How to install battens in bathroom?

[awl]

I'm looking to batten out a bathroom. I need the battens to enable existing electrical and plumbing to remain in place. Wondering what size battens are best and what I should use (including length and diameter) to secure them. Some parts will be painted villa board others will be tiles from floor to ceiling. Cheers Derek.

[JacobZ]

Hi @awl,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community.

Have you got any photos of the area you are looking to batten out? I'm assuming that the need to batten out the wall means it is a masonry or concrete substrate? Also, can you advise the measurements of the plumbing that would need to be covered? This would help our members to give you some more specific advice.

James Hardie's Villaboard installation guide shows the minimum batten size to be 38mm wide but your choice for timber would all depend on what needs to be covered.

They also don't recommend a specific sized fastener for attaching to walls, stating only to "Use suitable masonry fasteners to securely fix timber/steel battens". Without specific advice, my approach is to always over engineer. Depending on the eventual width of the timber, and the thickness of the substrate, Ramset 10 x 120mm Zinc AnkaScrews at 300mm centres should do the trick.

If you let me know answers to the above questions, I'll happily investigate further and offer more tailored advice.

Jacob

[awl]

Thanks Jacob, I'll come back with the details.

[JacobZ]

Hi @awl,

The advice I've received from James Hardie is that a standard 70x35 stud on its flat should be an adequate timber for this application. 

Let me know when you've got those details and I'll be more than happy to assist further.

Jacob

[awl]

Apologies Jacob, have been unwell but back in board now. The walls are brick and the plumbing I'm concerned about is the two hot and cold water lines that run the height of one wall but are installed in the corner and adjacent to a second wall.

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @awl,

I'm sorry to hear you've been unwell, but it's great to hear you're better and ready to crack on with this project.

Looking at the space, my advice would be to use 70 x 35mm MGP10 H2 Pine Framing attached to the brick with Ramset 8 x 75mm Galvanised AnkaScrew Masonry Anchors at 450mm spacing the full height of the timber. Make sure your AnkaScrews make solid contact with the brick as opposed to the grout lines.

You can then use Villaboard Lining to line your bathroom, noting that there are different methods of attaching the Villaboard based on whether it will be tiled over or not. For wet areas, you can use the Villaboard Lining Installation Guide in conjunction with the Wet Area Construction Application Guide to ensure you meet the required standards for wet areas. Page 6 of the Wet Area Construction Application Guide shows an example of how you would normally deal with corners in wet areas.

There is quite a bit to it and as waterproofing and plumbing are licenced industry, you're going to need some assistance from a waterproofer and a plumber. I'd suggest having them come in to quote early in the project so you can discuss the best method of handling that corner to ensure you meet the required standards. 

Let me know what you think and if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[awl]

Thanks Jacob. 

[squeakysim]

Can you use the stud with either side to the wall? 

I want to box out by 90mm, so can I use a 90x45 stud with the 45 side facing the wall?

I also intend on fixing a 900mm wall hung vanity to the wall, with these size studs be sufficient for that?

[JacobZ]

Hi @squeakysim,

Yes, you can use the 90x45 on either plane.

90x45 timber is more than adequate to support a wall hung vanity as long as you use quality screws in a suitable size and length.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[squeakysim]

Thanks @JacobZ 

I intend to box out the wall by 90mm to allow space for plumbing and waste and electric. I'm fixing to a brick wall with plaster finish. The battens will be covered by 6mm villaboard ready for tiling.

What would be the recommended batten size and fixing type factoring in that a 900mm vanity will be attached to the battens aswell?

Thanks