Can You Put a Drop-in Tub on a Second Floor?

About Drop-In Tubs

• Drop-in tubs are a type of bathtub that is surrounded on all sides by a platform that is either built up above the level of the floor or sunk into the floor. Of course, setting it into the floor on the second floor of homes would require extensive construction that could extend into the ceiling of the floor beneath, so a built-up platform to hold the tub is generally used. The platform can be constructed to a wide variety of designs, such as in a corner location, along a wall or in other configurations, as desired.

Problems of Second Floor Tub Installations

• Installing bathtubs in second-floor bathrooms may require additional considerations, including calculating the weight of the tub filled with water and the load of the flooring, as well as the problem of bringing the heavy fixture to the second level of the home.

Bathtub Weight Considerations

• Bathtub materials vary in weight. An acrylic tub may weigh only 150 pounds. Cast iron bathtubs can weigh 300 pounds or more. Water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon, according to HomeStyleChoices website. Calculate the weight of the tub when filled by adding the weight of the tub to the capacity of the tub times 8.3. This number will provide the total weight of the tub when filled. Of course, the weight of the person using the tub will add another 150 to 250 pounds, on average.

Bathtub Floor Supports

• Do-it-yourselfers must take in the weight considerations of the tub weight as well as the weight when filled with water when determining how much support the flooring needs to install the tub on the second floor. Bathtubs are available in a number of materials that require different degrees of support. Acrylic tubs are much lighter than cast iron tubs and so may require less additional support. For the heavier cast iron tubs, installing additional floor joists or steel straps between existing joists may be necessary. The average weight load allowable on floor joists for contemporary construction is 30 to 40 pounds per square foot. To determine the load weight, combine the total weight of the tub, water and bather and divide by the tub’s area. If installing a larger-than-average tub, consult with a building engineer to determine whether additional support structures will be necessary.