DIY Fitted Bathroom Question

[Nuadu]

Im having a bit of hassle with the plastic thing at the side of the bath in my 'fitted bathroom'. Its a hard plastic cover that fits under the rim of the bath for aesthetic purposes. Ive damaged it at this stage and Im going to have to replace it so Im wondering if anyone has any tips for putting it back in place ok.

Our hamster managed to get in behind the skirting boards in the kitchen and work her way through the fittings in under the bath. I took the plastic thing off to save the little fecker who found her way in but was scratching to get out through the plastic for hours.

The screws were rusted on and after a trip to the shops for some tools they still werent budging. So I had to pry it out and did this damage. Any tips for removing rusted screws?

http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt102/NuaduNecht/hamsterdamage2.jpg

I did this putting it back on - the corners arent too flexible and Im concerned that the same is going to happen after I buy a new one.
http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt102/NuaduNecht/HamsterDamage1.jpg

[Raven Reed]

If you have a screw that is so stripped you cannot remove it, and I imagine it works for rusted ones as well, there is a thingy that is reverse threaded and works as a drill bit. You basically drill the screw out without damaging the hole the screw is in. You can get it at Home Depot. They should know what I am talking about.

[Nuadu]

Hey Thanks Raven Reed,

I was wondering how I was going to get those old screws out. I was thinging a needle nose pliers and some twisting thank gods theres a tool for the job.

[TygerTyger]

A technique that I have used in the past for rusty scres, with various results I have to admit, is to place an old screwdriver, with the appropriate head, in the screw and then whack it very hard with a hammer; it seems to loosen the screw up.

Another trick, if you don't have an electric screwdriver or suitable drill, is to tighten a wrench onto a screwdriver, lean your boydweight into the screwdriver and use the extra leverage from the wrench to turn it.

As to the bath panel, I remember ours being a bit recalcitrant, took a lot of careful bending, gentle thumping and a bit of swearing to get it back in. In fact, I replaced the panel on our current bath with some tongue & grove which proved much easier!