A standard bathtub … They are molded bathtubs that can be fitted snugly in your bathroom to provide a contemporary look. Combine 2 parts vinegar and 1 part water in a spray bottle and spray the entire bathtub. Just in case you have a party or something. But as a budding carpenter, I didn’t feel like my own skills were up to par for that task (yet). While it is easy to clean, it can be scratched using the wrong tools and supplies. Here is how to easily make a tub and shower look new again! Ripping out and replacing the old bathtubs and showers in my house has always been on my “MUST DO” list. Maybe the tub is level, but the floor is not. Unlike cast-iron and steel bathtubs, which are rigid and self-supporting and often come installed in a frame, acrylic and fiberglass bathtubs need extra support underneath to prevent flexing, and this is typically supplied by a mortar bed.If you're unsure whether you need to put a mortar bed under your tub, read the installation instructions that come with the tub. You must consider all of the weight the floor joists must be able to support. Setting the tub or shower base in a proper mortar bed during installation is the only proper way to install fiberglass units. You may be able to pack in a somewhat dry mortar mix after the fact since you have access to the underside of the tub, but I doubt it will be very effective as you won't mould the mortar to give proper support. Attach the drain and overflow pipe to the tub prior to installing the tub. Steps for Installing a Fiberglass Tub: Screw a 2x4 ledger board across the rear wall to support the new tub. All the tub/shower units I have used have good supports under them. It really sounds like the tub needs to come out and the floor checked for levelness. When you get in it, your weight is enough to cause movement, but not enough to set the tub into place if it is supported by the wall. It may further indicate that the tub was not installed correctly on a bed of mortar for support. With some there is also a wall cleat that serves as an additional support. Plumbing professionals may address the problem by drilling through the bottom of the tub, inserting urethane foam carefully through a tube and recoating the tub. The floor framing for bathtubs requires special attention. If you want to try to keep the tub in one piece, use a jigsaw to cut away the tub flange that’s nailed to the studs, then tip up the tub and pull it out. Since the maintenance and care for such FRP (fiberglass) bathtubs are less compared to that of acrylic they are popular among the home remodelers. Fiberglass is a commonly used material for bathtubs. You might spray some GREAT STUFF foam under it that will last until you decide on a full gut and remodel of your room. Apply plumber's putty around the threaded portion of the strainer. I'll bet 90% of the fiberglass combo units are not mudded. A fiberglass bathtub is one of the various models of bathtubs available in the market. I assume it's possible that one of the corners of the tub are not touching the floor. A squeaky noise, especially in a fiberglass tub, means it is at risk of cracking. If I install a whirlpool tub, the manufacturer often recommends mudding it in. Using the tub daily makes it hard to clean the soap scum and dirt as it gets embedded which causes black stains and water spots. Your fiberglass bathtub or shower will scratch over time. The small crevices will allow dirt and grime to build up over time. If your tub is acrylic or fiberglass, cut it into pieces with a jigsaw to make the removal process easier. If necessary, replace the shower valve while the wall framing is still exposed. Over time the foam breaks down and stops supporting the tub, causing creaking first, then cracks, then holes. The bathtub looks are quite enough to determine the tub material but there are also few other tricks that can easily help the user to find out other possibilities and some among them are defined as follows: Press The Surface Of The Tub: Start by knocking or pressing the outer tub wall. All opinions belong to Thrift Diving. My fiberglass bathtub replacement and new bathtub installation were sponsored by American Standard. Allow this soaking solution to sit in the tub for 15-20 minutes. First, unscrew the tub drain and overflow from the P-trap underneath the tub. Most all fiberglass tubs have Styrofoam support rails adhered to the underside when new.