Installing An Acrylic Bathtub: How To Install It Yourself, How To Install A Structure On A Frame, How To Properly Install

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33

A place for a bathroom should be equipped in every house and apartment, good plumbing in the bathroom and toilet will help to achieve the convenience of using these premises. If you have to repair the shower and replace all the contents, then you should take care of the correct choice of new equipment and proper installation. If you need to choose a bathtub, then the most popular, relatively inexpensive and easy-to-install option will be an acrylic product, which will become a functional decoration of any shower room.

Peculiarities

Repair of any room is important, and even more so in the bathroom, because everything here is not put on for a year or two, but at least for five or ten years. The most important element of the arrangement will not be working with wall surfaces, but the choice of a bath and its correct installation. There are many options for modern fonts: these are cast iron, steel, stone and acrylic varieties. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, but the most popular is now an acrylic product.

For an acrylic bath, it is important to create the right care conditions for the surface to be dry , clean and not exposed to abrasive materials or corrosive chemicals. Only in this case it will be possible to count on long-term use and preservation of proper appearance. The advantage of acrylic is that it is very lightweight, but at the same time it is easy to break if the impact force is higher than normal. Due to the peculiarities of such a product, an important stage will be the process of its installation.

It is quite simple to install an acrylic bathroom in a shower room, because it is light enough to comfortably carry out work on installing the drain and any other manipulations. Due to the fragility of the product, the desire to save the bathtub became a necessity, for which the best solution is to erect a frame. Installing a hot tub in such a structure minimizes the risk of cracks and any other damage to the outer layer. In this case, the place under the bathtub is completely foamed or clogged with mineral wool so as not to create a hollow space.

This is just one of several options for how an acrylic product can be installed.

Placement for swimming is considered to be no less popular, but simpler and cheaper . on the floor by using the legs, which can be included in the kit or purchased individually based on the dimensions and weight of the equipment. If this method does not inspire due confidence, then an alternative may be to mount the bath on a metal frame, which can be ordered for a specific product or welded on your own.

Whichever option you choose, the most important thing for a comfortable shower is a high-quality product and proper care for it. If you are careful not to drop heavy objects into the acrylic font, then there will be nothing to worry about, the bathing area will always be attractive, and the process itself will be as convenient as possible.

Preparation of tools and materials

The process of installing an acrylic bathtub with your own hands requires preparing the place where the future object will be located, the necessary materials and tools. It is important to create a full-fledged working environment so that nothing interferes in the room, then the procedure will take place at an optimal pace and the quality of the repair will be at its best.

For a full-fledged work on the installation of an acrylic bathtub, you must have with you:

• the product itself to be installed;
• materials for a specific type of fastening: legs, frame, bricks;
• a hammer;
• Bulgarian;
• puncher;
• silicone sealant;
• level;
• adjustable wrench;
• electrical tape or mounting tape;
• corrugated pipe;
• brackets with which the bathtub will be fastened to the floor or to the wall.

In order for the repair process to go right, it is important to do everything in a specific order:

• shutting off the water supply;
• dismantling the old bath;
• replacement of the old plum;
• cleaning the sewer hole;
• installation of a new corrugation in the sewer socket;
• greasing the junction of the corrugation with the sewer;
• the process of leveling the floor for new equipment.

Once all the work is done, you can start installing the new acrylic product.

It is best to decide in advance which installation option will be used in order to have everything you need with you.

Installation methods

Bathtub installation work has always been a complex process, which cannot be done without professionals. Due to their large dimensions and heavy weight, only those who know well what to do and how to do could handle metal containers. New materials made it possible to create a lighter variation of the same plumbing item, which made it possible to work independently.

Installation of an acrylic bathtub can be done in several ways, depending on which the required design and materials for it are selected.

There are four main options for how you can make the installation, these are:

• use of legs;
• installation on a metal frame, which must be pre-assembled;
• making brick supports on which the font is placed;
• making a brick podium where the product is lowered.

In addition to these options, there are also combinations that have their own characteristic features. When choosing the right type of installation, it is important to take into account the dimensions of the bath: if the dimensions are 170x70 cm, then all possible methods are appropriate, for more compact ones it will be convenient to leave the legs, because the weight is significantly reduced, and for more bulky it is better to make a podium.

If there is no experience in installing a bathtub, then it is better to use the services of professionals , because the material of the product is very fragile, and any carelessness will lead to a crack or a hole. In addition, it is necessary to proceed to repair work as soon as possible after purchase, because storage in the wrong position and in unsuitable conditions can change the shape of the bowl.

