Browse Forums Bathrooms and Laundry 1 Jul 18, 2011 7:42 pm Hi folks. This is my first post here. I haven't got much experience in this area so please bear with me if I haven't got all the terminology right. I embarked on my first "little" reno project (using a builder) recently. My project involves the installation of a 2nd small bathroom behind the garage under my house. The space under the house was a little short of the required 2.1m so I had the builder excavate the existing concrete out to ensure that there is adequate height (the eventual step down from the existing slab didn't bother me that much). The project has progressed to the point that the tiler is now ready to do his bit. Unfortunately, I don't think the builder has excavated the area low enough to begin with because I have been left with only about 4cm for the tiler to work with. This is all the space he has for his bedding and the thickness of the tiles on top. I would've thought that a 30mm bed would suffice but the tiler (whom I have engaged directly) has pointed out to me that the puddle flange system the builder's waterproofer has installed is sticking out too high. Instead of being recessed into the slab, the plastic bit surrounding the drainage pipe is sticking out about 10mm from the slab. On top of this, the drainage part (which screws up and down) sticks out a further 20mm when screwed down to its lowest point. According to my tiler, this latter part should be even with the rest of the slab to begin with, allowing him to screw it out as high as he needs to suit his bedding. As it presently stands, he says that it essentially leaves him with about only 10mm to create a fall - which I understand will be completely inadequate. My problem is that the builder's waterproofer has already been and gone, and the flange system is covered in a blue painted on waterproofing coating ("Gripset 38" I believe it was called). I have a few questions: 1. I'm thinking that the problem could be overcome by "simply" having the flange system cut off and the slab below the flange system ground down 30mm to enable a new system to be be installed which will have its top-most part equal to what my tiler suggests. The waterproofing could then be fixed by reapplying more of the blue paint over the rectified work. But if I do this (or insist that the builder do it), will this result in a weaker (or non-compliant) slab directly below the flange? (I think the existing slab is only 100mm thick as it is). Also, will simply reapplying more Gripset over the affected area be enough to repair the waterproofing or will the "breach" need to be repaired by reapplying Gripset over the entire bathroom floor? 2. As an alternative to the above, the tiler suggests that he can construct a hob to enable a higher bed to be placed in the shower area - he was suggesting going up another 50mm. If he does this, the height between the shower floor and the ceiling will be only slightly over 2 meters in part. I'd say the shower area comprises about 1/3 (maybe a fraction more) of the overall bathroom space. In this situation, will the bathroom still meeting the relevant BCA room height requirements? I paid a lot of money to have this ruddy little bathroom done "professionally" and to ensure all relevant BCA and other legal requirements were satisfied. I have to say I'm more than a little annoyed having this issue (amongst others) arise now. Having a hob installed will stuff up the "look" I wanted in the bathroom but I guess I can live with it provided that the bathroom will still be "legal". Cheers BJ Re: Waterproofing/Flange question 2Jul 30, 2011 8:58 pm I'm really sorry I can't help BJ - but as I'm another one with bathroom issues at the moment, I just wanted to wish you good luck in finding a solution. Hopefully someone else can answer your queries. HHCIB Hi Geoff Install Puddle Flange prior to any screed. Puddle flange needs to be flush with the surface so you may need to grind away the surface to achieve this. Also as… 2 8371 I have researched this topic in detail recently but for another state which has no licensing requirements at all so any handy man can waterproof any old way and not have… 1 8474 2 8647 |