How to Fit Bar Mixer Shower Pipework
This post discusses how to 1st repair pipework for a bar mixer shower valve installation.
Introduction
When setting up a bar mixer shower valve such as the one shown, it is first necessary to run hot and cold pipework to the valve.
Setting Up a Bar Mixer Shower Valve
Please see Choosing a shower for your restroom for additional information on shower types and their viability for your restroom.
This is done by recessing the pipes within the wall prior to tiling.
In this case study I will be recessing the pipework into a bathroom wall that has already been dot n dabbed with wetness resistant plasterboard.
Doing the plaster-boarding prior to the 1st fix pipework makes it much easier to get perfectly flat & level walls as you do not have the fiddly job of attempting to fit the boards around/ over the pipework (to name a few things.).
Walls likewise require to be square in the corners to allow a good seal (along the edge of the bath in this circumstances.).
Please see Preparing walls for tiling-- reboarding for additional information connecting to this subject.
Method.
Using Bath to Mark Overflow/Waste and Center of Bath Taps.
The bath is briefly placed in position, and the centre line (that runs through the overflow/ waste and the centre of the bath taps) is marked.
This will help us line the shower valve up with the taps for a more visually pleasing surface.
The horizontal level of the bar mixer shower valve is then significant, which is usually around 130cm from the flooring. If you are meaning to fit a bar mixer shower with a fixed riser and shower head, you will need to guarantee that this height allows you to fit the shower in without it striking the ceiling.
Correct Shower HeightIncorrect Shower Height.
Next the pipeline centres are marked with vertical lines at 150mm centres i.e. 75mm far from the centre line in both directions. This is where the pipework will run from the valve, down the wall and connect to the pipework under the bath.
Most bar mixer shower valves accept pipework at 150mm centres as this is thought about basic-- if your particular design has a various pipeline centre worth, then you need to show this at the defining phase.
A location to be gone after out is then significant (into which the pipes can be recessed beneith the surface area of the plasterboard.).
The approximate height of the bath rim is likewise marked at this phase.
Correct Shower Height.
The locations to be gone after out are then chased after out utilizing an exact saw, ensuring that they extend listed below the level of the bath rim, which is marked in pencil on the plasterboard.
Here we can see the pipework under the bath that will be extended up to feed the shower valve.
The hot feed will be run up the left hand channel, and the cold feed will be added the right hand channel.
This is due to the fact that the hot feed will enter the valve on the left (as we take a look at it) and the cold feed on the right.
This is an industry requirement.
Since of this, the pipework under the bath is in line with this configuration.
You can see that the bath drain & trap has actually also been fitted at this time. When the bath remained in position, a cross was marked on the flooring through the waste hole in the bottom of the bath to mark the needed place of the bath trap.
Copper Pipework Is Soldered And Then Placed Into The Channels.
2 pieces of 15mm copper pipework are then soldered together with a 90º elbow for each feed, which are then put into the channels as revealed.
The horizontal pieces of copper (at the top) will eventually be cut down to enter into the back of the bar mixer valve.
The pipes are held level and square to the wall at 150mm centres (centred on the preliminary centre line) by a home-made jig which is screwed to the wall temporarily. This is very important as attaching the shower valve counts on this phase of the work being done precisely:.
Pipes Are Held Level And Square To The Wall.
It is very important the the pipes are recessed far enough into the wall so that the 90º elbow fitting does not protrude out beyond the completed tiled surface.
This will guarantee that it does not interfere with the fitting of the bar mixer shower valve.
Inaccurate Shower PipeworkCorrect Shower Pipework.
The pipes are then secured in location by utilizing either drywall adhesive, rapidset tile adhesive or a sand-cement mix.
If utilizing a mix consisting of cement, please ensure the pipes are wrapped in duct tape to prevent the cement from assaulting the copper which could cause pinholes and leakages developing gradually.
The mix is pushed in and around the pipes and is utilized to support the cut edges of the plasterboard.
Mix Is Levelled Off Flush With Surface of Plasterboard.
This is then levelled off flush with the surface area of the plasterboard, guaranteeing access to the bottom of the pipes is left open so that they can be connected up later.
Batons are screwed and glued to both walls surrounding the bath, and these will assist to take the weight of the bath when it has plenty of water and/or residents. This will prevent it from dropping, which can lead to damaged silicon seals and water ingress issues.
Briefly Position The Bath to Allow For The Pipework To Be Connected.
The bath is then briefly placed in position to enable the pipework to be connected.
The existing hot and cold pipework is connected to the appropriate pipework in the wall that will https://writeablog.net/g5unnfq654/how-to-fit-bar-mixer-shower-pipeworkthis-article-discusses-how-to-1st-fix feed the shower valve.
Arrangements are also made at this phase to link the bath taps-- through flexible push fit tap connectors in this circumstances.
Similar to the shower valve, hot is on the left and cold on the right (as you look at the tap) so this makes pipework much easier.
Jig Is Removed And Voids Are Filled With Adhesive.
When the adhesive holding the pipes has gone off and the pipes are firmly kept in the correct position, the jig can be gotten rid of and any remaining spaces filled in with more adhesive.
As the pipework is now connected to the cold and hot provided, stop ends can be seen in place at the ends of the pipes.
The bath is now be set up, and you can see the main silicon seal around the edge of the bath in this picture.
Tanking And Tiling The Walls.
The walls are then tanked and tiled.
Setting Up a Bar Mixer Shower Valve.