If you want to install a shower tray yourself, it is better to have a few notions of DIY before undertaking this type of project. Material, choice of the shower tray, rules to be observed … Here are some precious tips for making the best work.
Extra-flat, raised, walk-in shower … There are all kinds of shower trays. The choice of it will of course meet aesthetic criteria, but will also depend on your needs and your budget. A acrylic shower tray, for example, will be much cheaper than enamelled steel, ceramics or stone, but will also age less well and will tend to “hang” dirt. Conversely, enamel or ceramics will be cleaned more easily. But if these materials are more stable, they are also much heavier, also think of security by opting for a sufficiently non -slip coating. Check the “PN” standard (which corresponds to the “barefoot” tests) for this, the more it is high (opt for a PN 18 or PN 24) the greater the resistance to gliding.
It is essential to ensure the waterproofing of the installation throughout the realization of the work. To protect yourself against possible water infiltration, it is advisable to apply a layer of-paint paint on the partitions at the rear and under the shower tray. Also be careful to comply with certain installation rules: you cannot, for example, install a ceramic recipient on a wooden floor. If a acrylic shower tray can slightly deform according to the movements of the parquet, ceramics, meanwhile, may crack. For the same reasons, the shower tray must also be placed on a surface that is as flat as possible.
The necessary equipment
- a shower tray, as well as feet (or support) if it is necessary to raise it;
- a drain and an evacuation pipe. The latter can be rigid or flexible, it can also be fluted outside, but it is better to choose it smooth inside to avoid the accumulation of deposits (soap, hair, etc.);
- silicone for joints, to choose preferably fungicide to prevent them from blackening;
- tiles, if you want to dress the walls of your shower;
- Tools (bubble level, pliers, screwdriver, hammer, etc.).
Choose the location of the shower tray
This is the first step. If you replace your old bathtub with a shower tray, the easiest way is to install it in the same place. Otherwise choose where you want to put your new shower tray, making sure that it can easily be connected to existing water drainage pipes. You will also need to determine if you want to install walls (these will have to be adapted to the dimensions of the chosen shower tray) and provide fittings at the tiles.
Lump
Start by installing the shower tray where you want to install it and mark its location on the ground using a pencil. To ensure a good water drainage, a minimum slope of 1% must be provided. It will therefore often be necessary to enhance the shower tray, so remember to also place benchmarks on the wall. In the same way, then mark the location of the drain, then remove the shower tray. Connect the drain to the evacuation pipes via the flexible. Attach it using a little mortar for more sustainable fixation. To make sure that the installation is well waterproof, pour a bucket of water into the drain and make sure there is no leak.
Install the shower tray
If your shower tray should be raised, start by putting your feet or the support. Provide 4 feet for a standard recipient. These can be provided with the recipient, otherwise you can also get adjustable to screw feet. If one of the sides of your shower tray measures over 90 cm, count 5 feet, some manufacturers even recommend 6 for optimal stability. The feet must be fixed to the ground (they can be screwed or glued). Then put the recipient on the support and fix the drain (it is generally a screw), ensuring that the seals are well positioned.
Place the seals around the shower tray
Another rule to be observed: do not stick the shower tray on the wall. It is indeed essential to provide a 5 mm peripheral joint all around the shower tray. You can install here what is called a joint background: it is a kind of foam strip that is placed between the wall and the shower tray, which makes it possible to maintain a regular gap all around and thereafter not to waste silicone since it will avoid the losses of material. Preferably use a pistol to pour the seal as cleanly as possible and let it dry.
Place the tiling fittings
If you want to tile the wall (s) surrounding your new shower cabin, be sure to finish the earthenware in a horizontal way on the edge of the recipient and not on the wall behind it. Water will flow directly into the shower tray, avoiding infiltration problems. It is also essential to provide a 5 mm silicone seal between the tiles and the shower tray. Finally, if your shower tray is raised, you must plug the space between the floor and the bottom of the recipient. If placed on a polystyrene support, the tiles can be placed on it directly. If it is on a base, you can cut a strip of BA13 with the dimensions of the space to close, and tile it once installed.
Choose a suitable shower head
Be careful to choose a shower head whose flow is compatible with the evacuation standard for your shower tray. If the flow is important, your shower tray may struggle to evacuate water satisfactorily and turn into a swimming pool. Also pay attention to extra-plat shower trays: if you like their aesthetics, water likes to stagnate. In this case, it is better to opt for a shower tray with a small projection of a few millimeters.
Thanks to Benoit Felten, product manager specialist shower at Villeroy & Boch, for his advice.
