Browse Forums Bathrooms and Laundry 1 May 28, 2009 10:19 pm I'm a first time user and hope someone can give me some advice. I asked for walk-in tiled shower bases with frameless glass and the builder has built this rim around the perimeter of the shower area and is planning on tiling it. Yuck. It reminds me of the 60's look. What I thought I was getting was the stepless, seamless design of today Whats worse is I have a black and cream checkerboard design meaning to go to the wall and a border around the wall. Now the pattern is interupted with this raised section and he is saying he cant lay the tiles on a diagonal within the base because of the slope. He said the reason I cant have the stepless type is because we are on joists (20s cal bung). Can anyone offer some advice - he is refusing to change it as the tiler is coming monday. It will depress me no end looking at this not to mention trying to clean it. Here is a pic Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 2May 28, 2009 10:24 pm depending on how your joists run you really might not have an option. They cant cut down into them as it can structually effect the house. Built with Bentley homes in Doreen All moved in Dec 2009 Now for the garden! Our stuff so far viewtopic.php?f=31&t=16532 Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 3May 28, 2009 11:27 pm If you can't change it because of structural reasons, get the lip tiled in plain cream tile (if that's what your floor tile is). It won't be so obtrusive that way. Judie Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 4May 29, 2009 2:09 am kymvass Whats worse is I have a black and cream checkerboard design meaning to go to the wall and a border around the wall. Now the pattern is interupted with this raised section and he is saying he cant lay the tiles on a diagonal within the base because of the slope. He said the reason I cant have the stepless type is because we are on joists (20s cal bung). What a shame your builder didn't consider how your aesthetic choices fit with the practical requirements well in advance, so that you would have had time to look at the options and hopefully find something that would work that you'd be happy with. I can't comment on the joists aspect of your situation. I think a diagonal pattern might have been a problem with a hobless shower anyway because thinking back to the reading I did after our shower leaked there is supposed to be an angle (not sure of the terminology) set into the grout at the edge of the shower. I googled to try to check what the correct term is and I found this website. http://www.waterproofingsolutions.com.a ... 18:rotator So now I'm wondering what that hob is made of? Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 5May 29, 2009 2:11 pm Thanks for your replies. So thats what its called a hob shower base. Obviously what I wanted was a hobless shower base. Gosh I didnt know I needed to know their terminology. I'm not sure where we're at now as our builder is a little precious and whenever we dont like something and tell him we dont like it, we either get slugged some new bill that he said he would wear initially or we dont hear from him for a few days. I'm not sure where we go from here, whether I just give in to his style cos its easier or push to have it changed. I found some products on the internet that provide 25 year leak free guarantee that sits on floor joists for a stepless shower base. Has anyone got any suggestions or building knowledge on going from a hob to a stepless that I can use when negotiating with him? I know it can be done because I have seen two renovations on floor joists that have it. Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 6May 29, 2009 3:03 pm Sorry, I can't offer advice on how best to tackle the discussion with your builder.... how ever I can offer some words of caution with an open shower We have an open shower, and much to my excitement the shower screen was finally put in yesterday (only on one side of the shower - the front of it is open). Anyway, my excitement has faded somewhat now that we've used the shower. Perhaps due to a miscommunication with our tiler, we have ended up with a shower that has a very inappropriate fall to the shower drain basically she started the fall about 700mm from the wall, and it should have been more like 900mm. So when the shower is on, some of the water (enough for it to be a problem) flows freely out of the shower and into the main drain of the bathroom. I was aware when designing a bathroom with an open shower that we would end up with water all over the place - but I imagined that it would be mainly splashes, not a stream!! We now have a rather large dilema about how we can fix the issue - one option is to put a hob in... but that will be a last resort as I don't want a hob. Anyway, I know that's no help for your discussions about getting rid of the hob, but if you manage to go ahead with a hobless shower make sure that your tiler is well aware that it's an open shower and that the fall is appropriate for an open shower. I'm shattered about our issue, so I can imagine what you're going through being told that you need to have the hob when you don't want it. Good luck!!!! Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 7May 29, 2009 3:13 pm My walk in shower is just like that, similar size and on the 2nd floor, I don't understand what he means, but I am not a builder If someone can explain I am interested. Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 9May 29, 2009 10:18 pm Macy - you're right I think he is only thinking about his agenda in this instance. He's been ok on everything else, just refuses to budge on this one. Thanks Judie, if I have to live with it thats a good tip. cheers, Kym Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 10May 30, 2009 12:04 pm Our house is on stumps and we have a seamless walk in shower with no issues Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Da Vinci Outdoor Living Architectural landscaping http://www.davincioutdoor.com Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 11May 30, 2009 12:28 pm I cant see what the issue is. Like da Vinci says, the fact that your bathroom sits on joists doesnt mean that you need a hob. From your pic, what we are looking at is the base under the tiles. Between this base and the tiles is a bedding mix that the tiler will lay to give the tiles fall. This is usually about 32 to 20 mill thick, which should be ample to allow for fall to the shower waste without putting in a hob. . But what I can see from the shower waste, its sitting directly on the floor. Usually on suspended floors, between the shower and floor waste, there should be a puddle flange. This is a flat disc that gives added waterproofing protection. Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 12May 30, 2009 5:28 pm davinci - wow I love your shower, would be great to see it finished. vvs mand - you sound knowledgeable on what should be done, do you know anywhere on the internet for further information to arm myself. Do you think it would be costly to change it now - we have cement sheets nailed down in preparation for tiling. I'd imagine they just have to take those up, shave off some of the joists to allow for some fall, then its up to the tiler to create the base with concrete????? Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 13May 30, 2009 6:37 pm Actually Im a plumber. sorry, but Im not aware of any sites where you can get help. Although, Im not a tiler, I know from bathroom renos that Ive done that after the floor is waterproofed the tiler applies his bedding mix and its here that he determines his fall. I cant from your photos why it would be difficult for the tiler to allow for fall into the showerwaste without using a hob. The builder may be just trying to protect his ar-se in that its often a problem having a hobless shower as water often spills out into the arrea in front of the shower if not done correctly. It simply may be just easier for him. Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 14May 30, 2009 6:51 pm He certainly seems precious........why would a fall in your shower be any different from a fall on the main part of your bathroom floor ? Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 15Jun 09, 2009 5:38 pm A simple option could be to raise the height of the sub floor in the rest of the bathroom so it sits higher than the shower area. At the door to the bathroom a 1/4 round transition could be used to hide the height difference from room to room. Colin Wharton Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 16Jun 10, 2009 11:39 pm Thank you everyone for your input. We have finally found a solution and I thought I would share it just in case someone out there might have a builder like mine that needs to be brought into the 20th century.
After discussion with the builder, his main concern is water leakage down the track and his warranty. Well I found a product that is made especially for tiled showerbases that prevent leaking and they can be installed on timber floor joists (upstairs too), easy to install and tile over. The Universal Shower Base which comes in all shapes and sizes and all the big developers use them and hospitals for wheelchair access (stepless). http://www.universalshowerbase.com.au/range_shower.html Now we just have to compromise on the lip he wants below the glass screen. So thankfully for the internet I am going to get my shower and tile pattern I wanted and the builder is happy with offering his guarantee. Re: Help Builder has built 60s style tiled shower base 17Jun 30, 2009 11:53 am Bit late for this reply haha sorry But you don't need to have a hob.. Hobs have been known to be made out of brick or even a hebel block cut to size.. If was worried about the shower leaking due to warranty, that's more the problem of who ever waterproofed it.. so either the tiler or a waterpoofer To stop the water, traveling is know the exact size of the tiles, as well as the exact position for the shower screen.. then they would put say a 25mm-30mm angle from left to right, just like your hob is. Then who ever is doing the waterproofing would stick it down with sikaflex, as well as seal it up with sikaflex on the corners, then waterproof it an fiberglass the angle to the ground an the ends as well. The tiler is then able to screen his bed with correct fall for the shower recess as well as the rest of the bathroom. The falls are important to ensure the water flows into the waist an not outside. If it's done correctly with measuring it all up, the angle should be exactly in a grout joint or under the tile (depending on tile sizes, you don't want to cut a tile an have half a tile) the angle will not be visible, as the screen will be directly on top of this, or it will be grouted or a tile covering it.. Why know the tile sizes an screen position? it gives you the correct position for the angle to be placed, so you can contain the water inside the shower recess ONLY you won't see the grout being wet outside of the shower recess, it will remain dry, as will the bed. Also at the door way, there should be another angle, we now cut part of the door jamb, so the angle goes directly across the door entrance, just in case there is water it will stay inside the bathroom, an not you room Cheers Mano I have seen poly marble shower bases last in excess of 30 years 1 3042 Hi All, we are starting to think of building with Masterpiece Builders in Victoria, has anyone had any feedback or experience with them 0 7443 No, I even have sections of narrowness where the tiles won't slide up any further. When I manage some spare time, I might play around with the first DIY part of my… 7 3610 |