Fallingditch Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Problem. Two shower trays have been installed. (I did not source them; I don't know where they came from but I can find out). One is 900 x 1500; the other 900 x 1800. They are walk in showers, with simple glass screens. There is a problem. Neither of them are flat. They are bowed in the middle. So the water on the plughole long side drains away, but the water on the opposite doesn't. 12 hours after taking a shower, puddles of unclean water remain in the tray. So even though they have tiled in, sealed etc, I am not a happy bunny - this problem is not going to go away. Suggestions, please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oz07 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Put a bubble on the flat edge both ways and let us know. Will show either installation error or manufacturing error. Suppose it then comes down to what type of contact you had with fitter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 I can't recall - are you using a main contractor? Either way, did the person who installed them supply them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 16 minutes ago, Oz07 said: Put a bubble on the flat edge both ways and let us know. Will show either installation error or manufacturing error. Suppose it then comes down to what type of contact you had with fitter. Yes +1. Spirit level ( aka "bubble" ) on both x and y to see what shape they've been installed, first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryder72 Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Spirit level but also what material are the trays made from. If they are acrylic capped stone resin, this is not entirely surprising, especially on very large trays. I have seen this sort of thing before on standard builders merchant supplied trays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fallingditch Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 Thanks for all the constructive comments! Really helps. I know nothing about shower trays and how to lay them :-( Trays are 900 x 1500 and 900 x 1800. I am pretty sure that both are standard builders merchants acrylic capped stone resin. They have been laid to flat: The surface of the tray itself shows an incline, so water should be flowing towards the plug: However, the surface of the tray is not itself flat. It is bowed in the centre. The tray is bowed in the centre: So it sure looks like this is the reason why water is not draining adequately: manufacturing defect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fallingditch Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 9 hours ago, jack said: Either way, did the person who installed them supply them? I am employing subcontractors on a T&M basis. This should have been spotted but it wasn't. I am going to have to negotiate something here. It will be a real PITA to replace and there will be costs but at the same time I don't think we can live with this. So the next question is, anyone know where to source trays of these sizes (which are flat FFS) ? (And how does the industry get away with this level of quality control? do end users just accept shower trays which don't drain? Do manufacturers send them out of the factory door whatever the quality? Do Distributors accept them and resell them whatever the qualiity?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 We were warned, a couple of times, by the supplier of our 2000 x 900 shower tray that we had to make sure that it was stored carefully before I installed it. It was pretty heavy, around 60 to 70kg IIRC, and there were pictures all over the packaging warning against stacking it in ways that could result in in getting distorted. As it happened, I installed it the day after collecting it, so there was no problem, but I did notice that they had what looked like custom made racks to store shower trays on. My guess is that BMs may well not take as much care as they should over storing them, and that may be the cause of some problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragg987 Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Steel trays would be my choice - e.g. Bette or Kaldewei via megabad.com for keen prices (but still more expensive than your BM acrylic trays). We have Bette flush-to-floor trays which are excellent, heavy and will not flex if mounted correctly. Yours look like they are slightly above the floor, I believe both types are available from both suppliers. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oz07 Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Is this why a plumber I've used before beds them on a full compo bed? Try and get a rep of the manufacturer out or email or tweet that seems to work wonders with customer service Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 I've never, ever, even seen a metal shower tray TBH . A good quality stone resin tray shouldn't have such issues, but I have seen this exact same problem with a cheap BM one . It's not fit for purpose so I'd chase the supplier for recourse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alphonsox Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 We had this very problem with a shower tray we had installed in April - A 900x1800 Stone Resin tray -The plumber spent all day working on it before stating that it must be a manufacturing issue. He had the tray completely flat but water still pooled in one area. We called the bathroom supplier, who called the manufacturer, who sent a technical bod around a couple of days latter. The technical guy agreed that the quality wasn't up to spec, arranged for a new tray to be delivered and payed for the plumber to come back and swap out the faulty unit. Excellent customer service that turned around an unfortunate situation. (Bassetts bathrooms, Flair Showers) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 I have a feeling that it's probably worth going to a bathroom company to get stuff like this, even if it is a bit more expensive. We had no choice, as not many people stock 2000 x 900 shower trays, and ours ended up having to be ordered specially anyway, but I can't fault the service and support from the small local bathroom specialist we used. They took a lot of time making sure that I knew how to store and install the tray, and rang me up a couple of weeks later to make sure everything was OK. They weren't the cheapest, but their advice was invaluable, as was their help with loading the damned thing into the back of my car................ (yes, a 2000 x 900 shower tray does fit in the back of Toyota Prius, quite easily). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 24 minutes ago, JSHarris said: I have a feeling that it's probably worth going to a bathroom company to get stuff like this, even if it is a bit more expensive. We had no choice, as not many people stock 2000 x 900 shower trays, and ours ended up having to be ordered specially anyway, but I can't fault the service and support from the small local bathroom specialist we used. They took a lot of time making sure that I knew how to store and install the tray, and rang me up a couple of weeks later to make sure everything was OK. They weren't the cheapest, but their advice was invaluable, as was their help with loading the damned thing into the back of my car................ (yes, a 2000 x 900 shower tray does fit in the back of Toyota Prius, quite easily). Feel free to give them a mention J, and their location. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Just now, Nickfromwales said: Feel free to give them a mention J, and their location. . Harlequin Bathrooms, Salisbury: http://harlequinbathrooms.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Thanks. We hear of so many who get it wrong, let's not be shy of stating who got it right . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fallingditch Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 The trays were supplied by an eBay Plumbing supplier based in Sheffield. They were bought by my sub so he will have to do the chasing. Off we go ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fallingditch Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 On 12/06/2017 at 14:22, Nickfromwales said: A good quality stone resin tray shouldn't have such issues, but I have seen this exact same problem with a cheap BM one . It's not fit for purpose so I'd chase the supplier for recourse. Well, supplier was chased. They have supplied two replacement trays. The first one still has pooling issues but not as bad as before, so (somewhat reluctantly) I have gone with it. The second replacement tray was again defective so they are replacing that again! Getting to the point where I have little confidence in their ability to provide a shower tray which drains. Wish I'd known of this risk six months ago ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Tbh, I've only ever seen one tray like this. It must be a duff batch or they're using a duff mould. Did you have to remove and re-tile each room? Sub cover the work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fallingditch Posted August 4, 2017 Author Share Posted August 4, 2017 (edited) On 31/07/2017 at 07:22, Nickfromwales said: Did you have to remove and re-tile each room? Sub cover the work? Had to remove two and re-tile. It was at my risk The 900 x 1500 tray has been replaced. The water now flows down the trap reasonably well. But it does now leave lots of little puddles behind. Is lots of little puddles normal? Am I getting obsessive here? Do most shower trays 'not drain fully' and rely on air drying to cause all the water to finally disappear? (Thing is, I have a 2nd replacement tray and under test on a bench it is also leaving lots of lottle pools so have to decide whether to bite the bullet! ) Be interested if previous posters have an opinion @Oz07 @jack @ryder72 @jsharris @ragg987 @alphonsox @bitpipe ... Edited August 4, 2017 by Fallingditch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 None of the larger low-profile trays drain completely. You will get pools, but shouldn't be bigger than a 50p or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragg987 Posted August 5, 2017 Share Posted August 5, 2017 Ours does not drain completely and leaves behind said coin size puddles, dry usually a few hours later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fallingditch Posted August 6, 2017 Author Share Posted August 6, 2017 On 04/08/2017 at 22:16, Nickfromwales said: shouldn't be bigger than a 50p or so. Under test in the front room. I think the expression is "there's a lot of £5 notes here" LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted August 6, 2017 Share Posted August 6, 2017 About right tbh, as they're long trays and low profile eg not a great deal of fall. That will get a little worse as the tray surface gets surface scratches. It's nice and shiny now so the draining is at its best. My bath has falls to the centre plug 'ole and still has water pooling here and there so it's only significant as the tray is in such clear view. Do you look in the bath after the water has drained ? . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesgrandepotato Posted August 10, 2017 Share Posted August 10, 2017 (edited) I've just removed one before tiling after it became apparent that it could never drain. Fitted an impey wet room floor much much better! And completely flush with the rest of the room :-) not overly expensive at £250 for an 1800*900 tray other one one is to be refitted in the garden by the sauna as a garden shower doesn't matter if it leaks there! Edited August 10, 2017 by Lesgrandepotato 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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