[greencat]

Hi

We moved to a 2 year old home and the fiberglass shower/tub makes a lot of creaking sounds when someone is in the tub.

I was wondering if I should do something - will the creaking lead to a crack? I can access the side of the unit from the beedroom. I thought of going through the wall and fill the cavity with urathane foam.

What do you think? Am I too paranoid?

Thanks for your help

 

[oh'mike]

There should have been mortar of some kind placed under the tub when installed----

Open that wall enough to see what is going on===if you can use some wood shims to lift it a tiny bit and pour grout under the ttub --that is best---foam seldom works well as it will compress over time---

Let us know what you find----post a picture if you can,

 

[ben's plumbing]

agree with mike ...try to shim under feet of tub pour cement....careful with foam some over expand ..not good...is this tub a remodel unit from sterling...ben sr

 

[Bud Cline]

Yup, you are headed for trouble if you don't fix that problem.

As mentioned the mortar is the best solution even if you have to wreck a wall to get it under the tub.

If you must use foam use a non-expanding foam. It will crush over time but if you get enough of it under there it will last a long time with enough overall contact with the tub.

 

[COLDIRON]

I had a Lasco fiberglass shower stall doing the same thing about 10 years ago, underneath where the drain line exited I had a fairly large opening I squirted expanding foam all around between the fiberglass and the bottom of the shower, Wa La not a squeak or problem since.

As long as there's a opening the expanding foam will will not over expand it will seep out until it starts to cure. Once it cures you can cut the excess off very easy with a serrated edged knife using a sawing motion.

If it's creaking it will probably crack if unattended to.

 

[digitalplumber]

Hi

We moved to a 2 year old home and the fiberglass shower/tub makes a lot of creaking sounds when someone is in the tub.

I was wondering if I should do something - will the creaking lead to a crack? I can access the side of the unit from the beedroom. I thought of going through the wall and fill the cavity with urathane foam.

What do you think? Am I too paranoid?

Thanks for your help

Our home was built in 98, had a Royal Baths fiberglass shower base in the master shower only. Many years later and due to the improper install, the pan cracked and over time leaked and has caused damage to: moulding, carpet, door from and sheetrock.

It failed because of the reason you are talking about. The installers failed to correctly level and float the base, so to speak.

DAP makes a "low expansion" foaming caulk. I would suggest using this one if you are looking for minimal expansion. I would also place some weight inside the tub to keep its form. (My father in law who was a commercial plumber did this in his own home so I know if done correctly, works.) If you need limited expansion, the weight may not be necessary.

 

[Bud Cline]

Be careful when using expanding foam. I have seen expanding foam applications literally lift garden tubs off the floor. I have seen this several times over the years. Even when the tubs contain water for additional weight the lifting action has disrupted the drain pipe connections thereby allowing the water to leak/drain out and cause even greater damage to the property.

Foam can be used but only with caution.

 

[greencat]

Thanks everyone for your input. I plan on opening the wall Dec 1st when my daughter will be gone for a week. Question- if I use cement how do I pack it tightly since I imagine there will be shrinkage?

 

[Bud Cline]

Question- if I use cement how do I pack it tightly since I imagine there will be shrinkage?

Mix the cement with a stiff consistency and shove it under there as far as you can then work your way out packing it as you go. If it isn't too wet it won't shrink or sag. Mix it so you can grab a hand full with your hand and form it into a tight ball. That is the consistency of deck mud used for such a purpose. You'll do fine.:yes:

 

[digitalplumber]

Thanks everyone for your input. I plan on opening the wall Dec 1st when my daughter will be gone for a week. Question- if I use cement how do I pack it tightly since I imagine there will be shrinkage?

I tried this on mine, opeing wall, several years ago, could not get far enough in to see or push anything in.

 

[greencat]

I tried this on mine, opeing wall, several years ago, could not get far enough in to see or push anything in.

I was wondering the same thing. I wonder if I will have to cut out some of the sole plate.

 

[Bud Cline]

Should probably mention to use "sand mix" not concrete mix. How about pushing the mix with something like a yard stick?

 

[digitalplumber]

I was wondering the same thing. I wonder if I will have to cut out some of the sole plate.

Is this a main floor of second floor? is it on plywood?

If I were you, not saying this is correct, but if I could get directly under the tub, I would drill 3 or 4 small hole big enogh for the low expansion foam tube. I would inject left and right each hole and be done with it.

I just dont think you are going to be able to get the correct cement mixture under it.

heres what mine looked like cracked:

 

[greencat]

Is this a main floor of second floor? is it on plywood?

If I were you, not saying this is correct, but if I could get directly under the tub, I would drill 3 or 4 small hole big enogh for the low expansion foam tube. I would inject left and right each hole and be done with it.

I just dont think you are going to be able to get the correct cement mixture under it.

heres what mine looked like cracked:

It is on the second floor and I would guess it's OSB. I don't want to mess with ceiling repair so I will try removing the wall first. The ceiling will be plan B. Thanks

 

[COLDIRON]

I would use foam but if you go the other way with some sort of cement I would use non-shrink grout, pack it in and let it dry.

 

[Thurman]

I have posted many times a true, proven fix for this problem. I have done approximately two dozen shower/tub units that were installed improperly without any base. It's is quite a long post, so do a search for it under my user name. It does involve low expanding foam used to fill garbage bags placed under the tub/shower pan's bottom. This can be done by simply removing the baseboard of a common wall, removing some sheetrock that the baseboad would cover up later. Yes, expanding foam can cause problems if used improperly. You must examine the area and use just enough foam to expand vertically and ooze out some horizontally. This can be done by a DIY person. Good Luck.