waterproof flexible grout will be sufficient.

Nope; you’re building a wet room, if you don’t tank the floor & at least part way up the walls, it won’t last long. There are other issues you need to consider regarding floor rigidity & using the correct materials for both walls & floor; get it wrong & it wont last long. Is it a concrete or suspended timber floor?

Take some time out to read through the Tiling Forum sticky, archive posts on wet rooms & Google the many wet room products there are available; yo can get some pretty large pre-formed wet room floors.

Come back with specific questions if you have any.

 

[deuce22]

Hi Richard.

Thanks for your advice.

It is a suspended floor using 18mm P5 flooring. I have tiled directly onto this in one en-suite after speaking to the adhesive manufacturers.

As you say it Won't last long and it obviously does need to last long.

The reason I asked for advice on here is because there is so much conflicting info and I just wanted some feedback from somebody who personally recommends a particular product.

Thanks.

 

[Richard C]

It is a suspended floor using 18mm P5 flooring. I have tiled directly onto this in one en-suite after speaking to the adhesive manufacturers.

I would never tile directly onto chip board no matter what any adhesive manufacturer said.

As you say it Won't last long and it obviously does need to last long.

Unfortunately you may well be right.

 

[tictic]

buy a former for the floor,easier and cheaper in the long run,as you already have your falls in it.

when you buy the former it will be 18mm-22mm thick,so this will be the thickness of your NEW floor(not the carp stuff you have down).

add additional dwangs/noggins to joists(what spacing are your joists at the moment?)

put new flooring down(prime) then use a waterproof floor memebrane follow mfr instructions.

what tiles are you planning on fixing mate.

 

[deuce22]

Hi tictic.

The joists are at 300 centres.

I've just looked at the shower tray formers and the a bit expensive. I din't budget for any of this as I just listened to a tiler I had previously used.

The problem I have, is the shower floor area is quite large and I will have to have one custom made.

What are the alternatives to a former.

Would fixing thick Ply and then tanking the whole floor and bottom of the walls work OK.

I am using Porcelain tiles for the bathroom and I'm not sure what for the shower maybe mosaic.

Thanks.

 

[tictic]

ok a few things you have to consider..

what type of shower will you be using..i.e..
litres per minute that will come out of it,this will determine the size/area of your falls(if the area is not big enough and have the correct falls)..you will have ponding as the water wont run at a good rate down the grate..

have been to a good few jobs, that have had ponding and the water running every where,wrong size of tray, water running out the door in one case..honest..very hard to stiffle your giggles and not get a sore stomach..

then if you build the former yourself there is also the ..weight isuue..

imo i would suggest you buy a former mate..
you wont need a custom built one.just one for the wet area that will take the water flow.

then once you have the position of shower unit,you can then work out the layout of the floor....i.e..
where to fit the former,and how the tiling will look,will you be using same tiles for floor and running them up the walls with grout lines matching etc..

 

[deuce22]

Hi tictic.

I will be buying a large shower head and running it off the boiler. The flow rate is 14 litres per minute.

The floor area is roughly 1300mm X1300mm.

I'm assuming from what you have said, that I can buy a smaller former, for example 900X900 and then tile around the edge. Is this right or should there be a minimum size that I should install.

I'm thinking of some style of mosaic tile in the shower (walls and floor).

Thanks.

 

[tictic]

deuce22

should be ok with that..but try this website mate...
www.wetdecs.co.uk
they do a few wetroom formers...tuff/impey..and they can supply all the tanking for walls and floors.(stay away from the tilesafe membranes..lots of bad reports)..


give them a call they will be able to talk you through the whole process(so i dont get a sore finger with all this typing lol..)let them know,but they will ask for the flow rate mate.

oh.. you might want to look into the Purus drainage sytem(top notch)..

best of bud,any other questions just come back on bud..

 

[deuce22]

Hi tictic.

I'm just thinking about other ways after you explained how to use the former and was thinking of just fitting a resin slimline tray and tiling the edges.

Will this perform in the same way as a former.

It will be a lot cheaper and won't cause any problems with the extra depth.

Thanks.

 

[tictic]

slimline trays come in differant thickness range from 30mm -90mm..

the low ones i.e 30mm up to about 38mm thick,you will need to look at ones for disabled addaptations..walker/penta/sollihul etc..there are lots and lots of them mate..
but with these(all low level trays) you will need shower screens full height or low level screens,because of the water flow mate.

as for prices,you might find the former could be a lot cheaper,i have worked with slimline trays that have cost upwards of 500 pounds..
there are cheap one tho bud...

 

[deuce22]

Hi tictic.

I'll have a look around and see what I can get.

Thanks.

 

[deuce22]

Hi.

I have just come across this site and would appreciate some feedback.

http://www.tilefixdirect.com/product/MXST1200-C.html.

The size of my shower floor area is 1300X1300, but I can easily close it up to allow me to use the 1200X1200.

Would this be sufficient.

Thanks.

 

[tictic]

looks ok bud,just follow mfr insrtuction for fitting and make sure you prep and use the correct adhesive/grouts/sealers etc....for using mosaic they cant be any smalller than 50mm.