My wash hand basin has started to come away from the wall, so just wondered if you anyone could advise on the best course of action?

Its quite old and currently rests on two iron arms that are fixed to the wall beneath. These look to be fine, but the basin seems to be moving about a bit too much, and I can't figure out why.

The movement has caused the tiles on the splash back to come loose too, but I was going to re-tile anyway. I'm loathe to contact the landlord as they'll probably charge me for it.

I'm thinking, some cement along the back edge before I re-tile might help keep it in place? Or do you reckon it just needs replacing?

Thanks.

It's like this but not in a corner.

I had the same problem with mine.

Get a canister of that expanding foam stuff, its the bomb. Pull the basin away from the wall/tiles whatever, squirt the foam into the space between, then push the basin back into place and hold there for a few minutes.

It'll fix it, guaranteed.

Thanks dg - I like that foam stuff.

Speaking of...that's what I used to mouse-proof myself up, mostly. Apparently, they don't bother eating through it as it tastes like crap and has no nutritional value. Did the trick for me, anyway.

Ab Origine wrote:
Pffftt! Must be some pussy mice you have down south then. They eat that foam stuff here and anything else that crosses their paths. In my last house I found a drinking glass in the loft that they had easily chewed a half inch off from around the rim. WTF? I hate the little bastards. Cute my ass!

If you're re-tiling and therefore going to remove the basin, you'll get to see what has caused the basin to work loose. Most likley the fixing screws go into Rawl plugs. My suspicion is that either the screws have corroded (it's a damp environment) or something else has caused the plugs to lose their grip, like maybe repeated leaning on the basin over time has levered on them and enlarged the holes they go into just that little bit. Maybe the screws never went into the plugs right in the first place. You'll see when you have a look.

When it comes to refitting, I suggest that you just do it as it should be done. Drill the right size holes for the right size plugs and use the right size screws If you do that it will be good for years.

If you're not going to remove the basin when you re-tile, maybe just try replacing the old screws with bigger ones. That may be enough to take up the slack. i wouldn't recommend cementing the basin in place. It will likely look gash and fail in 10 seconds flat

Sound advice, dubs. I wasn't going to remove the basin tbh, as I'm not too hot with plumbing.

I may have to defer this one the landlord after all. I'll have to strip back some of years of paint that are caked on to the fixtures to know for sure as well. This place wasn't in very good nic when I arrived unfortunately.

The mice haven't bothered me since foam-gate however.

I'll tell you what else expanding foam is good for too. Immobilising vehicles. Squirt a canister of that stuff up someone's exhaust pipe and see what occurs (or doesn't)

are you listening dubs pixie action boy?

diamondgeezer wrote:
That is so noted for future reference. Cheers dg

move house

Ab Origine wrote:
Respect to your not wanting to refit the basin. Maybe just have a wiggle on the bracket, if you can see movement where it meets the wall then the bigger screw idea may well do the trick. You should be able to get the paint off of the screw heads easy enough.

diamondgeezer wrote:
Oh yes, yes indeed

dubmeup wrote:
Thanks dubs. The fixtures themselves look fine with little movement...I just can't figure out why the basin has gone. I can't see if there is any kind of fixing of the bracket to the basin base for all the paint, but am assuming something has gone awry there.

psketti wrote:
Works a treat in locks too.

Can we get arrested for talking about this?

Ab Origine wrote:
If the brackets aren't moving at the wall, then there's only two other explanations innit. Either the basin aint fixed to the brackets right or your wall is about to fall down

diamondgeezer wrote:
Sincere question:

The bathroom is a moist place, usually a warm, moist place; even if for only a bit each day. What about continued absorption and expansion? Is this only a temporary fix, even if for a few years?

No offense intended. In my home state, foam is used for quickie body fills, but fails after a few months to a few years because of the very humid environment. I have no knowledge of its reaction where I now live, in a typically dry environment.

EDIT: P.S. I am in no way, shape or form a bodyman.....erm bodyperson, and have no experience as such, but am only repeating what the bodymen at my ex-shop have said and what I've seen only in a certain, sub-tropical, righteously humid environment. YOU are, of course, most familiar with your native environment.

thought it was a euphemism.
it really is about a loose washbasin

I would be reluctant to use foam, as its not waterproof. And you would be providing a perfeact breeding ground for mould ect. If there are no attachment screws underneath the basin, at the back that allow screwing through the ceramic into the wall, then look at the basin where it sits on the end of the bracket. You may see an indent in the bottom of the basin, that sits on a lug up from the bracket. If ther is, then this needs filling with something like tek seal or tiger seal.
Personaly I would use tek seal. Pull out the basin only a mm or 2 , then put a nice bead of tek seal mastic between the edge of the basin and the wall. Then press the basin back to the wall, and leave to set.

gris

dubmeup wrote:
lmao!!!