Help!
I've bought some new taps for our shower. The spindles were too short so I bought some ceramic disk spindle extenders. It doesn't leak but I'm stumped as how these flanges are supposed to fit.
Any help is appreciated!
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Aneil. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about installing taps.Could you tell our helpful members a little bit more about what this issue is that you're experiencing? That way, they'd be better placed to offer some solutions.
At first glance, your first image shows what looks to be a well-fitted flange. Is the issue that you can't now attach the handle? Or, is it that the handle is now placed too far out from the wall?
If you can provide some more details on the difficulties you're experiencing and which spindle extenders you've used, I trust we'll be able to work this out. Mitchell
Thanks for the reply!
The photo is deceiving. There's a 2mm gap between the flange and the slide.
The taps are Mondella resonance with an enduraseal slide flange. The ceramic disk extenders are Brasshards 25mm. When I place the flange over the extenders and screw the slide on there's a 2mm gap between the two.
I also don't understand how the flange stays secure. It's not threaded and can freely move backwards.
Thanks for your help!
Hi @Aneil,
Could you please indicate on your image where this 2mm gap is, as I'm finding it a little bit difficult to understand where the issue lies.
Have you attempted to install the handle and does that hold the flange in place? Typically, once the handle is locked onto the spindle end, the flange can't go anywhere as it's retained by it.
Mitchell
Hey MitchellMC.
I've taken a few more photos. Hopefully this clarifies the problem a bit.
With these particular wall taps it has sleeve and a flange. The flange is a "slide flange". It has no thread. It has a rubber o ring and just slides back and forth along the sleeve. I assume it needs silicone against the wall when it's home to secure it but it's just not quite long enough.
Added some measurements to help explain the issue. I've contacted bunnings but can't figure out a solution that doesn't involve silicone against the wall and in the gap between the flange and the slide.
I suspect the extenders you've used have placed the spindle fractionally too far out from the wall for the sleeve and flange to cover it entirely. If the spindle was recessed further into the wall, I don't believe you'd be experiencing this issue.
What was the need for the spindle extenders in the first place? Was it the reverse of this issue where you couldn't get the tap handle on as the spindle was recessed too far into the wall?
Unfortunately, with wall spindles, you can run into issues where they can be challenging to install due to the depth at which you need to install them and the tile/wall lining thickness. The only solution I can think of would be finding a slightly shorter spindle extender. Anything 2mm shorter should work.
Thanks MC.
No spindle extenders are installed. Had to use ceramic disk extenders because the seats are recessed into the wall a fraction too deep for the supplied spindles and they wouldn't hit the seat. Can't seem to find anything shorter than the 25mm extenders already installed. Mondella list a flange extender but it doesn't look like they make one for this model. Thought about trouble domes but they'd need to have a depth of 18mm or so.... Apart from silicone against the wall and in the gap I'm at a loss...
I apologise, @Aneil. I used a generic term as the ceramic disc extender also extends the spindle further out from the wall, which is the issue here. The spindles are designed to be mounted further into the wall, which you cannot do. Due to pushing them further out with the disc extender, the flanges are not sitting correctly.
I presume you adjusted the spindle nut to total depth capacity before using the extenders?
Hello @Aneil
Just to add to the recommendations made, have you thought about putting a Kinetic 3/4" BSP 10mm Rise Chrome Cover Plate? Place the kinetic flange first followed by the Mondella flange so that it raises the original flange higher. It is one alternative to having to put silicone in the gap.
Please keep us updated with your progress, we look forward to seeing your wall taps installed.
Eric
Hey Eric.
Yeah. I got these stainless steel guys and the ID of the hole was too small to go over the nut on the ceramic disk extenders. Had to get a pencil grinder to enlarge the hole.
Not super happy with the finish and I'd still have to silicone the dome to the wall and flange to the dome.
If I have to I will but I'm thinking if I've got to silicone those two, may as well just get some grey silicone for the gap.
Hoping to find a cleaner option. Thanks for the advice. I'll take anything I can get 😊
Hey MC.
I wasn't aware any depth changes could be made. The extenders are solid brass and the supplied spindles didn't mention any depth adjustment. Just on or off. Could you give me a bit more info?
Unless you're talking about the locking nut? It was removed before installation to provide the greatest depth.