The installation process itself is different for each option, and before starting work, you need to study the features of each in order to choose the most suitable for specific conditions.

On the legs

The easiest way to mount the bathtub is to install it on the support legs. Often they are already included and matched to the product. In order to secure the supports, usually does not require a large number of tools, but sometimes it is necessary to make holes for the fasteners. If the situation compels such actions, then the drill is taken for woodwork, and the hole is made at low tool speeds.

The very process of installing the legs comes down to securing them securely and placing them in the right place, which will give the necessary height for installing pipes and a siphon.

In fact, the work consists of two stages

• The process of fastening the legs, which are installed in special places provided by the manufacturer. Usually they are marked with a special sticker or some kind of symbol so that you can easily identify the landing site of the supports. In some cases, the fastener hole has already been drilled, in some it has not. It is important to use exactly the allocated places and make holes where it is required, otherwise the weight of a person's body during bathing will be unevenly distributed over the bath, and it will be damaged.
• The process of adjusting the support legs. Almost all modern structures, which involve installation on supports, can be adjusted relative to the height from the floor. This makes it possible to adjust the plumbing to the needs of residents. Tall people will find it convenient to have a hot tub more than 15 cm from the floor, and people with an average height and below it will need to lower the bottom slightly less than the standard height.

The first step is to install the bathtub to the wall, and then start screwing the legs. The next stage is the alignment of the product along a horizontal line, for which the building level, which is placed on the side of the bath, is useful. The process of adjusting the supports in the finished form is carried out with a wrench.

When the height of the bowl is at the optimal level, the legs are fixed, and the work goes to the wall, to which the product must also be attached. For this process, it is necessary to pre-install hooks made of plastic or metal, and later use them to screw the bath to the wall. Once the work is done, the last step will be to seal the joints, which is done with silicone sealant.

It processes all the joints of the bath with the walls.

On the frame

If there is a desire to make a reliable mount for an acrylic bathtub, then its installation with the help of a frame will be the most suitable. This process is not too complicated, but it requires knowledge of the matter and strict adherence to the instructions.

Let's consider the order of actions

• Assembling the frame. This design is bought in advance, the instructions for it are studied. With the help of self-tapping screws, which are provided in the kit, part by part is twisted.
• Installation of the finished structure on the bath. For this process, it must be turned over, and then put on the frame. The fixation is carried out using racks and pins, which are screwed to the bathtub. They need to be located from the center, first - those that are near the wall, there should be two of them, and then - two from the front panel, they need three.
• When it was possible to fix the frame, plastic legs with thrust bearings are screwed to the finished structure, which regulate the height of the entire product, which should not be higher than 65 cm.
• Only then can the bathtub be turned over and checked whether all the elements are correctly installed and whether the hot tub is level.

• If necessary, the bathing container can be additionally attached to the wall using a metal hook or corner.
• The next step is to connect the siphon and overflow.
• Having received an almost complete structure, you can begin to install the mixer, which must be selected correctly based on the functions that it will perform in the room.
• To hide the type of installation and the type of metal structure from outsiders, it is better to install a decorative screen. It can be plastic, wood, with decorative tiles, it all depends on preferences and capabilities.

Using a frame will allow you to securely fix the bath and prevent it from moving. In addition, the mass of the one who bathes is better distributed this way, and the bowl is definitely not deformed.

To avoid water noise on the surface, it is possible to fill the space under the bathtub, which will provide a soundproofing effect.

On supports

You can mount an acrylic bathtub not only on legs and a frame, but also on supports. The most convenient option for them would be a simple brick. With only twelve pieces, four supports can be erected, on which the bathing tank can be installed. Unlike the podium, which also requires a brick, in this case the structure is light and does not create unnecessary pressure on the shower floor.

To put the bath on supports, you must adhere to a certain sequence of actions

• After dismantling everything that is superfluous in the room, you need to bring in new plumbing, it is better not to unpack it so as not to damage it, and then make marks for future supports.
• It is necessary to rationally distribute the supports in relation to the length of the bath. If it is large, then three columns should be placed in length, if it is small, two will be enough. It is important to place one under the bathtub on the bottom and two at the edges of the product.

