An Installation Guide for Acrylic or Fiberglass Bathtubs and Surrounds

Preparation

• Before you install your acrylic or fiberglass bathtub and surround, complete the necessary preparation work. If you are replacing an old bathtub and surround, completely remove the old bathtub and its drainpipes. Before you tear out the old tub surround, measure the surround and compare its dimensions to the new surround’s dimensions. If the new surround is larger, then remove enough of the wall around the perimeter of the old surround so the new surround can sit against the wall studs.

Drainpipes and Faucet

• Replace the old drainpipes that were sitting under the old bathtub, and install a new bathtub drainpipe assembly. The best time to install the new drainpipes is after you have removed the old bathtub since you do not have to work through the cramped space in the access door on the wall behind the tub’s faucet. If you also want to install a new faucet, the best time to do so is after you have removed the old surround and before you install the new surround. By following this timing, you can cut the necessary holes to accommodate the new faucet assembly instead of trying to switch the faucets later and having to patch any holes in the surround from the old faucet that won't be needed for the new faucet.

Setting the Tub in Place

• When you set the bathtub on the floor, follow the instructions provided by the tub’s manufacturer. Some bathtubs must sit on a bed of mortar so they have support across the whole bottom, otherwise the bottom of the bathtub will bow as people climb inside the tub later. Other manufactures may direct you to place wood supports at specific points under the tub. Whatever you place the tub on, position the tub so it sits level. If using mortar, redistribute the mortar until the tub sits flat; for other tub supports, attach shims to the bottom of the tub to level it.

Adhering to the Surround to the Wall

• Some fiberglass or acrylic bathtub surround panels come with adhesive strips to help the panels attach to the bathroom walls. This does not mean you do not need to use the adhesive that comes with the panels to install the panels on the bathroom walls. The adhesive strips help hold the panels in place while the adhesive you spread over the back of the panels dries. Before you apply adhesive or peel off the protective paper from the adhesive strips, dry-fit the panels on the wall to ensure they fit correctly. Sometimes, a warped wall stud will prevent a panel from sitting flat against the wall and the warped section of the stud will need to be sanded down. If not all the panels sit at the same level, trim the bottoms with a hacksaw.