Egg-Carton Type Walls - Bathroom Fitting

[cr0ft]

Hi all,

How the devil do you fix anything heavy such as basins/shower enclosures etc to these walls. I'm on about the sort of things where light duty plasterboard fixings just won't cut it. From what I can see, the space in the 'cavity' is only about an inch or so and there isn't even enough room in the cubes for the spring toggles to open again.

Should I be advising the customer to have proper stud walls fitted for a long-lasting job?

Just don't see a decent way to fix things like electric towel rails etc to them.

 

[SimonG]

Shower enclosures are alright, but I'd be opening up and securing some 3/4" inch ply inside the wall as an extra precaution on basins and towel rails.

 

[cr0ft]

Will there be studwork to secure it to in there? From what I have seen so far there are no vertical studs at all to secure any bracing too for the basin etc.

 

[cr0ft]

From what I understand reading up this system is called paramount plasterboard wall. Seen it a couple of times before but never had to install a new bathroom where 3 of the 4 walls are made of this crap..

 

[Leo21]

If its filed first you should be okay, just don't push the plugs past the tiles. And there always silicone to help you along.

 

[SimonG]

I haven't had to do many, but I cut a hole, scrape out the cardboard and then put two bits of ply in, securing into the remaining plaster board, put the bit of board I cut out back and screw it into the ply. Basically you are making a plasterboard sandwich and spreading the load. If that makes sense 🙂

 

[Leo21]

If its filed first you should be okay, just don't push the plugs past the tiles. And there always silicone to help you along.

That should read tiled first.

 

[Destroyer2813]

Studs are only every 3-4 foot croft pain in the backside when it all comes away with the old tiles, what I have done in the past when this happens is add extra 2-2 screwed top and bottom and gripfill the existing side that is staying to the new studs for strength sand then replace with new plasterboards/ply/backer boards

 

[tamz]

They are came basically as a 8 x 4 sheet of plasterboard. The only timber is top botton and at the sheet joints usually 1 1/4" square.
Simon G's method is easiest to do.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

i have this abomination in my house, it was a nightmare to work with!

 

[Pipedream]

Just finishing two bathroom refurbs in a house built with this horrible stuff. To put in a wall hung basin, had to chase out and put in a new section of stud work, but only 1 inch deep, nightmare.

Learning point = ask customer if they know what the internal walls are made of when doing a quote!

 

[REDSAW]

nonails lol.

 

[tamz]

Learning point = ask customer if they know what the internal walls are made of when doing a quote!

Just look at the thickness of the door frame. Usually in 60's 70's built houses

 

[stevetheplumber]

i once hung a rad on a wall and thought id been lucky as hit what i thought were studs and just screwed both brackets on when we came in next morning we had the guy from the next flat waiting for us asking why he had four screrws sticking through his passage wall turned out the wall was only 3/4 thick matchboard with plaster board on or side

 

[cr0ft]

I've done that before but with a wall that was just made out of 2x12.5mm thick bits of plasterboard. No cavity. And over 100 screws through to the bedroom on the other side. Not good!!

 

[Guest123]

When I'm fixing a towel rad to dodgy walls, I add additional support to the bottom in the form of a chrome 22mm munsen ring and m10 threaded rod on a munsen ring back plate and the rod is hidden with a small section of 15mm chrome pipe. Use 2 dome chrome headed mirror screws to fix it to the floor. Absolutely 100% secure and gives peace of mind, especially when a towel rad has the weight of water and a full compliment of towels.

 

[Leo21]

Cunning stunt.

 

[TomLane]

Cunning stunt.

Don't try & say that too quickly!