having failed to find a pre made bathtub that is the design I need (tub shaped but with a step at one end, because it's sunk into the floor), I'm thinking to form it in situ using concrete. Any tips what additives and design considerations I'd need? What sort of thickness do you think for the walls and base? Would it take a mix of grey and white cement, swirled to add some effect, or would this introduce weakness? Would reinforcement of some kind be required ? And what of finishing the surface.. Is it enough to polish it, or should some sealant be applied?
Concrete bathtub?
- Thread starter cjard
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You're mad
Stop being a poncy fussy so&so and choose a bath off the shelf, like a normal person, out of the hundreds of thousands available one will work. Honestly, you complain about not having enough time with the kids and project managing and then come up with madcap schemes like this! 
I've reported you to the mods for insanity, some men in white coats will be along shortly.
This is uncanny. I was down B&Q earlier in discount isle, and there was a lovely toilet pan made out of a thermalite foundation block, a basin and pedestal in London Commons with a great weather struck joint - looked like a good 3:1 mix, and shower tray was a nice standard council grey 3x2 slab.
It was a part suite (hence the sale price), and I was thinking, "If only I could get a bath to go with this suite".
It was a part suite (hence the sale price), and I was thinking, "If only I could get a bath to go with this suite".
FMT.. Please.. Find me a bath that will fit nicely in a 300 mm, 3m x 1m depression in the floor, and has a step inside so it's not a bitch to get in and out of and I'll be delighted to use it.. As someone else remarked, one of their client's flats has a normal bathtub sunk in the floor and the tenants can't easily make use of it
Duravit Nahho is the closest thing I've found, but I'm stumped as to what to do for the step, and it's a thousand quid
Duravit Nahho is the closest thing I've found, but I'm stumped as to what to do for the step, and it's a thousand quid
Concrete baths do exist, but they are expensive to use as they cool the water down. They can be moulded into any shape you like using a hollow mould which is pressed down into a pool of concrete by filling the mould with heavy weights and vibrating it down into the conctrete. But generally they are designed by architects for houses that the archictect isn't going to be living in.
The alternative is to have the top of a standard bath about 6 to 9 inch above floor level with a raised plinth around it and extending about a foot from the bath.
You can then either sit on the plinth and swing your legs over and round into the bath or step from the floor over the plinth into the bath.
This was how I re-fitted the standard cast iron bath when we extended the house.
Structurally the bath was sunk between two joists and stood on a "floor" fixed to the under side of the joists. Had that floor failed then the plinth was made strong enough to provide emergency support under the rim of the bath. ( the floor didn't fail even when the bath was filled to the over flow by a mischevious child )
The alternative is to have the top of a standard bath about 6 to 9 inch above floor level with a raised plinth around it and extending about a foot from the bath.
You can then either sit on the plinth and swing your legs over and round into the bath or step from the floor over the plinth into the bath.
This was how I re-fitted the standard cast iron bath when we extended the house.
Structurally the bath was sunk between two joists and stood on a "floor" fixed to the under side of the joists. Had that floor failed then the plinth was made strong enough to provide emergency support under the rim of the bath. ( the floor didn't fail even when the bath was filled to the over flow by a mischevious child )
Get a grip cjard!
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A problem I can see with any sunken bath is the trap, or rather access to it. A similar problem will exist with the taps and pipework but its not so likely that access will be required, but Oh boy! what a hassle!
Frank
Frank
This one looks great IMHO
http://www.concretenetwork.com/photo-gallery/tubs-and-showers_210/12601-ny-get-real-surfaces_42354/
http://www.concretenetwork.com/photo-gallery/tubs-and-showers_210/12601-ny-get-real-surfaces_42354/
Hmmm comfy!
@FMT: Yeah yeah, what bath is though?
@prince: access to the plumbing on this bath would be via the ceiling of the room below so that's one less worry
@Bernard: a side effect of the design of the house sees me with a bathroom that has a 2.4m x 1m area at one end where the floor is 300mm lower - a few joists at 300mm spacing. I'm thinking to put a 400mm tub in it, or form one, but do you not find the tub quite a long step down? I'm not so much bothered about myself (while I'm fit and able) but it'd be a nuisance for other family members.. plus, it's going to be the shower tray too because there isn't the space for a separate shower so it needs to be quite an easy walk in and out operation..
@prince: access to the plumbing on this bath would be via the ceiling of the room below so that's one less worry
@Bernard: a side effect of the design of the house sees me with a bathroom that has a 2.4m x 1m area at one end where the floor is 300mm lower - a few joists at 300mm spacing. I'm thinking to put a 400mm tub in it, or form one, but do you not find the tub quite a long step down? I'm not so much bothered about myself (while I'm fit and able) but it'd be a nuisance for other family members.. plus, it's going to be the shower tray too because there isn't the space for a separate shower so it needs to be quite an easy walk in and out operation..
Have you actually googled it? There's bits and bobs online even some interesting YouTube videos (expressions Ltd). Just cannot see how you could ever be quids in doing it, even fully DIY, with the days of research, mould and formwork fabrication, the various sealers/finishes etc. Better off spending your time earning money and just buying a normal bath that fits. I don't get the step thing, surely you can just sit on the edge and get in that way, or just buy a plastic step that you step onto, then lift it out when you're in, you can't achieve grand designs without a grand designs budget.
Why not do it in fibreglass (or carbon fibre/Kevlar if you've got the cash)? Big problem doing it DIY would be the gel coat but there's a lad down the road from me makes fairings for racing sidecars and they're all one-offs so sure he could do something for you. Won't be cheap (£1000 odd) but will be a lot lighter than concrete & easier to fit taps, waste etc. Or chat up your local boat builders?
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