Fixing Thermostatic mixer bar to wall

[palmar]

May be repeating ourselves as first post and unsure! Just converted bathroom from 2 v.small rooms into 1 just small room.Fitted new toilet, sink and p-bath.Bath fits snugly between two walls.Had to change end of taps around due to P shape and lack of space. However end where taps was was outer wall and now is inner wall.No problem there BUT can't fix mixer bar of thermostatic shower onto this wall as it is inner wall and under the (currently) crumbling plaster are thin breezeblocks and part breezeblocks. We need about 3-3.1/2 inches to be able to affix the mixer bar. Apart from removing plaster and building wooden frame on breezeblocks to support a small wooden box which in turn would hold mixer bar screws/fittings, water pipes coming up into box, and then be tiled over etc., any other suggestions. To recap, mixer bar with fittings/screws needing about 3-3.1/2inches. Wall - thin singular breezeblock inner wall. First big plumbing DIY job. Determined to do it right. Any suggestions please folks???

 

[Softus]

To recap, mixer bar with fittings/screws needing about 3-3.1/2inches.

Can you explain what's happening within those 3-3.1/2inches?

Is it pipework? If so, why such a big allowance?

Wall - thin singular breezeblock inner wall.

I'd expect such a wall to be at least 4" thick. How thick is yours?

 

[wiggikins]

Toolstation do a fixing plate for this application, page 331 if you have mag, or google it!

 

[palmar]

Thanks for the prompt replies. At the back of mixer bar there is a screw fitting which is quite large which enables the mixer bar to be attached to wall. At end of screw fitting water pipes get attached by elbows. This ends up giving quite a protrusion,i.e. about 3-3.5" as stated, mainly caused by screw fittings which are supposed to be hidden in the wall. We think that shower would probably be quite simple to fit had we a double skinned wall, or an outer double wall but unfortunately as stated, only a single very thin breezeblock. The breezeblock is only about 3" deep. We're finding all sorts of problems like this - unfortunately it an ex Local Authority House (many years ago) but it was obviously a botched job when put up and previous owners haven't remedied anything. Bathroom floor slopes and outer walls totally uneven so where we've had a stoothing wall added we're going to have to match the remaining bit of wall with about 1"-1.1/2" plaster. We call it "the house that Jack built". Chronic!! but....we'll get there.

We're also looking at the possibility of the shower wall plate by Toolstation. However we're still going to have to drill into the breezeblock to fix this onto and then presumably the mixer bar screws into this etc. so will still possibly need more space than we have. Still looking into though.
Again thanks for suggestions, any more gratefully received.

 

[palmar]

We've just had a closer look at the shower wall plate in Toolstation and it appears that by using this we can probably omit the large screw bits which go on the back of the shower mixer, attach the bar directly to the front and the water pipes to the back. The problem could be solved! Thanks a lot and we'll let you know.
PS If the problem IS solved, you will probably still hear from us as we still have to finish off and fit a radiator. Its a good learning curve though!