Few big issues in shower

[jameslpool]

Hi, the house I live in is only 5 years old, but I have a few problems in the main top shower.

The shower tray has a crack in it, I am a big guy, so I know that is the reason for that.
This led to some water going under the tiles and made the carpet just by the door a little wet, this has since fully dried, and we are no longer using the shower.
There are some tiles near the bottom of the shower unit that also need re-grouting, although I don't think water is actually getting behind them.

When we first moved into this house, we had issues right away in this particular shower. Water had been coming out the side of the unit at the bottom and after a few visits and when one guy took the shower unit off, one of the tiles had a crack down it, but when the unit was on you really couldn't see this crack.
That got fixed, and the shower tray has actually been replaced once before, also because it had a crack and as it was still under the 2 years, they replaced it.

I am wondering now what are my best options going forward.
I know losing weight is one lol but in the immediate short term, we need it all fixing asap.
If we got the same tray, it's likely to happen again, is there a way for someone to allow it to take more weight? If not, would we be best with a whole new shower cubical, the type where the tray sits on the floor?
The one we have now is raised a bit.

There is another issue with the shower room in general as well, it's a room that doesn't have any window for ventilation. There is a fan, and this is set to full speed but even with this, we have been getting mould on the ceiling. There is also some peeling of pain above the shower unit as well.

How would I be best dealing with this? The fan we have is pretty loud when it's on full, I am wondering if I can get a better fan, but maybe that's designed to be very quiet? Also, how good is the specialist paint you can get that's mould resistant? Would that paint also be resistant to peeling as well?

I am hoping I could get the same person to look at all these issues.
Would I be looking at a plumber or an actual builder to best contact do you think?

It's all a bit of a mess and really just need some best options to get it all sorted.

Thanks
James

 

[foxhole]

Shower tray correctly installed will not crack .
What are room dimensions ? A fan should be installed as close to source of steam as possible. When we had a small shower room I fitted twin vents to a high powered fan in the loft . Is shower enclosure open over the top ? Taking it to ceiling level will reduce required ventilation.
Any photos?

 

[conny]

It sounds as though there is not enough support under the tray. Our tray is a rectangular type so is quite large. Had a look under it when a plumber came to fit a new drainage part and most of the tray rests on a solid block of polystyrene with a cut away piece for the drain fittings.

Regarding the ventilation. To remove steam efficiently you need a good extractor, but you also need to be able to replace the extracted air at the same rate of movement. This may involve leaving the door slightly ajar or fitted a vent in the door to allow free flow of air.

 

[jameslpool]

Hi, thanks for both replies.
The screen doesn't reach the ceiling, it's short of it by about a good 30cm or so. the fan isn't within the screen, it's a little outside it, more in the middle of the room.
The room dimensions are about 2.5m x 2.5m
I did see under our tray once when it was being worked on, and it looked like it was sitting on a few single pegs that were pointing down.

 

[jameslpool]

Thanks for everyone's replies, I have a couple of people lined up to come and look and give me quotes.
In regard to the main issue (the tray) would any good plumber / fitter know of ways to make a new tray more secure and to be able to offer ways to have a stronger base that can take more weight?
Or would most fitters just say they have to fit it with the base / legs supplied?
In regard to this issue, is there anything else you think I need to be asking the fitter?
Thank you.
James

 

[Madrab]

it was sitting on a few single pegs that were pointing down

That tray is raised on feet then (riser kit), that'll be your problem if you are a larger chap.

It needs a proper plinth constructed with CLS timber and an 18mm ply/osb3 top to support the whole tray across the joists, so there is little or no point loading. Ensure whoever is fitting the new tray knows that will be an absolute requirement. If they are anywhere near professional that wouldn't be a problem for them and would have already offered that or something similar as a solution.

 

[jameslpool]

Thanks for the reply, I guess another slight issue might be, because the house was bought as new when it was built, could it be the case the developer had custom made trays? or would they just be from a retail line that anyone can just buy?
When the tray cracked the first time, the developer did replace it, but it took them a good few months to get hold of it from Kohler / mira.

 

[Madrab]

could it be the case the developer had custom made trays

probably not, only if it was really high end finishes would the trays be custom made. Cheaper to use off the shelf items.

