New Acrylic Bathtub Installation

1164 Views 2 Replies 2 Participants Last post by polarzak, Dec 19, 2012

polarzak

Discussion Starter · Dec 19, 2012

Redoing the main bathroom because my wife doesn't like the green appliances of our 40 year old home. Looks fine to me and the toilet works, that is all I care about.
Anyway she won and I am in the process. The manufacturer of the new acrylic bath tub suggests (optional) a leveling mortar mix, or construction glue on the five feet and glue it to the floor.
1. The tub is perfectly level, so my conclusion is I do not need this optional leveling mortar mix? Correct?

2. The instructions say if the mortar mix is not used, then construction glue should be put on the five feet. The problem I have is that the tub needs to be put on the bathroom floor and slid into the opening. I took the old tub out by just breaking off enough of the old tiles to slide it out, so the new tube slides in. I cannot lift it to put glue on the feet and drop it in place. If I put this construction glue on the feet, it will probably all come off as I slide the new tub in.

I am wondering if the glue is necessary at all, as the tub lip is going to be screwed in every stud. I mean where is it going to go, if it is screwed to every stud?

Thanks very much for your assistance.
James

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joecaption

· #2 · Dec 19, 2012

Before I go off on how following the instrutions on this to a tee is super important I have a question.
What's under those tiles? If it's old plaster or sheetrock in any form it's very likly your going to regret not doing this right and removing all of the old tile.

No floor is ever perfectly level, the tub it's self is not going to be perfectly flat and level.
If there's nothing to 100% fully support the tub it's going to flex, flex = cracks in the tub, cracking caulking, can cause the drain fitting to leak.

In an older home it's also all most always advisable to replace any old steel supply of drain lines, and the old control valve.

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polarzak

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 19, 2012 (Edited)

joecaption;1075896 What's under those tiles? If it's old plaster or sheetrock in any form it's very likly your going to regret not doing this right and removing all of the old tile. No floor is ever perfectly level said:
Yes, it is sheet-rock under the tile (studs, sheet-rock, and tiles) however what am I going to regret if I "don't do it right". There is no mold, and the sheet-rock under the tiles I removed to get the old tub out was solid,. no water damage. As mentioned, all of this is to be covered with a full acrylic tub surround, so I don't see what the issue would be leave the old tile and sheet-rock intact?

My floor must be one in a million. as the tub seems flat, and level temporarily installed as it is. Forgetting about replacing the sheet rock for now, (I may consider it) what about gluing the feet to the floor if I don't replace it and cannot access the feet.. Is it necessary?

The drain and over flow are brass, connected to and ABS trap and drain line. I will replace the brass with ABS as the overflow is higher in the new tub. I don't have a control valve, unless you mean the tub faucets, which I am keeping.
Thanks.

Just found this http://www.diychatroom.com/f7/need-some-help-installing-acrylic-bathtub-54950/
Not my pictures, but exactly what I have done so far, and my new tub fits in the slot. You see I would not be able to raise the tub to get the glue under it.

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