Over the years I have had to replace a number of resin shower trays which have cracked. I suspect that the cracks develop because the bases are not properly supported underneath as there is always a hole in the flooring to cater for the bottle trap and pipework. Can anyone advise me of the proper procedure for their installation? Should the tray be bedded down in something to provide better support?
Thanks in advance
David
Yes, they should be bedded on either a fairly dry mortar mix or on silicone sealer. This should cover the entire area.
First of all, the floor should be firm under the whole area of the tray. Use a piece of 18mm WBP ply if you are in any doubt.
Then position the tray on thin wooden shims to simulate the depth of the mortar and adjust the trap to mate correctly with the underside of the tray.
Remove the tray and the wood and put down the layer of mortar to a depth of about 10mm. Put a smear of silicone sealer on the top face of the trap both below and above the rubber washer Level the mortar roughly then position the tray.
Check that the tray is level in both directions and adjust if necessary.
Fasten the trap with more silicone sealer under the flange.
Recheck the tray and make sure that no mortar has escaped from under it. Push back in place if it has.
Leave for 24hrs before use. .andy
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Thanks Andy
Just one point on choice of material. I used mortar quite successfully. I believe that at least one person here has used silicone sealer. If you do use it, you will need a lot of tubes and very good ventilation or you will gas yourself with acetic acid vapour. I believe that the final result was successful though.
.andy
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I think if you used enough silicone sanitary sealant to do this job, the whole room would be smelling vinegary for weeks! And it would be an extremely unpleasant place to be while the stuff was curing!
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