 

[jameslpool]

Hi, I wasn't sure whether to make a new topic but thought it might make more sense adding it to this topic as it's related to it and people would know the background.
I have had a couple of guys out to have a look.
The guy I did like has sent me a quote as we got talking about a walk in shower and enclosure, as he said this also wouldn't need extra support as it's on the floor. But the quote he's sent is materials and labour for £1250
Not sure if this seems excessive, or does this seem about right?
he's also put that he knows a guy that can pop the tiles and might need extra ones in case of any break, which would be a separate price (but not much).

Am i right in thinking that a walk in would be one of them shower heads that's just fixed facing downwards? i didn't think to ask him that, as i would prefer the ones we have, which is a normal head you can move about etc..

Is it best with a walk in enclosure to not really have a spray that's pointing out, so that water isn't hitting the far end?

James

 

[Madrab]

Am i right in thinking that a walk in would be one of them shower heads that's just fixed facing downwards?

There's not always a rain/deluge shower head fitted, some just use an enlarged handset on a riser.

as he said this also wouldn't need extra support

Hmmm, how does he know that until the old tray is up and he can see what's underneath to support the outside edges of the new tray. I also hope he has had a good look at the waste and knows that the run would be ok with a floor sitting tray and that the original shower wasn't raised specifically to accommodate that.

I'm not suggesting the original was raised for that but it's a main reason why shower are on a riser and it's 2 of the key points I would always make the client aware until everything underneath was visible and could say for sure.

 

[jameslpool]

Thanks for your reply Madrab, up to now he's not seen under the tray at all.

Do you think the quoted price of £1250 is also reasonable or excessive?
If it was a walk in and the spray was directed on an angle, would this cause water to easily get out?

At the moment, the enclosure if a slide door, which is a pain because it jams a lot and you feel like you have to put a fair bit of push into it.
I am wondering if a tray similar or bigger would be better, but with an actual door rather than slide.
Not sure what you think about any of that?

 

[Madrab]

It all depends on design, when it comes to walk ins then the longer the better, anything less than 1400mm especially with a rain shower then I would recommend a 300mm return panel to stop water from spraying out.

If an enclosure is considered then a good quality item with a sliding door shouldn't ever stick if it's setup properly and should glide effortlessly until the runners wear of course but a good quality one will have spares available. Of course a door is also good, depends on what you want really.

As far as cost is concerned then that is all relative to quality of materials, where is the world you are, work req, etc, I think you just need to be clear with the installer exactly what you will be getting as part of the installation. Very hard to gauge a cost when on a forum I'm afraid.

 

[dilalio]

Do you think the quoted price of £1250 is also reasonable or excessive?

Compared to what?

You have no comparison, so it's impossible for you or us to even "think" about cost.

Every job is different and comes with unknowns. I tell this to all my customers and say that my estimates are a best guess, until everything is exposed.

I have a bathroom refurb coming up where I have advised the customer that the labour and building materials alone, could come to £10k!

This is because they want a walled-in, raised cubicle replaced with a walk in level access tray, they've had a leak previously and the floor "feels" springy so that could result in new joists and supports, the soil stack is internal and below, the shower enclosure, is their boiler and unvented cylinder so access to stack for a lower connection could be very tricky; the plasterwork/bonding/plasterboard may come off with the tiles and have to be redone and they want a freestanding bath.

So, you can see how much extraneous work can be involved in what people think just relates to sanitaryware and bathroom suites... They see a photo in a brochure and just see a room with items arranged within it... Often, Architects and interior designers also make this mistake!

If you've found a chap you like and feel confident with, you have to go with that. Ask him if he has any photos of previous jobs, yes, the cynical view is that these could be anyone's photos, but I'm proud of my work and always take photos for my portfolio and it's quite obvious it's my work because quite a few have caught my reflection in a bathroom mirror

 

[jameslpool]

Hi, just to update. I am getting the following fitted as a replacement enclosure and tray
https://www.bigbathroomshop.co.uk/m...and-hinged-return-panel-choice-of-sizes-80145
This ready says its a Acrylic capped polymer resin tray.

Don't really know much about that. He knows what has happened with old tray and I have specifically asked can the tray be fine with good support under. He has just come back with he's never had a problem with any tray he's done in the past so will be fine. Do you think I insist as part of the job is done on something that gives it more support, or would that tray be stronger anyway than my old ceramic?
Being a walk, would it just sit totally flat on the floor and not have any points that could give easy?

 

[Madrab]

As long as he's happy to guarantee (in writing) that the tray and his work will happily hold up and you are happy with that then that should be fine.