Inserting shower valve into wall.

[notevenadiyer]

Just want to canvas some opinion. I have a customer asking me to insert a shower valve (2 way recessed valve that runs bath and shower) into an adjoining wall with next door. I have explained that it is probably 4" block with nothing behind until you hit next doors block so not really feasible as i will nut be able to secure it. He wants the valve in the center of the bath. I have explained that it is best off at end of the bath where i can build a false wall.

Also advised that if it goes in the centre of the wall i would have to run the flow to the shower head to the end of the bath which would probably reduce flow rate due to the additional elbows i would have to put on to get it there.

opinions please.

 

[John506]

Do you mean you can't secure it to the plasterboard?

http://www.diydata.com/materials/wallfix/wallfix10.gif

http://www.toolstation.com/images/library/stock/webbig/55036.jpg

2 effective plasterboard fixings.

Pardon me if this is not what you mean and it seems like I'm teaching you to suck eggs.

 

[swidders]

Give the customer what he wants. Is there anyway you could do a temp pipe connection to demonstrate possible pressure drop and take it from there?

 

[John506]

Think I know what you mean now... chase out the brickwork and put it in there?

 

[notevenadiyer]

Thanks for replys. Normally i do chase brickwork out so happy with that concept. The problem is this is not a surface mounted valve it is recessed and a big lump. The back of it will be in thin air once i cut into wall. also will have to cut two channels quite deep for hot and cold feeds from the loft down. Will also need to cut another channel for shower head feed. I don't think there will be much of that wall left. Any bathroom fitters / plumbers happy to do this out there?

 

[seco services]

22mm pipework not a problem in a 4" block wall.
how deep is the mixer valve ?

 

[swidders]

Is there no room to build an entire stud wall in front of the existing? Would solve a lot of issues re channelling and burying the valve and pipework and give perfect finish for tiling/decorating etc. Materials for this well under £100.

 

[ChrisR]

If it's one of these, forget it

They take out a whole brick, then you have to put screws in. No way I'd put one in a party wall, too risky. You could easily crack plaster or knock tiles off the neighbour's wall.

You might like to have a butchers at the
FAQ
wot I rote

 

[notevenadiyer]

similar size different shape. I would think that there is a gap between the two adjoining walls but i wouldnt know until i starting hammering out. Should at least be double thickness and not just one block i would hope.

 

[notevenadiyer]

Sorry i forgot to say depth of valve is about 300 mm so cutting out for pipework will be at least 150mm

 

[seco services]

Sorry i forgot to say depth of valve is about 300 mm so cutting out for pipework will be at least 150mm

thats some kind of valve if its 300mm deep and 150mm pipe channels.

 

[TicklyT]

Some party walls are only a 4" wall, with no cavity.

Have you heard about the DIYer who was surprised to find a row of medicine bottles behind a piece of plasterboard he cut out of a wall?

The error of his ways was pointed out by his wife, who wasn't very impressed by the hole in the back of their bathroom cabinet.....

If you can find the room to sink the valve into the wall, you may be able to fit a plate (3mm ally sheet, or 9mm WBP maybe?) somewhat larger than the valve to the 'front', and screw that to what's left of the wall outside your chases, so it ends up flush.

 

[htgeng]

Have you heard about the DIYer who was surprised to find a row of medicine bottles behind a piece of plasterboard he cut out of a wall? .

lol. that reminds me of the scene in the film 'money pit' where the guy opens the bathroom cabinet to find a workman looking back at him!