Hi @Aneil
I believe my colleague was possibly referring to the spindle locking nut. It is adjustable, but I'm afraid it might not help in your current situation. My next suggestion is to use a rubber seating washer as a spacer to raise the level of the Mondell flange.
Place at least 2 rubber seating washers first before putting the original flange on top. Mark the outer diameter of the flange with a pencil. Remove the rubber washers and trim them down with a sharp Stanley knife. If the height is lacking you can add more rubber washers, it's an easy alternative rather than putting in silicone. In this manner, you can still remove the flange and not have to cut silicone out.
If you need further assistance, please let me know.
Could work! Not too expensive to try. Just want to check and see if this is what you mean. The flange doesn't screw to anything. It just slides back and forth along the sleeve.
I was thinking more behind the flange rather than in front of it. The flange actually has an internal O-ring that seals against the body of the spindle. So I was thinking that we just need the flange to move forward so that it is on the body of the spindle cover. Have a look at the sketch below.
Thanks for all your help guys! I really do appreciate it!
My only concern is that the flange isn't secure. It's held in place by an o-ring that provides slight friction against the spindle body (sleeve - Mondella) and is easily moved forwards. Even with rubber behind the flange, the flange will still move forwards.
I don't understand how it's secured to the wall. It slides up and down the sleeve. Starting to think I've either installed these things backwards, or I'm missing something.
Just to put your mind at ease, you've installed it correctly and there are no missing parts. To my understanding, the flange only serves as a cover for incidental splashes from the shower. However, if you wish to seal it to the wall, I'm afraid your only choice is to silicone it to the wall and seal the gap between the body of the spindle cover.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Thanks again guys! You've got me thinking. Maybe a combination of the two?
If I could get a rubber washer about 2 or 3mm thick (or a small square of neoprene) cut it to size and place it behind the flange I could silicone both to the wall with some grey silicone. It'd secure the flange and cover the gap between the flange and slide.
I might get this to work.
Any recommendations on silicone that will adhere to rubber?
If you put enough silicone on top of the rubber piece it will form a seal on top of it. However, it will not bond to the rubber surface if that's what you're asking. So in essence any bathroom silicone sealant will work, just make sure that you apply enough of it to form a proper seal.
With the rubber behind the flange will it provide enough adhesion between the tiles and the flange to prevent the flange from moving? I'm thinking yes but I'm not sure.
I'll wait until the weekend, see if bunnings gets a reply from Mondella then I'll give it a go!
Thanks again for your help!
Update.
Bunnings service team got back to me letting me know that the flange extender for this model had been discontinued.
Decision is to just silicone the flange to the wall and fill the gap rather than trying to make the rubber look good behind the flange.
I just want to give a big shout out to @MitchellMc & @EricL . I know you both put in some serious time to try and nut out a solution with me and you are AMAZING. Can't thank you both enough.
Just figured out how to tag someone so if I can figure out how to do a before and after collage of the bathroom Reno I will.
Thanks again guys!
Update:
I've siliconed the flanges to the wall (to stop them spinning or moving forward) and placed some silicone in the gap. Masking tape wouldn't hold the flange against the tiles while it cured so I used gaffa tape.
I am concerned that the tape will stop the silicone from curing (especially where there's grout and a slight difference in tile depth) but it won't do any damage. I'll give it 24 hours, gently pull it off and see.
Thank you so much for the update. I totally agree that you should take the gaffa tape off slowly to avoid damaging the seal. Most silicones are air-activated so even just a little exposure will start the curing process.
Please keep us updated with your progress, we look forward to seeing the final look of your shower taps once the silicone has cured.
Update: Silicone has done its job. Flange no longer moves forward and it's concealed the gap nicely. Could finish it with a nice bead around each but I'm sorta over it.
Before
During
After
Almost finished. Just waiting on a mirrored shaving cabinet to cover the majority of the window.
What an amazing transformation. Thank you very much for sharing those photos of your bathroom renovation. The tapware came out very nice and the silicone sealant is very well hidden. The re-tiling of the shower area has made the entire bathroom look so much bigger. Plus the large tiles really give it such a modern look.
Again, thank you for sharing your bathroom renovation project.
@EricL I've still got plenty to do around this joint and enjoyed problem solving this with you. Thanks again for your advice and your ear 🙂
