Vijay

I've never backbuttered tiles but am always happy to be educated. Is the reason it's done to fill all gaps? Wouldn't using a notched trowel allow that to happen pretty much when the tiles are pressed down?

I've thought about this and plenty of suppliers on Ebay. My biggest concern was keeping it down and not acting like a big sail if the wind picks up

I get covering the boiler but why insulate it, wouldn't you want the heat off the boiler into the room??

I shop around for absolutely everything to make sure I get a price I'm happy with. I'm sure it was Mr Harris who commented once how he spent an afternoon getting better prices, saved £100's for a few hours work. I guess you have to decide what's more important to you, your time or your money

I've asked about treatment and it seems to be insecticide rather than weatherproofing. I've wondered about DIY approach

Just wondered where abouts in the country you are? So looks like houses in Golders Green, NW London

Cheers, can't get more black or white than that!! lol I used the VAT online chat earlier, the guy reckons they supplier would have to listen to the inspector, but could not tell me any reasons that would happen. I've had to fill in a form for them to look into the matter now

I'm looking at hiring a concrete pump again for my next ICF pour. Under VAT notice 708, section 3.4.2 Goods on hire, it clearly states that the plant hired with an operator is zero rated where all the conditions of 3.1.2 are met (which they are). The pump company have said they are not allowed to zero rate the VAT as they were told this by a HMRC inspector. Why is there a complete contradiction of the rule, as they set the rule for the house owner but then tell a supplier the complete opposite. How can this be right? Vijay

so rainwater will drip down behind the second fascia board????

what do you guys do about the raised height though, a small step into the room?

I've honestly never had a cracked tile and I can think of at least 5 floors I've done that way. I screwed down the OSB every 400mm so maybe that helped. I just always assumed using flexible adhesive was the key but I'm always happy to learn

I've done a few floors that way and never had any issues. What's the reason you think that?

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but I've done exactly what you've suggested a few times. Pulled up floor boards and laid 18mm OSB down straight onto joists, screwed down. Then tiled straight onto the OSB board with flexible adhesive. I've never had an issue and my bathroom floor has been down 15+ years.

Something else I'll look into if it gives her options

Is the flipper panel the small panel at the end of the enclosure?

So you have 890 of actual enclosed space? Do you get water splashing out at all? I might be able to flip the position of the shower and get an 1800 opening but that might not be possible due to the height of the waste pipe (very difficult to work things out when there's a bathroom fitted) I'm trying to work out the best door/shower head/shower control positions, with ideally the controls near the door/opening and away from the shower spray. I do get your point about shower doors and ideally it would be a simple walk in shower, but hesitant with only 1600mm to play with. It does sound like wall panels are the way to go (if my Mum likes them), but if she wanted tiled, would I need to tank/waterproof the walls at all? I never have in normal shower enclosures before and never had an issue.

Found these guys to be extremely helpful http://www.acrooftrusses.co.uk/ . I haven't ordered yet but unless something comes up, they will be probably be getting my order. Guy I've dealt with is Liam and he's been brilliant!

I don't think 1600 is big enough for a fixed panel walk in shower. I'd guess an opening of 600 would leave 1m of enclosed area and if you have a seat there and a shower splashing, I can't help feeling water would splash out. Deffo looking at a hand wand and overhead for flexibility and making cleaning easier. I will be talking to them about hand/grab rails. Mum was totally against one being installed on the stairs when she had heart surgery a few years back, but now totally appreciates the reason for them being there. I know my Dad will need them more than ever, but I don't speak to him so will have to fit them where I think he needs them. I've got a pivot door on my shower enclosure, why do you say they are the anti christ?? lol We popped into B&Q just to have a physical look and they had a slider that Mum liked straight away. The only issue was the opening was pretty small, so maybe I might be able to find one that gives a large enough opening for them. On the subject of sliding shower doors, if they are hung/slide on the top, do they come frame-less on the bottom? So the shower tray would be the only step?

Yep, deffo DPC that I used. Both places where I used it weren't hidden from the sun though

After a bit of a chat with Mum, she's ruled out walk in baths just for the fact that you have to fill them only once you're in and let them empty before you can get out. I also don't like that in an emergency, she couldn't just get out of a walk in bath until the water has drained. So, hoping to take her to a bathroom showroom sometime this week, but a large shower is the way it's looking. A couple of questions: Is easy clean glass worth the extra money and does it really work? Sliding or pivot door on the shower? Would a digital shower be easier for an elderly person? They have a combi boiler, so water is a pretty consistent temp/pressure unless obviously another tap is turned on. Tiles or wall panels for the shower area? I think I've read here that wall panels are much easier for cleaning and no grout lines to keep clean. Would UFH be a good idea to keep the floor dry and reduce any slipping accidents? I'll definitely have seating inside and outside the shower, really like the idea of a bench that doubles up as they dirty washing basket too

If you've done it so the DPC sits in the gutter, won't work long term mate. I've tried that idea and the DPC isn't UV resistant, so after a couple of years it breaks up.

Yep, found the same thing, every supplier was 600 but some varied in depth of timber too

A supplier said the deflection was worse when the joists were through the blockwork for me and better with hangers

Fair point about the shower try height VS tile height and I like the simple idea of a seating area, which never crossed my mind. Knowing my Mum, having had lino in the past, I tiled her bathroom floor and she much prefers it, so would probably do the same. @Ferdinand thanks for the link and info, I'll have a read though the post Went round to see my Mum this afternoon and she mentioned the walk in baths that are advertised on tv from Assistive Bathing. They do shorter ones with a moulded seat, so you can have a bath sitting up. From a brief look, they need a lot of water though. Has anyone ever fitted one or know if they are any good? I'd obviously be concerned about the door seal. Not exactly cheap but could be something they'd like and even though I'll do what ever they want, fitting one of those would certainly be a hell of a lot less work for me

lol I'm just so lazy Mum is a bit of a cleaning fanatic (old school Italian) so I thought a wall hung unit might be nice for them. It's on an external wall and happy to fix frames if that's what she prefers. I'll certainly show her the raised seat options which TBH I wasn't really aware of. Are the non slip trays good? I'm thinking of safety, it might be wise if they really work? I did have in mind possibly having no tray and a nice drain in the floor. I don't know if I'd be able to get the right waste pipe heights and I've never done one before. I'm just thinking of removing as many trip hazards as possible..................