Can you set a tub with foam?
Yes, expanding spray foam can be used under a bathtub. It can reduce coldness and flex in an existing install, but an improper application can result in additional problems. It’s important to understand that the tried-and-true best practice for preventing flex in a newly installed bathtub is with a mortar slab.
How is a bathtub supported?
The tub is designed to install in a recess, where three walls are comprised of stud framing, with the fourth acrylic wall exposed. An acrylic tub is not self-supporting, which means it must be supported along its entire bottom with mortar or grout.
How do you put foam under a bathtub?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And then a one inch piece and that'll give me about one one and a quarter inches of space to fill that up with spray foam.
What goes under a bathtub?
The mortar conforms to the contours of the tub, and when it sets, it prevents the tub from moving and supports the weight. Both regular thinset mortar and floor leveling compound are suitable. A series of strategically placed piles is easier to control than a full bed, and it provides comparable support for the tub.
Can expanding foam support weight?
Spray foam insulation offers many benefits as a structural support option. First, it is lightweight, which makes it a good choice in situations where the weight of concrete would further damage a structure.
Where should you not use expanding foam?
When NOT to Use Spray Foam Insulation
- For areas that are too close to electrical boxes:
- For areas too close to ceiling light boxes:
- Open-cell spray foam on your roof:
- For closed-cavity spaces:
- If you have a history of skin, respiratory, or asthma problems:
Do you put backer board under tub?
The best approach when installing cement board or other tile backer around a tub is to keep the cement board out of the lip area. Apply it to the wall with the bottom edge about 1/4 in. above the lip of the tub. Then apply a generous amount of thin-set to the bottom bathtub tile and position it 1/8 in.
How do you install a Fibreglass tub?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And see here's the trip lever it's the pot you see in the bathtub to make the drain. Open or close.
Do you have to put mortar under a tub?
Whether you are installing a regular acrylic bathtub that doubles as a shower unit or a larger two-person Jacuzzi, most bathtubs require a mortar base for the tub to rest on.
Why does my fiberglass tub squeak?
A squeaky noise, especially in a fiberglass tub, means it is at risk of cracking. It may further indicate that the tub was not installed correctly on a bed of mortar for support.
How do you convert a tub to a mortar bed?
Installing the Bathtub
Install the bathtub while the mortar is fresh. Set it down gently until it makes contact with the mortar; then stand in the tub and move your weight back and forth to force the tub down into the mortar until the edges make contact with the supports on the sides of the frame.
How many bags of mortar do I need to set a bathtub?
Usually you need one 55 lb of mortar for one tub. But as you’ll see in our video we had to use two bags, but it’s not like the Mud Bed Mix is breaking the bank. Mix the mortar so that it can support the tub. It should not be runny but rather stand up on it’s own.
Why is there a hole under my bathtub?
Why is this hole there? It’s to accomodate the bathtub drain, which connects to the tub in two places and runs horizontally right at about the level of the subfloor. Plumbers often use a chain saw or reciprocating saw to cut the hole and make it big enough so it’s easy to install the drain.
Do you screw a bathtub to the wall?
Carefully set tub into place against the wall studs. Predrill 3/16-inch-diameter screw holes through the tub’s flange, then fasten the tub to the wall studs with 1¼-inch-long decking screws. Use a drill and hole saw to cut holes through the fiberglass tub surround for the shower valve and tub spout.
Is thin set a mortar?
Thinset is an adhesive cement used to secure floor and wall tiles to concrete surfaces. The word “thinset” is sometimes used interchangeably with “mortar,” because it’s a type of modified mortar made specifically for tile.
What is difference between mortar and thinset?
In short, the difference between thinset and any other mortar is that thinset does not have lime in it. Instead, thinset has a moisture-retaining agent and generally retains more air pockets than mortar does.
How thick can I lay thinset?
The terms thinset cement, thinset mortar, dryset mortar, and drybond mortar are synonymous. This type of cement is designed to adhere well in a thin layer – typically not greater than 3/16th thick.
