Bath renewal thoughts ?

[gmartine]

Fit the bath, get client to cough up for a universal bath panel that can be trimmed without looking like a dog.

 

[Best]

Really the only issue I see with this is the bath won’t suit panel height.
I would be happy to fit the bath up against the tiles - and I am fussy to do trays and baths to be well supported and sealed. Had to do this plenty of times when replacing damaged old baths.
If you could get a batten screwed to wall for support, then excellent. You could also use silicone and tighten the bath up to the tiles, leaving a 3mm joint to seal later.
The panel might be a good idea to pass the buck and tell the customer to get a joiner to trim and support it, that way saving you the wasted time.

 

[JTplumbingservices]

I have done this kind of thing. It isn't exactly fun.

In my case, I had to butt up to the sides of the existing tiles. This didn't stop me battening however. I wouldn't have done it that way out of choice, but it was how the old bath had been installed - the tiles were not cut to a level and so I had to replace like with like. This was for a friend who accepted it was a like-for-like replacement and who was due to give birth a week or so later so just needed it done quickly and isn't the type to then complain about how it looks so long as it works.

If the original bath had been tiled onto, as it should be, then I would have cut down the panel and fitted the bath to finish 2-3mm under the existing tiles. So my vote is for option 2, but bear in mind cutting a panel is not an easy job.

I have cut down plastic panels to fit under an existing bath. Then the panel had no structure and I have to build an elaborate wooden frame, curve the edges in, use velcro to make the panel removeable etc to support the panel, faff around with a block plane etc and cut carefully around surface pipework... and it took me over a day. The finished result looked excellent, but I made very little money on that at all. As I said to the customer, at least it was interesting to do, even if it did take a whole day just to do the panels, support the bath feet properly etc etc.

This was a part of the cut-down panel job in progress. Today, I would not really be happy with this, as the bath edge is still not supported by the wooden frame, but I was happy at the time.

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Great reply mate.
We can’t always do a job exactly how we’d like to do it.
On this job he has battoned it and got a nice fit between the batton and tiles and made a timber frame to secure the panel.
Bit of a pain but it will end up fine I’m sure.

 

[Best]

If it won’t let water past it and well supported, then just call it a bespoke install.

 

[JTplumbingservices]

If it won’t let water past it and well supported, then just call it a bespoke install.

Ha.. I’ll pass that on to him

 

[Welder]

Sometimes you have to put your foot Down As the contractor as it becomes a tossup between what Cust wants compared to a cut corners slap dash job. It boils down to communication again

The reality here is that a 'professional' is being told what and how to do the job by a know nothing. Feels like a no win. With an attitude like that the very first thing that goes even slightly awry will see the customer over you like a rash.

If it were mine I would simply walk away as it wasn't going to be done correctly. But it's not mine ....

 

[Best]

The reality here is that a 'professional' is being told what and how to do the job by a know nothing. Feels like a no win. With an attitude like that the very first thing that goes even slightly awry will see the customer over you like a rash.

If it were mine I would simply walk away as it wasn't going to be done correctly. But it's not mine ..

Not sure Dave that it is something extreme for a customer to ask that you just leave the tiles as they are and fit the bath to below them.
If it can be done a proper job, except for the bath panel height, then I would do it.
A quote for the job explaining customers request and bath panel issue should cover any chance of criticism later

 

[JTplumbingservices]

The reality here is that a 'professional' is being told what and how to do the job by a know nothing. Feels like a no win. With an attitude like that the very first thing that goes even slightly awry will see the customer over you like a rash.

If it were mine I would simply walk away as it wasn't going to be done correctly. But it's not mine ..

The customer usually tells you what they want done in their property from my experience.
I can only advise them of the correct way.
In my opinion although the job will not be done the best possible way it will still be done well, bath will be secure and sealed nicely will look no different than if it had been tiled down onto.
The only way I would refuse to do a job the way the customer asked was if it was unsafe to do so, it wouldnt work, or it would look bad.
In this case neither apply.
Thanks for the comment though, I appreciate everyone’s input.