Before you fit the bath into your desired position, it is best to fit the overflow, taps and trap. The reason being is that once a bath is fitted against a wall, it is difficult to make the connections of the fittings in such a tight space. Put some adjustable feet on the bottom on the bath so you can raise the rim of the bath to your required height. Also, be sure to check it's level along the length and width of the bath tub.

Fitting the Taps

If you have separate taps for hot and cold, then you would just fit these as you would for a washbasin. If you have a mixer tap you may well have been supplied with a long sealing gasket. This long sealing gasket slips over both tails by lowering the tails through the holes in the rim. Place top-hat washers onto them and tighten both of the back-nuts to secure the mixer securely to the bath tub. Get approximately a 22mm flexible copper pipe and fit onto each of the tails.

These flexible pipes allow for the easy adjustment that will be necessary if the joints are slightly misaligned. Alternatively, attach short lengths of standard 22mm (3/4") copper or plastic pipe with tap connectors, in preparation for jointing to the pipe run.

Fitting Waste and Overflow

It is best to use a combined waste and overflow unit to your bath tub. If you use a flexible plastic hose, this takes water from the overflow outlet to the waste outlet. A flexible pipe of a compression-fitting unit connects to the trap itself, but if you use a banjo unit, you should fit the overflow before the trap.

Now spread a layer of silicone sealant under the rim of the waste outlet, or fit a circular rubber seal. Before inserting its tail into the hole in the bottom o the bath, seal the thread with PTFE tape. On the underside, add a plastic washer; then tighten the large back-nut, bedding the outlet down onto the sealant or the rubber seal. Wipe off excess sealant.

Connect the bath trap to the tail of the waste outlet with its own compression nut.

Pass the threaded boss over the over-flow hose through the hole at the foot of the bath. SLip a washer seal over the boss, then use a pair of pliers to screw the overflow outlet grille on.

If you're using a compression-fitting overflow, connect the nut located on the other end of the hose to the cleaning eye of the trap.

Claire Bowes runs a successful website on bathtub refinishing. For further articles and information, visit http://www.bathtub-refinishing-n-designs.com

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