This is my first post. In my native Canada, it is very common to have what we call a sectional bathtub, which consists of a two-piece fibreglass unit (bathtub and wall) that slot together. I don’t remember my family ever having to re-caulk this unit. Once it’s installed, it looks seamless.
I am tired of cleaning grout and having to recaulk my bathroom tiles every few years. Looking for a new bathroom, but I have never seen anything like sectional showers in France. Does anyone know if a similar concept exists even in surrounding countries, maybe Germany or Netherlands?
Watching the installation videos, it occurred to me that they may be impossible to come by here because they need to be screwed onto studs, and that type of construction is not as common in France.
If anyone has any ideas, I’d be so grateful. I would absolutely import a unit like this from Canada to France if I was 100% sure it could be adapted to French building methods. My walls are concrete. Thanks so much.
Thanks, @AngelaR . Yes, what I am describing is similar to a cabine de douche but for a bathtub, and with fibreglass walls (light enough that one person can install it). They are nevertheless very tough if cared for properly (no scouring).
These are becoming popular in showers and could be used behind the bath to remove the tile/grout dilemma. I think they are usually attached to the walls with a form of adhesive (the experts will advise). It removes the tile/grout maintenance that I certainly get fed up with. Panneau mural douche | Leroy Merlin
Thanks, @Ancient_Mariner. Specifically looking for that concept but with a bathtub… and it’s a small bathroom. I see some groutless baths (“sans joint”) on French websites but they appear to be standalone tubs in spacious bathrooms and don’t simultaneously solve the caulking problem…
A quick search for sectional bathtub throws up Canadian sites. As Porridge said, you can get showers like that (beware though, they are sometimes poorly designed or in bad materials) but I’ve not seen baths like that in Europe.
I would be inclined to use bathroom panels, sealed with a quality silicone that should resist mould.
I don’t think you’ll find anything that includes a bathtub, probably have to buy both separately. Look up “credence murale” on castorama, leroy merlin etc. You would want the 3mm thick composite panels, not the 8 mm + which are effectively covered chipboard .
You make a good point. Probably less likely in one of that age, but if there have been renovation works in more modern times, then very possible.
Something of that age may well have partition walls &/or doublage made from terre cuite blocks - hollow bricks basically, then plastered over. These are OK to fix to if you use the right fixings, but they are quite fragile.
Thanks, honestly I think it’s time to gut the whole thing and start over… so many surprises in old French buildings and it’s a double whammy since I grew up around completely different building methods. The hemp used by my plumber gave me quite a start when I saw some lying on the floor… I don’t think that is used in Canada… or maybe I just never saw it.
Thanks @Corona. I don’t have a window in my bathroom but I have a recently installed energy-efficient VMC that is activated by a small elastic, or so the contractor tells me.
I don’t think that is used in Canada… or maybe I just never saw it.