When to lay the floor tiles and shower trays on a solid floor.

[Sparks]

Me again...

Firstly, in the bathroom, is it better to lay the floor tiles before fitting the toilet and hand basin, then sit them on top of the tiles? (I have a solid floor)

Secondly, still in the bathroom, I want to install a shower cubicle in my bathroom with a solid floor. I don't really want to raise the tray, so can I just chisel out the floor to accommodate the waste pipe? (although this room is on the ground floor, there is a height difference of about a foot between the bathroom floor and the patio outside, so running the waste lower then the bathroom floor level is not an issue)

Thanks!

[Lobster]

Yes - tile first: much neater.

Why don't you want to raise the tray? Much easier having it standing on a plinth, all the more so with a solid floor. Apart from anything else, if you do stand the tray on the ground, you'll need to be able to get your hands under the front to access the trap/pipes etc to install them in the first place. A plinth also gives access for servicing in the event of any problems later. Plus, depending on the structure of your floor, you might easily end up digging down through the DPC while excavating your floor.

David

[Christian McArdle]

Absolutely. Definitely install the tiles first. Doing it afterwards looks like a bodge and is far more difficult, too.

That depends on the floor construction. You may find you are digging through the DPM, which would be a bad thing.

Christian.