How To Support A Fiberglass Bathtub (Details Guide)

A shower is the fastest way to get clean when you’re on the go. It’s an activity that millions of people make of their everyday routine. But if you have a little more time available using a bath is the ultimate in leisure.

The fiberglass bathtubs are the most popular choices for any bathroom and are easy to install. In fact, you can do it yourself and for that, we are going to describe to you How To Support A Fiberglass Bathtub and install it easily.

How To Support A Fiberglass Bathtub

Fiberglass products for shower walls or tubs are made of fiberglass and resin and are no different than cast on a broken arm, or a vintage corvette. Fiberglass is lighter in weight and is more economical. If you have a smaller budget fiberglass bathtubs are the best option for you. If you want to set up your fiberglass bathtub you need to have an alcove or three wall spacing where the walls will support your fiberglass bathtub.

When it comes to the fiberglass bathtubs you’re going to find the bathing experience quite pleasant. Its surface is smoother than other bathtub materials. Fiberglass bathtubs are easy to install and less expensive. A good fiberglass bathtub really harnesses the power of polymerization linking of molecules in a gel coat surface and makes it durable. It is a low-maintenance bathtub. If it cracks or chips you can easily repair it.

Best Way To Support A Fiberglass Bathtub

How To Support A Fiberglass Bathtub can be installed in two ways. You can either buy a one-piece tub or you can build a supporting wall around your fiberglass bathtub that will make it sturdy enough not to move. Let’s discuss both types.

One-piece Fiberglass Bathtub

A one-piece fiberglass bathtub is a ready-made bathtub that has to be brought in the place to want to install. First, hook the plumbing of your bathtub. Most fiberglass bathtubs have 4 feet underneath. Before you install the tub make sure the surface is level and plumb. Mark the feet so you can fit your wood boards in there for support. Hook up the drain line to the tub so the bottom PVC is lined up with it and you can glue that in.

Take a grinder a make the tube lines on the floor so the tub edge sits down properly. Now hook up the rest of your plumbing. Cut a piece of wood to the edge of the tube sides to make the walls nice and secure.

Screw the tube walls with the 2×4 studs so they don’t move and stick strongly all the way around. Use wood boards under the tube and screw the feet of your tube so they can support the tub and hold the weight properly. Use silicone adhesive to seal the front edge of your tube so water does not go in.

A Built-in Fiberglass Bathtub

The first thing you need to find out is how much space you have under your tub. Because you want enough space that you can give your spray foam in there. If you have enough space to slid-down polystyrene foam pieces underneath and at the back, you can do that. This way you don’t have to do a lot of spraying and you can just fill in the gaps.

You can buy 2-inch polystyrene foam pieces and cut them accordingly. You’ll have to also use these foams at the back of your wall studs for more support.

Now after you’re done cutting those polystyrenes see how much space you’re left with. Now fill up your tub with water at least halfway through to give some weight to the tube so that will hold the tub from letting the spray foam move it up anyway.

Use a little silicone in those polystyrenes so they’d stay in place. Now take your 1-inch foam spray which comes with a nozzle but you’ll need a bigger one to fill out the insides. So you can cut a tube and attach it with the nozzle. To make the tube straight tape a wire with the tube.

Now stick the tube all the way inside your bathtub. Now start with spraying from the back to the front thoroughly so there are no gaps inside. The foams will expand and become rock solid. Now don’t forget about the back and the sides. You’ll have to spay in those gaps between the stud and the tub walls. This will remove any flimsiness to the walls.

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Final Verdict

The ways we described here are the easiest ways How To Support A Fiberglass Bathtub that you can do all by yourself without any professionals of help and that will also spare you a couple of hundred dollars.