Did it in concrete in the end;
Hi,
I need to create a shower tray for the shower/hammam, obviously it need to be completely water tight. Any suggestions on products to use to achieve this? I have a flat concrete base to start from currently with the top of the shower gasket protruding about 25mm so I intend so pour a concrete base starting t 50mm and descending to the drain.
Thanks
j
Pleased with progress so far, yesterday I relocated the water heater which reminded me how much I dislike plumbing. I’ll need to run the new water supplies for the sink, shower and bath soon, can anyone recommend a good system? I see a lot of plumbing is now done with PVC, is there any particular system to look out for? Is it more expensive than copper? I can solder copper joints no problem, so I’m not sure if I should stick with copper or use the PVC, any suggestions welcome 
Thanks
j
Love the idea of glass chips in there. Had a look at the concrete exchange - some lovely stuff but you need to be living on the ground floor! Like the idea of making some concrete sunloungers which could also be used for stargazing and just left to weather and grow wild…
Yes, it’s going directly outside, so it’ll need a flap, thanks for the pointer.
j
Hi Kate
No, it was a standard mix, I’m pleasantly surprised that it’s got a darker finish than it would have unpolished. Maybe it’s still a bit damp though, it’s been thoroughly soaked today, we’ll see tomorrow if it lightens. The last set of polishing pads had a product in them that helps to protect the slab. Not sure to what extent though. Have you heard of Fu-Tung Cheng? He’s a concrete specialist in the States, does some amazing things with concrete. They also sell the sealers and waxes, it’s expensive though especially with shipping. Something like 160 dollars for 4 litres of sealant! Then they recommend a sacrificial wax that can be maintained instead of resealing.
http://www.concreteexchange.com/
I’ll get the final prices for hire etc when I take it back on Monday. I think the equipment hire is cheap, it’s the pads that are expensive.
I’ll be buying a handheld stone polisher soon, so I can do worktops too
j
ps Good tip on the undertakers! I recently asked our local about marble chippings, they pay to have them taken away, so are happy to give them to me. They would look good polished in the concrete, clear glass too. I’ll try this on the next job.
We’ve used ironwax from the UK to seal slate tiles used around a fireplace - maybe something like that would work? However there must also be speciality polymer blends for this type of thing - can the hire company help where you got the polisher? Alternatively your local undertaker must have something for those marble headstones etc.
This is the one we buy but for 6m2 rooms max. It works well so far - some still going strong 2 years later! Pay 50-60 euros for it from local electricity materials supplier - seen them at leroy merlin too but a bit more expensive.
Also should mention that we vent into attic space because a cold draught comes back through when vented to outside. Maybe you could find one which closes up when not in use - we’ve tried buying those flaps but they don’t work with this model.
Hey that looks great! -w hat did the machine cost to hire and did you use any special aggregate in the mix to get that effect?
Pretty pleased with the result using this machine, I think it’s actually designed for polishing marble. Need to find a sealer for it now, and ideas?
Kate, can you recommend a brand/model of extractor please, and where you get them if possible?
Thanks
James
Going to collect the concrete polishing equipment now, have the whole weekend to do it!
Thanks again Kate
Need 4 wires and use light circuit for the bathroom:
1 switched live from light unit
1 live (so it continues after light is off)
1 neutral
1 earth - even though should be class 2, I always run an earth anyway & leave it there dominoed.
No idea about steam rooms though…
Kate
Thanks Kate,
So it doesn’t need switching separately, just a supply? Duct will only be about 30cm and nowhere near bedrooms.
How about hamman or steam room units to fit in the shower enclosure, any experience of them?
j
We use them in our bathrooms for the flats - 6 so far - work pretty well but depends on length of ducting - keep it short as poss - and size of the room vs the spec of the extractor. Also can come on in middle of night and wake you up if it’s close to bedrooms! Also quite sensitive to the ambient humidity so you can find yourself adjusting the sensor summer/winter. If near bedroom, may be better to have one which works on the light only so you can control on/off.
Has anyone used a humidity controlled extractor in a bathroom? Are they any good?
Slab finished, ceiling insulated, lighting conduit run.
Going to polish the slab soon, just need to find the equipment and product.
j
Thanks Rob
I poured the slab using the following mix, 35kg cement/150l aggregate, and to a tolerance of around 4mm. Is there something else I should have done in preparation for polishing?
Thanks for the info on double flux ventilation, I’ll look into it.
Kind regards
James