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 Tub Install Question
Author: Don411 (IN)

I have this 54" Swiss Madison brand alcove tub going into the new bath. It's acrylic, looks like OK quality, but the only 54" alcove tub I could find locally. Here is a link to the tub: [swissmadison.com]

The tub comes with adjustable feet to help with installation, which seems like a good idea. The installation instructions also call for the tub to set in mortar. I emailed the manufacturer about type of mortar and placement, and they replied that the tub feet should be set in mortar, that the mortar should not touch the tub bottom. Either thin set or Structolite is OK. The instructions say to set the tub in place, drill pilot holes thru the tiling flange into the studs, remove the tub and apply mortar, stand in the tub to compress mortar under the feet to return tub to original position so that tub can be screwed to wall using the pilot holes.

It seems to me that all the mortar would be squeezed out in this process, and if mortar is not required to support the actual tub basin, what is the point? I asked if construction adhesive could be used to secure the feet in place and all they said was not following directions voids warranty.

Anybody have experience installing a tub like this? How would you install it?

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 Re: Tub Install Question
Author: packy (MA)

you are in between a rock and a hard place.
the bottom of the tub has a nice piece of MDF giving it strength.
i don't think the company would tell you to do (or not do) something if it was going to cause them a warrantee problem.
so the bottom looks plenty rugged the way it is. drill the pilot holes as high as possible.
also use 100 % silicone caulk when installing the tub drain and flange.

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 Re: Tub Install Question
Author: sum (FL)

From reading the descriptions it seems (to me) what they really want are those five acrylic feet (the wider part) to be supported by mortar. The levelers are necessary so the tub rest on all five legs (in case uneven tiles cause some legs to be higher/lower. Imagine if the entire floor is perfectly level the levelers would not be needed and you sit the tub right on the floor with the levelers removed...all five fat feet will make full contact with the floor is my guess the design intent. The mortar extends the fat feet to the floor.

If that's the case I would expect the mortar to be squeezed out of the levelers' bottom and I would make sure to pack the mortar all around completely embedding the levelers making five elephant feet.

Between thinset and Structolite I would opt for Structolite it's very light weight and strong. However this stuff dries very fast, I used it on plastered ceilings and from the moment you scoop the powder into a pail for mixing you have 15 minutes before it starts to set up and become not so pliable. Also it comes in 50 pound bags so you are only going to be using 3 pounds.



Edited 1 times.

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 Re: Tub Install Question
Author: sum (FL)

Another thought...may be the mortar base's main purpose is to ensure all five legs touch the floor solidly.

If someone carelessly install the tub without adjusting all the legs so they all touch the floor, or if they got four feet to touch but when adjusting the fifth one they raised that one too much and cause one other foot to be raised a tiny amount, one you can't tell visually but when the tub is full of water suddenly it wobbles 1/16" on one side enough to cause a strain on the tiling flange. So the mortar is just extra insurance to make sure all feet touch the floor, if a gap exists under any foot, the amount not squeezed out and you compress standing inside makes up the difference.

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 Re: Tub Install Question
Author: Don411 (IN)

Sum I think that's right. Looking at the leveling feet, they may only designed to level the tub during installation, not support it over the long term. You need a pile of mortar to build up support around the feet to help carry the load over the long term.

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