If you are planning to install a walk-in tub in your house, you have made a wise decision. It is a great item for anyone in your family who has been suffering from mobility issues or elderly people who have serious health concerns. So, what’s next?
Installing a new walk-in tub isn’t a job for a beginner. And, you should hire a contractor. However, if you are confident about your abilities, here is a guide on a walk in tub installation explained in easy steps.
IMPORTANT STEPS THAT YOU SHOULD FOLLOW BEFORE INSTALLING THE UNIT:
Unpacking the walk-in tub and inspecting it closely is what you should do first to get started. Here is something that you need to look out for.
- Inspect the cartoon for any kind of visible damage. Document them with care and take photographs
- It is unwise to lift the walk-in tub by the plumbing. That’s because it might result in leaks and you may be responsible for that
- Even there is no damage to the cartoon, inspect the unit for damages. For all kinds of product damages, you have to report it to the concerned authority within a stipulated timeframe as set by the manufacturer. After the unit gets installed, nothing can be done
- Carefully inspect the plumbing to find out if there is any damage that might have been caused during the transit
- Don’t forget to read the owner’s manual for instructions
If everything is fine, you may continue with the walk-in installation by following these simple, easy steps.
INSTALLATION OF WALK-IN TUBS:
While this guide on a walk in tubs installation is a generic one, it should work with almost every walk-in tub from different manufacturers. Moreover, most companies include a set of instructions on their owner’s manual for installing walk-in tubs for specific models.
You can read them before starting your project at hand. However, if you feel that you have certain doubts about the installation, it is better to hire an expert to handle the installation process. For people with a bit of DIY experience, here are the steps for installing a walk-in tub.
1. INSTALLING THE LEDGER BOARD
Find out where the topmost part of the tub flange will hit the wall studs. Next, make a mark. Make use of the four-foot level so that you can extend this mark on all the studs where the tub might rest against. Now, measure one inch down from the position marked earlier.
Next, make another mark. You have to extend this mark by maintaining the same level on all the framing. Attach a 2×4 piece of lumber. That way, you can make sure that the top part is even with the bottom and all way around. Moreover, you can secure the lumber using a drill machine and drywall screws. The ledger board supports the edges of the tub.
2. INSTALLING SHOE FITTING
If you have the drain lines from the old tub, it would be helpful. Or else, you have to make a separate drain line from the overflow and underside. The easiest way to do so is to lay the new unit by its side. If you find any differences from the drain line to the overflow in measurements, you have to make some adjustments.
This might involve the need to put in a new piece of the drain pipe. However, in most cases, the old shoe fitting will fit into the new walk-in tub. Finally, attach the overflow cover and tub drain to hold the shoe in the right place. It is good to use a plumber’s putty to use them while connecting things.
3. INSTALLING MORTAR
The next step involved is mixing the mortar. Use a trowel and spread the mortar evenly on the floor area where you need to place the walk-in tub. Make sure that the mortar has about two inches in thickness.
And, keep in mind not to get it anywhere around the drain line. After you have finished placing the mortar where it should be, remove the rag that you put while installing the drain line on the previous step.
4. INSTALLING THE WALK-IN TUB
When you have completed all the steps properly, it’s time for you to place the walk-in tub into its place. This step becomes much easy if you take help from a friend or a family member. As such, it prevents any kind of risks associated with damaging the wall coverings or the walk-in tub itself.
Gently lift the tub and place it down in the space allocated for it. However, take special care to ensure that the shoe fitting falls in line with the drainpipe that runs underneath the tub. The tub edges should sit on the ledger boards. You have to remove any mortar that you use along the exposed edges of the tub.
5. LEVEL THE WALK-IN TUB AND SECURE IT FIRMLY
Again, use the four-foot level on the top front portion of the tub. Install wood shims as many as you can to make sure that the level of the tub remains the same from left to right. Next, use the four-foot level or torpedo level on the end ledge to level the walk-in tub from back to front.
Again, install wood shims if you need any more. When you become sure that the tub is leveled, you need to secure it to the studs on the wall. You can do that by hammering high-quality nails through the flange on the tub. Make use of a drill machine to put holes on the flange first.
6. SECURING THE DRAIN
After the tub has been fitted firm in place, you need to secure the drainpipe to the shoe fitting. You can do that through the hole in the ceiling underneath the tub or the adjacent wall.
7. INSTALLING THE FAUCETS
You can either install new faucets or the ones that you have removed from your old tub. The process is simple and it needs a screwdriver alone to do the job.
8. FINALLY, TURN THE WATER ON
Allow the main water supply to flow into the tube. Check for any kinds of leakage at drain lines or water supply before closing the holes.
