Shower tray replacement

fulanoquetal

Does anyone have an idea of how hard it is to replace a shower tray ?. I have an acryiclic one (not porcelain at any rate) and it has cracked. I have been trying for weeks to get a plimber/tiler to replace it but they never show up so I may end up doing it myself.

It is in a rented property so I want to minimize the inconveience to the tenants. I THINK it should be doable in a day...but not sure. It is also heavily dependant on having all the right materials handy. Aside from the tray. adhasive/silicone, drain fitting and the normal tools etc, what else is needed. Does a waterproof membrane need to be replaced ? Do i need sand or a leveling compound of spme sort ?

The current tray is a 900mm quadrant but it is 14cm high. Most new trays seem to be low profile...so I may also need to add some tile between the top of the new tray and the bottom of the current tiles.

Any advice is appreciated !

Sleeper12

Google, shower tray repair. This might be a better option for the moment. You could replace the tray after tenants move out.

leinster93

Get a fibreglass repair kit small - Maybe here
https://glassfibre.ie/product/grp-repair-kit-small/

If tray is white it is possible to get white fibreglass.
Bigger job to replace the tray with new trap alignment and add in the classi seal around tray plus tanking/retiling...

Outkast_IRE

You can get normal profile and low profile trays. Engage with a good plumbing & sanitary ware provider and they should be able to offer either.

If replacing for a rented property i would be ordering a new tray and shower door set. Also get a tray with an upstand, they are a safer option.

To be honest i dont consider shower tray replacement a DIY job, or a handyman job. Its expensive when things go wrong.

Do you know how to correctly level and bed down the tray ?
Can you competently plumb the drains as its not likely to line up with the new tray.

Do you have the tools to make the holes through the joists if the trap on the new tray is in a different location.

Not to mention the tiling and sealing issues.

Its also not a one day job ideally. On day one you should

1. Take out old tray

2. Check drain locations to allign to new tray and modify as required.

3. Put new tray in position , check levels, level, put down bedding , drop in tray, connect drain from above.

4. Walk away for 24 hours

Day 2

5. Return Tile & Grout - Again ideally with a gap in between

Day 3

6. Shower Doors and Seal.

DublinDilbert

Rented property, use a shower pod, where the tray goes up the walls. That is a one day job as there is no tiling. The only place to seal is the drain and maybe the shower doors. Due to the shape there's no place for dirt to collect. I've to do one myself this summer and will go down this route.

fulanoquetal

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Rented property, use a shower pod, where the tray goes up the walls. That is a one day job as there is no tiling. The only place to seal is the drain and maybe the shower doors. Due to the shape there's no place for dirt to collect. I've to do one myself this summer and will go down this route.

Thanks...is this a one piece resin/fibreglass unit ?. Had one of those before and didn;t like it. Existing shower has tile so would need to remove that anyway I assume.

fulanoquetal

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

You can get normal profile and low profile trays. Engage with a good plumbing & sanitary ware provider and they should be able to offer either.

If replacing for a rented property i would be ordering a new tray and shower door set. Also get a tray with an upstand, they are a safer option.

To be honest i dont consider shower tray replacement a DIY job, or a handyman job. Its expensive when things go wrong.

Do you know how to correctly level and bed down the tray ?
Can you competently plumb the drains as its not likely to line up with the new tray.

Do you have the tools to make the holes through the joists if the trap on the new tray is in a different location.

Not to mention the tiling and sealing issues.

Its also not a one day job ideally. On day one you should

1. Take out old tray

2. Check drain locations to allign to new tray and modify as required.

3. Put new tray in position , check levels, level, put down bedding , drop in tray, connect drain from above.

4. Walk away for 24 hours

Day 2

5. Return Tile & Grout - Again ideally with a gap in between

Day 3

6. Shower Doors and Seal.

THanks...thats the kind of input I am lookinng for. I have tried to get someone in to do it but they are not interested/don't show up. I am a fairly competent DIYer - enough to know that some jobs are not DIY jobs and that somethings turn out being harder (or easier) than they look.

I was planning on replacing the tray, the surround and the tiling in the shower area. The rest of the walls need to be tiled as well but I figure that will take too long and that I'll buy enough time for the whole room and replace the rest later.

WHat is an upstand ?

I don't know how to bed the tray...but obviously the fall has to be to the drain. The current drain is in the corner so the new tray would have the drain in the same place - but they may not line up exactly.

Tools are probably not an issue and I am OK with tiling and sealing.

May need to wait until tenants are on holiday - this is an apartment so there is only one bathroom and it cant be out of commission for very long.

Thanks again.

Outkast_IRE

fulanoquetal wrote: »

THanks...thats the kind of input I am lookinng for. I have tried to get someone in to do it but they are not interested/don't show up. I am a fairly competent DIYer - enough to know that some jobs are not DIY jobs and that somethings turn out being harder (or easier) than they look.

I was planning on replacing the tray, the surround and the tiling in the shower area. The rest of the walls need to be tiled as well but I figure that will take too long and that I'll buy enough time for the whole room and replace the rest later.

WHat is an upstand ?

I don't know how to bed the tray...but obviously the fall has to be to the drain. The current drain is in the corner so the new tray would have the drain in the same place - but they may not line up exactly.

Tools are probably not an issue and I am OK with tiling and sealing.

May need to wait until tenants are on holiday - this is an apartment so there is only one bathroom and it cant be out of commission for very long.

Thanks again.

An upstand is a lip on the tray which can help contain the water if there is a leak between the tray and the bottom row of tiles , or under the shower door.

This would be an example https://lg.aqva.co.uk/L-2018-11-16--12-23-16-54.jpg

You tile down over the lip on the tray, in order to achieve this plumbers will often put the tray in position then mark the line of the lip along the walls, and remove the bottom bit of plasterboard or plaster and sit the tray back into the wall so you can tile straight down to the tray.

The right hand image on this page shows what I mean

https://www.mirashowers.co.uk/professional-zone/news/faq-feature-shower-trays/