Tiling behind bath? or tile down to bath?

Yes.

No, it's not better.

Every time I've been advised to install bath, then tile. Better to have a bit of an overhanging lip to aid water running down the walls to go into the bath rather than have to divert it into the bath. In some cases, with a tight fit there won't be room for any tiles at the side.

Paul

Fix the bath to the wall, and tile *virtually* down to it - leaving a slight gap (3mm?) for a bead of sealant. [Do not use grout between the bath and tiles].

The purists would also tell you to keep the bath full of water while the sealant cures.

Most baths have a slight rolloff at tht edge, so if you install tem against a tiled wall you end up with a small moisture trap to go mouldy.

In many cases it is better to even chop them into the wall a little bit and then tile down to them. This adds rigidity to even the most flimsy of plastic baths.

I've just installed my bath and have tiled down onto it. I've also used a sealing strip from B&Q that goes behind the bottom tiles (in the adhesive) and then projects out from the tiles, forming a seal onto the bath. It looks very professional and should last longer than a bead of silicone.

I install the bath, fill the gap between the bath and the wall with decent sealant.

Then, tile down to 3mm (Or whatever) above the bath and fill the gap with more silicone.

sponix

I do something slightly different.

I really fix that bath to the wall HARD first of all. Any flex means more strutting and support needed.

Then when bath and wall are irrevocably coupled, I run a bead of silicone down to give a flush surface at the bath llip. That means water won't get behind, and will run into the bath

Then I tile UP from the bath using spacers to achieve a normal grout line which I fill with GROUT.

This just looks plan BETTER than sealer visible round the bath...

The secret is welding the bath to the wall in the first place...no movement = no cracked grout.