• After marking, remove the font and start laying out the posts. Their height should be no more than 20 cm so that the bathtub is not higher than 65 cm above the floor level.
• The brick is placed in a mortar, which should dry for at least 12 hours, but it is better to wait 24 hours to be fully confident in the strength of the structure.
• When the supports are ready, the bath is installed. It is important to fill the joint with the brick with silicone sealant.
• For reliability, it is necessary to install metal corners or hooks on which the font is mounted.

If you have concerns about the thermal conductivity or strength of the acrylic material, you can cover the bottom of the tub with foam prior to installation to avoid these problems.

On the podium

In the event that there is a desire to make a beautiful, and, most importantly, reliable structure for an acrylic bathtub, then the best way would be to build a podium, especially if this is an angular option for placing plumbing fixtures. This requires a fairly large amount of bricks and a number of other tools. If you follow all the steps correctly, you can get a decent result.

Installation work consists of several stages

• Dismantling of everything foreign and unnecessary in the new shower room. Skidding of new plumbing in a film and installation in the intended place. In this case, in addition to the reference point for the construction of the frame, the place for the drain should also be noted.
• The construction of a brick podium with a special solution is done until the height of the finished structure is 60 cm.
• When the brickwork is ready, using plywood that is resistant to moisture, a frame is cut, which is slightly higher in height than the podium, to cover the area of foam between the brickwork and the bathroom.

• A brick podium must be covered with one layer of foam and plywood attached to it.
• Installing the bathtub on the finished podium and checking the evenness of the structure with a level.
• For the foam to solidify correctly, you need to take water into the bath, about half and wait about a day.
• Connecting the bathing tank to a drain with an overflow and mounting on a finished podium using corners or hooks.

When installing plumbing of this type, you should not make any slopes towards the drain, because this is already provided for in the design of the product itself.

To give the podium a complete look, you can tile it with decorative tiles directly on the bricks.

Combined options

In order not to overload the floor of the apartment with the installation of the podium, you can make a strong and reliable support for the acrylic bathtub using legs and bricks at the same time. It is important to correctly calculate the height of the brick structure and raise the font to the same height using the legs. It is not easy to cope with this kind of work, but if you want and try, it is possible.

To facilitate the task, you must initially put the bathing bowl on its legs . and select the optimal height for this plumbing, after which the distance between the floor and the bottom of the bath is determined. This makes it possible to understand what width and height the brickwork will have. The brick structure should not be located close to the bottom of the bath; a gap of one centimeter must be left between them, which is later filled with foam.

You can use another option, when a flat base is erected from bricks, which serves as a support for the bottom, and the legs already fix the entire structure so that it does not stagger and stands securely.

In this case, you should also not allow the brick to contact the bottom, leaving a gap for the foam.

Helpful hints

• If an acrylic bathtub is supposed to be installed in the shower room, which will replace the cast iron bathtub, then it is important to know the features of working with new material and decide on the installation method that is most suitable in specific conditions. After carrying out dismantling work, first of all, you need to tidy up the wall, level it and putty.
• It is quite simple to install acrylic plumbing on your own, because it is lightweight, but it is better to have an assistant who will assist with any transport of the product, which will protect the fragile surface of the new bath from damage.
• When installing a hot tub, the first thing to take care of is alignment with the floor level so that the structure is secure and checking the height of the legs so that the bath does not wobble. When installing the product on a brick base, it is important to monitor the level of the supports after each new layer so that there is no distortion of the plumbing later.

If you cannot fix this problem, you should consider changing the installation method of the product . If there is a desire to make sure that the bathing tank does not swing at all, then the best option would be to build a podium. This option is perfect for residents of the first floor or a private house, and in old high-rise buildings it is better to refrain from such a significant weighting of the flooring of the house.

If it is not possible to build something bulky, strengthening the acrylic bathtub can be done using a metal frame or a combined version using legs and brickwork. The choice of option depends on the skills and abilities, working conditions and the size of the font. After completing the installation work, it is necessary to close the junction of the bathtub with the wall. This can be done with a sealant. But it is better to use a plastic corner, which is cut at the base at 45 degrees so that you can evenly glue it to the surface

The installation of the bathtub should be complex, taking into account the parameters of the height of the bathtub bottom from the floor, so that the drain and siphon can be freely mounted and ensure optimal comfort of use. The average height of the bowl in the shower should be from 50 to 60 cm for people with an average height and 70 cm for tall people. The frame, legs, supports or podium should be erected only after the optimal height for members of a particular family has been measured, taking into account all its features, the presence of children or people with disabilities

You will learn more about installing an acrylic bath in the following video.