Leaking bath waste but bath is tiled in

[Syla5]

When mine eventually needs access creating I plan on installing magnets for a hidden access panel.

You can get magnets for the backs of your tiles and just have to use caulking instead of grout around the tiles you can’t to be removable.

Fortunatley we had some left over tiles and I have kept them purely for this very reason.

Might not be helpful unless you can get the old tiles off in one piece and make an access panel yourself, or find some extra tiles to replace ones you have to take off.

 

[Participant]

Thanks all. If there's access from underneath, I'll probably create an invisible hatch using a plasterboard flap, assuming the bath panel doesn't end up coming off on this occasion.

 

[MassiveJim]

Installer has come back saying in our case it would be best to access from underneath and cut ceiling / floorboards away to access. Doesn't solve the problem of if it happens again, but I guess I'll worry about that later as it will drive me nuts if the tiles go back on and they and the silicone and grout look different.

This is the ceiling underneath (it was like this before the leak):



As you can see it needs work anyway.

Am I the only one who thinks this is absolute madness ?

you want to cut floorboards ? seriously ?

 

[wedrum]

and you trust that same installer to rip your ceiling apart ?
find tile replacements then smash a few off and fix it yourself, slap tiles back on.

 

[jpaul]

yes it is ridiculous, cutting re-skimming the ceiling, plus it's also unlikely to give the access needed, but the crack you have already needs attention anyway.

Would have him in, for a mutual quote on providing access via the tiles ... and you will not name and shame him

 

[Participant]

Am I the only one who thinks this is absolute madness ?

you want to cut floorboards ? seriously ?

Well I don't 'want' to, but these boards are not bearing any load so what's the issue with that?

smash

slap

I fear any DIY attempt will very closely reflect those words.

He's coming round on Friday to assess.I can see a scenario where I end up having to pay him extra to create the removable bath panel that he should have created in the first place, as it's out of the 12 month 'workmanship warranty'.

 

[MassiveJim]

Well I don't 'want' to, but these boards are not bearing any load so what's the issue with that?





I fear any DIY attempt will very closely reflect those words.

He's coming round on Friday to assess.I can see a scenario where I end up having to pay him extra to create the removable bath panel that he should have created in the first place, as it's out of the 12 month 'workmanship warranty'.

Don't give him the business if that is the case, unless its a cheap quote

 

[ANDARIAL]

but these boards are not bearing any load so what's the issue with that?

How about if you cut away a floorboard under one of the bath feet?
Not a good idea to get a one time access from underneath
Bite the bullet and take off the bath panel and redo with a removable panel `incase` the waste leaks in the future

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Well I don't 'want' to, but these boards are not bearing any load so what's the issue with that?





I fear any DIY attempt will very closely reflect those words.

He's coming round on Friday to assess.I can see a scenario where I end up having to pay him extra to create the removable bath panel that he should have created in the first place, as it's out of the 12 month 'workmanship warranty'.

Floorboards around a bath are probably the most weight bearing ones you will get in a house.
I wouldn't be attempting to do from below personally.

Starting point, can you match the tiles? If so then to me I wouldnt even be considering coming at it from below

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Ive been planning to get one of these. I have a very slow draining bath which I think is probably a blockage from the toilet. I think the previous owners were fans of them wipes you flush that apparently dont degrade.

Heard good things about these, but also that you may need a strong stomach if your unlucky

https://www.screwfix.com/p/drain-unblocker-25ft-7-6m/11325

 

[JRJ]

How wide is the grout line?
Rake out the grout around the tile nearest the waste then use a multi tool with flat wood blade to cut through the ply, then after fixing glue or screw if you have room a couple of pieces batton for the panel to sit against and caulk it in?

 

[jpaul]

would a builder/fitter have any kind of diamond circular saw to cut tiles/grout .. or that's impossible without a lubrication mechanism ?

 

[Tony Edwards]

Like this:



No skirting and snug as a bug in a rug.





Thinking this might be the ultimate solution unfortunately. Have emailed installer to see if they have any thoughts.

Is that one of those baths with the taps and plug hole in the middle?

 

[Participant]

Is that one of those baths with the taps and plug hole in the middle?

Yeah, it's a double-ended (heh) bath and that cylinder in the centre of the bath is the bath filler and the overflow. You can just about see the plughole in the centre too.



Bit of a pain for one because one's arse keeps popping it up, but when you're bathing two kids at once it's good.

How wide is the grout line?
Rake out the grout around the tile nearest the waste then use a multi tool with flat wood blade to cut through the ply, then after fixing glue or screw if you have room a couple of pieces batton for the panel to sit against and caulk it in?

