Tiling above a shower tray

[Jill]

I know this isn't authentic - but I am not prepared to have a tin bath in front of the fire!

Paul is currently tiling the ensuite, I came home today and he asked how I wanted the bottom row of tiles fitting above the shower tray? I thought that as the shower tray is already in place and has been sealed with I presume silicon sealer that putting the row of tiles directly onto the shower tray and then adding a neat thin strip of silicon would suffice? He wondered if we needed a quandrant trim. Any suggestions/advice.

 

[MurrayPrice]

What you have said is standard practice. Although different trims and seals are available. I have fitted loads over the years and no leaks.

 

[middi]

If the tray is well secured and sealed with no possibility of any vertical movement ( i.e: not on a flexible floor) a 5mm gap at the bottom of the tiles and finished with a neat infill of silicone sealant will be fine. Make sure the silicone is gungicide proof.

Larger "weather" strips above the shower tray stick out like a sore thumb and only required if the shower tray is on some flexible floor joist

 

[Jill]

Thanks for that. I wasn't considering the floor construction - 22mm waterprrof laminated chipboard on floor joists. I was going more for what would look best. Better start looking for a decent trim.

 

[Feltwell]

This system is supposed to be good - not used it myself, but have heard good things about it. They do an over-tile retro-fit style (which I think would look hideous) or an under-tile "new build" type which should be a lot neater.

http://www.teleseal.co.uk/default.html

 

[Pford75]

Having experienced various leaks (due to flexible floors)...I would now only select shower trays with an 'upstand' that can be tiled over.

 

[chuckey]

Quite a few shower trays have a taper on their sides, so the tray fits at its bottom but there is a gap at the top of the tray and the wall. Its is important that if this gap exists that it is totally filled with a suitable waterproof medium, so any leaks between tiles or tiles and tray does not lead to water running down between the tray and the surrounding walls.
Frank

 

[Penners]

As others have said, provided the floor is firm, so that the shower tray doesn't move at all, then a fillet of silicone should be successful. I've never had any problem with this technique.

 

[Me!]

Quite a few shower trays have a taper on their sides, so the tray fits at its bottom but there is a gap at the top of the tray and the wall.

Why do they make them like that? I've always thought it was a stupid idea, ..... or am I missing something?

 

[Moo]

I was told that it's because they're made in a mould, which has to have tapering sides so that they can get the thing out once it's set (think jelly moulds).

In an ideal world the shower tray would be fixed in place first, and the walls built round it so that the tray is, in effect, set into the wall.

 

[Penners]

A perfect technical explanation from Moo.

 

[Moo]

Ooer. Thankee so much, kind sir. I feel all overcome.

 

[Me!]

Oh yes, that certainly makes sense.
It's just seems a bit of a shame that for the convenience of a few manufacturers, thousands of customers have to make themselves tapered walls!

 

[AMc]

Wow that sounds very silly indeed - but also highly plausible. We bought a 4 upstand shower tray from "just trays" on the recommendation of the plumber. He'd never been called back to a leaky upstand tray and so he always recommended them. I bought from the plumbers merchant so he had no incentive to pick one thing over another.