Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement 1 Apr 13, 2016 11:53 am Hi all I apologize if my DIY methods aggravate people but I am in need of some advice. I have recently installed a fibreglass (acrylic?) bath on a bed of mortar supported by a fairly substantial timber frame. The next day I was working on the surrounds (recessed shelf and prepping for tiling) when I noticed that when I put weight on the floor of the bath it makes a very loud and unpleasant grinding sound. Like the sand in the mortar mix is being squashed by the bath. The mortar was just a cement and sand mix from a bag and was made to be fairly dry. I had to build up the mortar fairly thick (approx. 100mm) to support the bath as the waste pipe needed to run underneath the bath, weird I know but it works. I did not put any weight in the bath when the mortar was setting as I have heard this causes the bath to spring back into a higher position and the mortar shrinks which leaves a small gap between the bath and mortar bed. How can I stop this grinding sound? It was that bad, and can be heard wherever you put weight, that I unscrewed the waste from the bath and pulled the bath out. I could not put up with that sound when getting in and out of the bath (which will be used as a shower). I have been told to try expanding foam while weighing the bath down but have read elsewhere not to use it. It has also been suggested to use a layer of silicone but I am unsure if this will solve the problem either. Can anyone suggest what I should do? Thanks in advance. Re: Sandy / Grinding sound under newly set bath 2Apr 13, 2016 2:34 pm Whenever I did a reno of a bathroom for a client and installed a bath we would set the bath in as per you have on a bed of mortar in the right position then carefully remove the bath. We'd let the sand/cement bed dry for a day or two then use big dobs of silicon and set the bath in to its final position. I'd also use silicon where the bath is set into the wall to stop squeaks against the timber frame as well. Stewie Re: Sandy / Grinding sound under newly set bath 3Apr 13, 2016 4:03 pm Stewie D We'd let the sand/cement bed dry for a day or two then use big dobs of silicon and set the bath in to its final position. I'd also use silicon where the bath is set into the wall to stop squeaks against the timber frame as well. Re: Sandy / Grinding sound under newly set bath 4Apr 13, 2016 10:33 pm I just set the bath on its frame and slide 5 or 6 pieces of timber about 150mm apart planning to height so they are firm but not lifting the bath, mark there spots on the floor,pull the bath out,glue and side shoot these to the floor if its a timber,or use fast grab if its concrete. In most cases the bottom of the bath is a little concave so I use a heavy bead of silicon on top as well,plonk the bath back in and its done. Re: Sandy / Grinding sound under newly set bath 5Apr 14, 2016 10:21 am Thanks for the replies. I was thinking of using silicone but did something a little different last night which has worked flawlessly. Please read the whole sentence because I think some people will disagree with what I did. Hehe I made a small batch of self-levelling compound into a butter type consistency. I put in on the floor and let it dry for a few hours to see if it would make the grindy sound when dry. To my joy, it didn't, at least using my thumb to replicate the sound it didn't. Assuming it didn't make a sound because of the lack of sand (which I feel was the problem), I made a much larger batch to the same buttery consistency, laid it over the existing bed of mortar (about 15-20mm thick), set the bath and then (after connecting the waste correctly) filled the bath 3/4 with water . I kept seeing mixed recommendations about whether to put weight in the bath or not when the mortar is setting so thought I had nothing to lose. I awoke this morning and pulled the plug on the bath. I pushed down on the floor of the bath and it was rock solid. I then stood in the bath and walked from one end to the other - not a sound. Not one grain out of place, no movement of the bath whatsoever. So for now (hopefully forever). My problem is solved. Many people told me not to use self levelling compound but I never intended to use it in the consistency you are meant to make it to. Job done. Now onto the rest. Cheers again for your responses. The unit normally clips into a metal plate screwed to the wall, either plate is not flush, or unit not hooked in and could be hanging from the pipes partly, either might… 2 15773 Thank you so much. This has been very helpful. We definitely wish to settle and get these people out of our life. They are trying to charge us interest on late… 7 14242 Hi We have a road close to our place and only an old flimsy wooden fence between us and the Neighbour closest to the road. Any ideas on a sound proof modular fence. Like… 0 7458 |