CASE STUDIES

Leak Free Showers

Builders can now install leak free showers with Altro's Whiterock wall cladding from Rudge Brothers and James.

For years developers and landlords have needed to continually make good their properties after water leaks from showers and bathrooms, but no more. If you're refurbishing properties for letting accommodation out to students, nurses or any other group of people who are not thrilled at cleaning then Altro Whiterock cladding system has a lot to offer.

Leak Free Shower
Click photo to enlarge

Unlike ceramic tiles there is no grout to discolour or tiles to crack and there is little possibility of a leak, provided of course that you fit it correctly. Fitting the Whiterock is simple and fitting it properly is well within the scope of any carpenter or general builder.

A recent project to put let able rooms in the historic Angle public house in Long Ashton shows just how easy Atro's Whiterock is to install. An RBJ technician was sent to show Tony Vile of The Angle and his builder how easy it is to carry out a leak free installation.

Rudge Brothers and James also supplies and fits the Altro system on larger jobs and finds a lot of work in commercial premises. The shower packs are aimed at the residential sector and come with all the trims and adhesive necessary to complete the job.

Leak Free Shower
Click photo to enlarge

The 500 year-old pub had moved considerably over its life and would have been a nightmare to tile. The landlord had supplied the tray and shower door but, since the walls were so far out of plumb, the walls required some work.

First things first, battening and 18mm WBP plywood was fixed to the two outside walls in order to square them up and make the wall ready to accept the Whiterock cladding. This sort of thing needs to be thought out at the beginning but there aren't that many buildings which are so far out of line, so this amount of preparation is not normal.

You always need a datum line said Ken of RBJ. ÒI draw a horizontal line 1500mm off the floor. Then I can measure up and down from that line. The same goes for a vertical datum line. If all the measurements at the bottom are the same, I can work off the bottom of the full sheet. If they aren't then I come up a bit and cut the bottom and/or the top to suit

Despite the fact that the joining strips between each panel give you a lot of leeway you need to be meticulous in your measurements. Ken wrote this all down on the plywood and then transferred them all to the Whiterock sheet.

What about expansion you may well ask? - well you simply have to leave a couple of mm for the sheet to expand Cutting the sheets is simple, use a jigsaw with a steady hand following the lines you've marked on the sheets face from your measurements.

Once you've cut the sheet and dry fitted to check the fit, apply the adhesive with a notched trowel. Using the single part adhesives gives you plenty of working time. The corner joints need to be fitted first on a thin bed of silicone, then the sheet themselves followed by the backing trims between each sheet if required. Once all the panels have been fitted its time to remove the protective film carefully and put the face trims on for the corners and the joint strips if you have them.

Now its time to apply the silicone. Start by getting the nozzle right. If you put too much on you will make a mess and if you don't put enough on you will have gaps. Then when it is gunned in spray some antistat fluid (mixed with water) all over the silicone and the walls. Now the silicone will be cleaned off the wet surface leaving a smooth joint.

A couple of hours need to be left before use to allow the adhesive to dry and the shower will ready for use. A leek free, hygienic, low maintenance and stylish shower.

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