Roman bath nightmare, cannot fix the leak

[snowhead]

What's the construction of the floor under the bath like, was it re-enforced, is it just a single layer of chipboard?

It could be that the whole tiled floor area is moving under the weight of water (and occupant(s) ) and opening up a leak.

 

[April Banawa]

Do you fill that with a combi ?

Do you fill that with a combi ?

no, i have a huge tank to make sure I don't run out of water😀

 

[April Banawa]

What's the construction of the floor under the bath like, was it re-enforced, is it just a single layer of chipboard?

It could be that the whole tiled floor area is moving under the weight of water (and occupant(s) ) and opening up a leak.

it has three RSJ's holding it up and it was constructed with block and brick. Weight was definitely factored in.

 

[Jones82]

thats under the bath but cant see the waste.

Your looking for a trap and a waste pipe that carries the waste water away

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Can you see the bottom of the waste system from your hole if so add a pic

 

[April Banawa]

Can you see the bottom of the waste system from your hole if so add a pic

not unless I run the water and even then you can't see much coz its so tight in there

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Can you cut a bit more of the ceiling out to gain access?

 

[townfanjon]

April , I am sorry, that has got trouble written all over it .

 

[April Banawa]

Can you cut a bit more of the ceiling out to gain access?

I think I'll have to give that a go

 

[Welder]

That is NOT a suitable waste for that situation. End of.

Who did you pay to set it working?

Regardless, might I suggest you write to them to give them 14 days to resolve the problem to your permanent satisfaction. Take advice but in that letter you can say if it not resolved to your perm satisfaction then you will call in other trades people to remove what has been installed and redo it so it is done properly. At that point you will be taking them to court to recover both costs and an additional sum for inconvenience.

Basically, stop bu66ering about with them. In my opinion, the 'fault' is with the plumber not the tiler. The plumber should have supplied an appropriate waste designed for this situation. If they had done so then the tiles would have less of an issue.

In my opinion, the tiles need to be removed around the waste inside the tub too.

 

[April Banawa]

That is NOT a suitable waste for that situation. End of.

Who did you pay to set it working?

Regardless, might I suggest you write to them to give them 14 days to resolve the problem to your permanent satisfaction. Take advice but in that letter you can say if it not resolved to your perm satisfaction then you will call in other trades people to remove what has been installed and redo it so it is done properly. At that point you will be taking them to court to recover both costs and an additional sum for inconvenience.

Basically, stop bu66ering about with them. In my opinion, the 'fault' is with the plumber not the tiler. The plumber should have supplied an appropriate waste designed for this situation. If they had done so then the tiles would have less of an issue.

In my opinion, the tiles need to be removed around the waste inside the tub too.

Thanks for the advice. I am too nice, so they are taking advantage but rest assured, I told the plumber today that I owe the main contractor £3000. If it isn't fixed, i'm using that money to get it redone and they can hash it out amoungst themselves.

 

[April Banawa]

Is anyone near Thurrock?? I'd like to get a second opinion

 

[Burger]

Is anyone near Thurrock?? I'd like to get a second opinion

Sorry, northerner. I must say apart from your leak,it does look nice. Personally I would have fitted something like this myself: 75mm Water Seal Gully with Horizontal Outlet for Tiled or Stone Floors and double checked with Mcalpine if it was suitable. If it’s only leaking once it’s being emptied it would suggest to me it’s either the waste outlet, the trap or a failed joint.

 

[Ben-gee]

Cbw, they need it to plug for a bath - not be free running like a shower.

I agree on sources of leaking, but in addition in this case you need to add the tanking as a leak source. The treatment around the outlet is critical and in my opinion is more reliable with a membrane than with paint on tanking.

Although I assume they have at least used a piece of membrane around the waste outlet, which is then overprinted with tanking solution - please say they did......

This is a fairly specialist area and not a ‘have a go’ job.....

 

[Burger]

Cbw, they need it to plug for a bath - not be free running like a shower.

yep, forgot that 😳

 

[Knappers]

I would find a specialist in wetroom/Roman bath/swimming pool type installs and suggest to the plumber they pay for a consultation before you do.
It's important not to throw the book at any tradesman, I know I'll bend over backwards for my customers if they ask but will only do the minimum required if thats what they demand.
The mix of builder tiler and plumber here is a recipe for problems if you start laying down the law.

Unless your contract is with just one of them, then let rip 🙂

 

[Chalked]

You have two problems.
1. As you say the waste is not suitable.
2. The tanking. This is for a wet room floor, or wall. Not for it to be totally submerged. These need to be constructed
Ike a swimming pool. Waterproof rendering

 

[rpm]

Pictures and drawings is the way fwds on UKPF ..then we can all have a look and help you. I have in fact been in the Roman Bath many years ago in Bath with my now ex Mrs it was fun but we must move on
Rob Foster aka centralheatking

No surprise there then! 😛

 

[Aire]

I'd maybe ask this question in the tiling forum too, those guys may have more experience in Roman tubs then we do. I would also ask your tiler what sort of grout was used. I'm no expert on the subject but I would say you'd want an epoxy grout suitable for use in swimming pools, it should also be given adequate time to dry which would be around 3 weeks. If a standard bathroom and shower grout has been used then this won't be ideal as it's actually porous and isn't designed to hold water.
Regarding the waste I really have no clue either. The likes of impey, akw and mcalpine all do wetroom shower wastes but nothing for a bath. I would say it's not generally something used that much in the UK so you might want to start looking at products from overseas.
Its a shame because it really does look nice, unfortunately these things are so easy to get wrong and very hard to correct without starting again. You've got £3k held back and I think you've got good reason to keep it, by the sounds of it your plumber and tiler have had enough chances, so I would seriously consider trying someone else. Do some research and get a specialist firm in.

Good luck

 

[king of pipes]

Good advice from Craig above I would get a specialist in hot tubs and jacuzzi baths in I don't know what method of construction was used but you need some professional advice here you could try our sister tiling forum there are some pool guys on there ? Good luck . Kop