Plant Room Help - Raised base?

[richo106]

Hi All

 

My plumbing first fix is starting next week, my ground floor is going to be tiled but won’t be for a long time yet.

 

My plumber said to keep things moving so he can install tanks and associated pipes etc I can install a 50 - 75mm thick base to all to sit on and then the tiler can just go up to it. I will be installating cupboards to hide everything long term anyway.

 

what’s the best material to use for the base?

 

Is this a good idea? Any other suggestions in the situation?

 

I am going to ply the wall to make it easier for everyone, is 1inch battens and 12mm ply standard?

 

Thanks again

[Temp]

What have you got at the moment? If you already have a surface ready for tiling why can't the tank stand on that? Is he thinking some sort of raised platform would look better or is it needed structurally? 

 

I would be tempted not to put a raised platform under it because it might be harder to hide in cabinets later if you don't get the size right.

[Conor]

I cast a 900x900mm concrete platform for our cylinder directly on top of the PIR insualtion. It needed to go in before we did the floor screed. Worked out well. Sits about 40mm higher than the finished floor and is only slightly bigger than the tank. The buffer is wall mounted.

[richo106]

2 hours ago, Temp said:

What have you got at the moment? If you already have a surface ready for tiling why can't the tank stand on that? Is he thinking some sort of raised platform would look better or is it needed structurally? 

 

I would be tempted not to put a raised platform under it because it might be harder to hide in cabinets later if you don't get the size right.

It’s currently ready for tiling, all screeded etc. it has 50mm screed

 

wasn’t doing it structural wise, was doing it as I won’t be tiling anytime soon and can’t just tile that room as will effect the whole ground floor tile layout 

is it worth just waiting until I have finished tiling and then doing my tank after? Was just looking at ways to get things done while I have the trades on site 

 

[Russell griffiths]

I had exactly the same, I worked out tiles and adhesive would be roughly 25mm high. 
so I fixed a 25mm batten to the plant room floor at a point just inside the plant room door. 
I then added a very tough high build floor leveller inside this batten bringing the floor up 25mm. 
when dry I removed the batten and painted the new screed with a couple of coats of garage floor paint. 
all plant and tanks sit on this new screed. 
the tiler came and tiled up neatly to my new raised screed. 
2mm aluminium trim over join between tiles and painted floor. 
worked perfectly. 

[richo106]

Hi @Russell griffiths

That sounds a good idea, one which I’ll be using!

Can you remember which floor leveller you used?

 

I am going to ply wood line the wall would I be ok to screed up to that? Or would you raise it 25mm off the floor anyway and then screed up to that level? 
 

 

[richo106]

Also how deep would the base need to do? Would 600mm off the wall be ok? 

I’ve just spoke to my tiler and he said around 16mm, 10mm tile and 6mm adhesive and anti fracture mat

 

is 16mm too thin for a base?

[richo106]

Also I can’t fix battens down due to have UFH in slab, would I weigh them down? Best to use adhesive (sticks like shit) to hold them firmly in place and then knock them off after?

[Russell griffiths]

Ask your tiler again about total height. 

You will have

adhesive

anti fracture mat

adhesive 

tile. 

Mine came up 20mm

just hold the batten down with some concrete blocks

any floor leveller that will do 20mm 

width is dependant on tank size plus pipe work, the bigger the better. 

More importantly is to clean and prime the floor. 

[richo106]

Thanks again @Russell griffiths

 

https://www.macblair.com/arc-high-build-floor-self-levelling-compound-20kg-bag.html

 

Would something like this suitable? I am trying to make sure what I get is suitable just to be painted as a lot are only suitable for floor coverings and not 'finished floor'

 

Any recommendations much appreciated on this

 

Many Thanks

[Conor]

Get the nonsense leveller from Screwfix, comes in two version, get the one that matches your buildup. Used it loads of times.

[saveasteading]

Can you just tile the area you need? If you use a plain, different looking tile then it will look deliberate, be easier to clean than plain concrete or compound.   And will take an hour tops..