Roman bath nightmare, cannot fix the leak

[Knappers]

I would find a specialist in wetroom/Roman bath/swimming pool type installs and suggest to the plumber they pay for a consultation before you do.
It's important not to throw the book at any tradesman, I know I'll bend over backwards for my customers if they ask but will only do the minimum required if thats what they demand.
The mix of builder tiler and plumber here is a recipe for problems if you start laying down the law.

Unless your contract is with just one of them, then let rip

 

[Chalked]

You have two problems.
1. As you say the waste is not suitable.
2. The tanking. This is for a wet room floor, or wall. Not for it to be totally submerged. These need to be constructed
Ike a swimming pool. Waterproof rendering

 

[rpm]

Pictures and drawings is the way fwds on UKPF ..then we can all have a look and help you. I have in fact been in the Roman Bath many years ago in Bath with my now ex Mrs it was fun but we must move on
Rob Foster aka centralheatking

No surprise there then!

 

[Aire]

I'd maybe ask this question in the tiling forum too, those guys may have more experience in Roman tubs then we do. I would also ask your tiler what sort of grout was used. I'm no expert on the subject but I would say you'd want an epoxy grout suitable for use in swimming pools, it should also be given adequate time to dry which would be around 3 weeks. If a standard bathroom and shower grout has been used then this won't be ideal as it's actually porous and isn't designed to hold water.
Regarding the waste I really have no clue either. The likes of impey, akw and mcalpine all do wetroom shower wastes but nothing for a bath. I would say it's not generally something used that much in the UK so you might want to start looking at products from overseas.
Its a shame because it really does look nice, unfortunately these things are so easy to get wrong and very hard to correct without starting again. You've got £3k held back and I think you've got good reason to keep it, by the sounds of it your plumber and tiler have had enough chances, so I would seriously consider trying someone else. Do some research and get a specialist firm in.

Good luck

 

[king of pipes]

Good advice from Craig above I would get a specialist in hot tubs and jacuzzi baths in I don't know what method of construction was used but you need some professional advice here you could try our sister tiling forum there are some pool guys on there ? Good luck . Kop

 

[Gasmk1]

there are videos on you tube that show the installation of a Roman style bath

 

[Last Plumber]

It does look good but this type of thing was usually installed on a solid floor (concrete) with a proper drain connected into it (not light duty wastes and plastic). I know that is probably unhelpful but I am sure if a customer asked me to install something like that upstairs in a property with a suspended floor, I would politely refuse.
These things are seen a lot abroad and look fabulous but their buildings are not the same construction as ours in general.

 

[townfanjon]

April , I am sorry, that has got trouble written all over it .

@jackyp1234 , please tell me how you disagree with my quote above .

 

[April Banawa]

I would find a specialist in wetroom/Roman bath/swimming pool type installs and suggest to the plumber they pay for a consultation before you do.
It's important not to throw the book at any tradesman, I know I'll bend over backwards for my customers if they ask but will only do the minimum required if thats what they demand.
The mix of builder tiler and plumber here is a recipe for problems if you start laying down the law.

Unless your contract is with just one of them, then let rip

Don't worry, I used to run my own building firm, I give people a fair chance but at this point, I will be ripping b@*locks off!!!

 

[oz-plumber]

Back to the leak - without complicating the issues of tanking and so on.

You said the bath holds water and only leaks when it is draining.
To what level have you filled the bath for this test.

Expose the underside of the bath where the trap and drain connections are.
It may be a simple fix for that part.

Secondly tanking - do you have any photos of the bath under construction and any of the tanking installed.

As a side note: what are the dimensions of the bath?
( Volume of water held by bath )

 

[Brambles]

If you need the name of a London based expert witness on swimming pool design (and failures) that I have used in the past, drop me a line [email protected]

 

[Ben-gee]

I actually believe that a decent wetroom tanking membrane CORRECTLY fitted is good for this application.

it is unlike a swimming pool in terms of
i) chemicals
ii) depth hence pressure
iii) length of time submerged

I have used Impey's membrane for similar with no issues.

We are only talking intermittent submergence with 0.5m head ie 0.05bar

....waits for a poopooing at best....

 

[Welder]

..waits for a poopooing at best..

Whatever turns you on Bennie

Personally, I'd not be happy with a 'shower' ty0e system. IMHO this is a small pool and as such should be constructed as such, including epoxy grout, as already mentioned.

FWIW, I don't feel this is a maliciously poor install. For whatever reason, they just haven't thought if through properly and this is what happens.

Best of luck getting it sorted.

 

[jackyp1234]

@townfanjon must of clicked it by accident when browsing. Sorry I’m sure you’ve never done it before.

 

[townfanjon]

@townfanjon must of clicked it by accident when browsing. Sorry I’m sure you’ve never done it before.

Lol , nope .