Replacing the shower...myself!

[Andeh13]

This may sound mad, but I tend to lean that way anyway so no real loss!

I am getting a new central heating system put in next week (as you may have noticed from my last, erm, 3 threads ) and I am tempted to get the shower replaced as well. I have the most pathetic of power showers (some red ring rubbish) and the guy has quoted £200 to install a ceiling fed shower from the combi boiler. This is basically a pipe with shower gubbins on that runs up the wall (above tiles), through the roof into the loft where it is connected to the combi boiler via magic (and possibly more pipes).

Thinking about it with the use of a large drill bit to the get through the ceiling and a drill to get through the tiles, this doesn’t exactly strike me as £200 worth of work! I also plan on getting the bathroom updated in the next 18months or so, so would end up getting it taken out then anyway!

As a result I was debating:

a) Doing that job myself (drilling through ceiling, mounting shower & removing power shower myself).

b) Doing the job, but removing the tiles and trying to imbed the shower pipework into the wall itself, so that just the shower head & pipe to it are on the wall, and the controller located a couple of feet lower

Now I class myself as fairly (in?)competent, and what I lack in skill I try to make up with in blind luck. I also live with an electrical engineer who would probably be able to advise on not killing myself via the electrical shower! Removing tiles, bit of chiseling here & there to imbed the pipe flush with the wall then tile over the top of it, leaving the shower handle & pipework and controls poking out from tiles.


Now, has anyone ever tried doing the above? I am working on the assumption that when I make a royal hash job of it I can slap some pearly white tiles over it and explain to people the puddles of water forming in the room below are a naturally occurring feature of the kitchen landscape!

Whatcha recon? More coffee!

[mycarsavw]

How are your copper pipe bending/soldering skills?

Can you drain the water tank sufficiently to attach the new stuff?

It all sounds easy enough in theory but the practice is usually completely different.

I've done my last two bathrooms myself - new suites flexi-joining pipes, etc - but I'm not sure I'd attempt a power shower.

[blueball]

I always fit power showers and not run them from a combi; having been without a combi boiler for 5 weeks I am at least able to have a hot shower

[peterb]

It has become a lot easier to do basic plumbing with the development of push fit connections.

Traditionally you would have used 15mm or 22mm copper pipe (depending on the shower fittings, pipe length and pressure) and either a pipe bending spring or preformed elbows to route the pipe. Coupling would be with either end fed joints (using a blow lamp, flux and solder to make the joint and wire wool to ensure everything is clean so the joint is sound - not difficult but needs practice) or 'yorkshire' fittings that have pre-filled rings of solder, but still needs a heat source (blow lamp) and flux. And with a blow lamp you need some form of heat resistant mat to protect whatever is behind the joint. (You can get electric heaters that clamp round the pipe to melt the solder, which might be easier.) But you need to practice. You also need a pipe cutter and a file to de-burr the ends of the cut pipe.

You can also use compression fittings (or a combination of the two. Compression fittings use a compression ring to clamp the pipe into the coupling or 'Tee' piece.

Or you can use push fit fittings with copper pipe (still need a pipe cutter, and de-burring the ends is even more important. More expensive than solder joints, but incredibly easy to use and also dismantle. And finally you can use plastic pipe with push fit fittings (you need a pipe liner at the joint) which is also very easy to use. But beware that plastic pipe tends to expand more than copper, so you need to allow for that when routing pipe work. Plastic pipe (must be the right sort) can be bought in straight lengths or as a reel (when it is difficult to straighten!)

Muight be worth going down to B&Q and having a look at the fittings they have to see for yourself how they work, and maybe chat with some of the experts there.

[rox0r]

B&Q have 'Experts'?

You're 'avin a bubble barf intcha?

[peterb]

Some B&Q staff are ex-tradesmen. (Usually retired) B&Q are quite good employers in that respect. (I'm talking about the B&Q depot stores - not sure about the smaller ones)

[GoNz0]

any hidden pipe work really needs to be end feed soldered copper pipe as its the least likely to leak in the future.

without trawling your other threads i cannot remember you answering me on the low pressure being the shower only or all over the house.. it may be a blocked filter in the power shower ?

[rox0r]

Some B&Q staff are ex-tradesmen. (Usually retired) B&Q are quite good employers in that respect. (I'm talking about the B&Q depot stores - not sure about the smaller ones)

I think I have a more jaded view with most experiences of B&Q staff being the surly weekend spotty 'yoof' types that couldn't even spell B&Q let alone give you worthwhile advice.

[razer121]

I think I have a more jaded view with most experiences of B&Q staff being the surly weekend spotty 'yoof' types that couldn't even spell B&Q let alone give you worthwhile advice.

I always think the same, When ever i think about a B&Q staf member i see in my head this spotty tenager with his/her thumb up and goofy teeth hanging out...

[Behemoth]

I always think the same, When ever i think about a B&Q staf member i see in my head this spotty tenager with his/her thumb up and goofy teeth hanging out...

I didn't know that Neckclicker worked for B&Q !

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I hope you do a clean job!

[razer121]

I didn't know that Neckclicker worked for B&Q !

Neckclicker - i keep seeing this but totaly do not understand it?

Sorry to go off subject!

[Zhaoman]

Neckclicker - i keep seeing this but totaly do not understand it?

Sorry to go off subject!

razer, search 'neckclicker' on google

He is a trolling superhero!