4mm maybe? This sounds like a decent option / method. I agree with the consensus that there needs to be an access through the bathroom.

Ive been planning to get one of these. I have a very slow draining bath which I think is probably a blockage from the toilet. I think the previous owners were fans of them wipes you flush that apparently dont degrade.

Heard good things about these, but also that you may need a strong stomach if your unlucky

https://www.screwfix.com/p/drain-unblocker-25ft-7-6m/11325

Got one of those that looks identical for ~£8 from Amazon. Nice idea, but it wouldn't get past the right angles and got very twisted and contorted.

How about if you cut away a floorboard under one of the bath feet?
Not a good idea to get a one time access from underneath
Bite the bullet and take off the bath panel and redo with a removable panel `incase` the waste leaks in the future

Floorboards around a bath are probably the most weight bearing ones you will get in a house.
I wouldn't be attempting to do from below personally.

Starting point, can you match the tiles? If so then to me I wouldn't even be considering coming at it from below

Given the waste is in the centre and the bath feet are at each end, I don't think cutting part of a board away between joists in the centre would change how the bath load is distributed across the floor.

I guess bathroom vs. snug access comes down to a gamble over whether I think it could happen again after we redecorate the room underneath.

The tiles are actually still available at £39 for 6, so yes I can match them even if I don't have spares (there might be some in the garage). The repair bill might actually be higher to go through the bathroom, since we need the snug ceiling replacing anyway.

Don't give him the business if that is the case, unless its a cheap quote

Tbc, and I agree with the sentiment but in every other way I trust him and like his work.

 

[Buffman]

However we've recently been experiencing slow drainage from the bath, so we used a plunger on the waste, which worked great at freeing up whatever blockage existed...

Have you told the installer it's your fault? Don't see why it should be using a plunger? (surely it should be fixed fairly well?

You could try degrout one large tile, multi tool behind it as said above. Could then put back in on a shelf with some magnetic fixings (and either grout or flexi filler). Unfortunately wouldn't look as neat as you. Currently have it!

Must be frustrating if they skimped on the drain pipework too. I know you said you paid a good amount for it previously? Really irks me when trades do this (eg skimping on pipes, cables etc) when in the grand scheme of things materials cost naff all.

 

[Uther]

I'd rather take the panel off then start cutting through the ceiling, and I wouldn't be impressed if the installer suggested that!

 

[Participant]

Have you told the installer it's your fault? Don't see why it should be using a plunger? (surely it should be fixed fairly well?

You could try degrout one large tile, multi tool behind it as said above. Could then put back in on a shelf with some magnetic fixings (and either grout or flexi filler). Unfortunately wouldn't look as neat as you. Currently have it!

Must be frustrating if they skimped on the drain pipework too. I know you said you paid a good amount for it previously? Really irks me when trades do this (eg skimping on pipes, cables etc) when in the grand scheme of things materials cost naff all.

No I haven't, nor do I intend to because whether or not it's my fault they won't be doing it gratis. The pipework if properly affixed shouldn't be coming loose from plunging I agree (if that's what you were saying).

The magnet thing I will look into.

Yes it was an expensive bathroom; I believe they didn't replace the entire bath waste because they couldn't safely undo the ancient nuts of the old pipe outside without scaffolding.

I'd rather take the panel off then start cutting through the ceiling, and I wouldn't be impressed if the installer suggested that!

Thing is I couldn't live with a loss of the neat lines in the bathroom resulting from cutting out tiles, whereas I could live with an already trashed ceiling being further trashed and needing replacing.

 

[Jonnybmac]

Blame your mrs hair shedding. I use caustic soda for our shower and it clearscit everytime. Pour into cold water in a bucker then slowly pour down the drain. Leave for 30 mins then flush with a kettle full of boiling water then turn the tap on for a few mins

 

[Minstadave]

I'd rather take the panel off then start cutting through the ceiling, and I wouldn't be impressed if the installer suggested that!

Agreed, I'd rather go through the panel and re-tile than cut floorboards.

 

[jpaul]

the plug gets lifted by turning the dial at the overflow ? or it's popup.
I have the former and the plug had become increasingly hard to lift/seal until I went to town with a bottle brush and extracted all the hair that had built up in the waste; the point where the plug lever enters above the trap seemed like a liability for developing a leak, if undue force was applied on the dial, or standing on the plug.

I used heavy duty mains lead to unblock the narrower sink/bath exits in the past with a piece of rag securely tied at end,
after haveing got a metal/spring unblocker nearly trapped at tight turns, and hoze pipe for toilet u-bend