Acrylic bathtubs are very popular today. They are made of practical material, and have a fairly light weight. For the long service life of this product, attention should be paid to the correct installation and maintenance of the bowl. The installation procedure can be performed independently. Let's consider in the article how to install an acrylic bath yourself.
Acrylic Features
Installation of an acrylic bath can be done with your own hands. This is recognized by the privileges of this material. Due to its features, it is very practical and lightweight. And these properties contribute to a simpler installation than, for example, a cast iron or steel bath.
The advantage of acrylic bowls is also their large assortment. You can choose different shapes and optimal sizes. Based on this, the owners of houses, apartments and other residential premises opt for acrylic plumbing.
It should also be noted that the question of how to install an acrylic bathtub with your own hands is solved much easier when you can choose the desired size of the product. Bowls from the presented material also belong to such a product. Products with various sizes are on sale, which facilitates the task of choosing the right length and width.
Acrylic products have the ability to retain heat. The water in this bath will keep the hot temperature longer. Also, the inner surface is easy to clean. Wash it is not difficult, with long use it does not turn yellow. Therefore, if you want to install an acrylic bath, this is a profitable investment. She is able to serve for decades.
During installation, you need to properly fix the bath in the space allocated for it. Otherwise, if you fix it incorrectly, the bowl will begin to deform over time, and this will greatly reduce its life. This is a disadvantage of the material presented. However, such bowls are easy to install. But you should carefully monitor the correct installation and fixation of the bath.
Sustainability
You can install an acrylic bath yourself without professionals. To do this, you just need to take into account that the stability of the product from this material in different planes is not the same. So, in the vertical direction, the foot bath will be stable. Special supports are manufactured at the enterprises that are capable of supporting the weight of the bath with water. They undergo special testing by technologists.
In the horizontal plane, the product is not stable. This contributes to the rapid imbalance of the acrylic bowl. If you give the bath the ability to move in the horizontal direction, then very soon the connection point of the sewer system will become damaged.
It should also be noted that you can install an asymmetric acrylic bathtub with both short and long sides against the wall. But with an uneven (curved) edge, it will be more difficult to establish it. It is best to use a bath frame when using an asymmetric bowl. Then the tightness of the joint between it and the supports will be ideal, which will contribute to a long service life.
It is very important to choose one of the correct methods and install an acrylic bathtub in accordance with this instruction. This is an important stage for the subsequent operation of the product and the guarantee of its service.
Wall mount
The bowl can be fixed on one of four sides. So, we will consider options for how to install an acrylic bathtub to the wall:
- Near the wall you like, where it will be convenient.
- In the corner. The bath will then be in contact with two walls at the same time.
- In a niche. The bowl will immediately adjoin three walls.
There is another bath arrangement. In this case, the bowl is placed in the center of the room using racks and a frame.
Experts recommend installing a bathtub in a niche or making a frame. This is considered the most reliable option. This is often done in ordinary Khrushchev. Since the bathroom is small, this contributes to the reliable fixation of the bowl between the camps. If the room is large, then for installation you will need additional mounting brackets or frame for better fixation of the acrylic bath.
But even without this, there are many ways to fix the bowl well. If desired, you can install it in the center of the bathroom. This option is well suited to owners of large rooms.
To fix the bath well, it is necessary to use special fasteners for bowls. They are able to securely hold the product in the wall or on a specially designed frame. The main part of the fixing element should be bent up. This helps to adjoin the bowl close to the wall.
You should also be careful when drawing layouts. They must be accurate to prevent any clearance during installation. And also you need to be attentive to the components of the mount during the installation of an acrylic bath.
Assembly and hardware
How to assemble and install an acrylic bath? There are a couple of ways that professionals apply in the process of such work. The kit should contain instructions that will facilitate the assembly process. Also in the package is often a reinforced steel frame. This design is made of a metal profile. It has a square section. This design is attached to the bottom of the bathtub. She easily maintains the weight of the bath with water and the person in it. Technologists designed it so that it distributes the load evenly among the support legs.
How to install an acrylic bath yourself? This process does not require special efforts and special skills of the master. The design fixes the bowl well, which allows it to be installed in the center of the bathroom. Due to this, it will not be loose. Although it happens that the kit does not include such a frame. Sometimes manufacturers pack two cross bars. This is done in order to reduce the cost of the product.
Consider how to install an acrylic bathtub on the legs. This process is very simple. Most often, the legs are two profile pipes with special holes for studs, nuts, screws, etc. It is with these elements that the bowl is installed.
The profile pipe is fixed under the bottom of the acrylic bathtub with six, or even eight, screws. It is necessary to apply exactly those fasteners that come with the legs. The fact is that their sizes are carefully selected, which will not allow you to scroll through the bowl.
The profile pipe is installed on both sides of the bottom and the supports are screwed with a screwdriver. The screwdriver is not recommended for use, as it can damage the chopped furrow of the mount. Screws need to be screwed into the thickened parts of the bath. Then, studs are inserted into the wide openings and clamped on both sides by nuts and washers. Then an adjustable heel is wound on them. Apparently, there is nothing complicated. The legs are installed.
But, it should be noted that for reliable fixation, it is necessary to install brackets that should be attached to the wall. Otherwise, over time, the bath will move away from the wall, and get a gap. When the bowl is fixed with brackets, it is advisable to glue it with sanitary sealant. Then we attach the bath to the wall.
Niche Tie
Consider how to properly install an acrylic bathtub in a wall niche. This option is considered one of the mounting methods with the best fixation. For this installation, gates are cut into the wall at the desired height.
For this, the assembled construction on the legs is leaned against the wall. Then the height of the bath is measured. At the height of the sides, they make a stub so that their edge enters there. The depth, as a rule, is from 5 cm. It is also worth considering the height of the floor. It will rise after laying the tile, if it is not already laid.
After the bath is installed in the place chosen for it, the tiles are laid out on the walls. Sanitary sealant smears the formed joints. It is specially designed for rooms with high humidity and thanks to fungicidal additives, it perfectly resists the appearance of fungus, mold and insects.
Corner bath installation
Consider how to install a corner acrylic bath yourself. After you screw the legs that were included in the kit to it, you need to measure the slope of the bath to create a drain. Although often this is already provided in the bowl itself.
But there will be no harm from the additional bias. This will be an even greater guarantee that the bath will remain dry. The desired angle is created by adjusting the clamps on the legs. After that, the bath can be connected to the sewer system.
Installing a corner acrylic bathtub is usually required against the wall. It is only important to know some rules of installation technique. Angular bowls are distinguished by a peculiar mount to the wall. After the connection to the drain has been made, the first check is carried out. The finished container is filled with water and checked for leaks. If there is no such problem, then the installation of the legs and siphon was successful. If the bowl does not crash into the wall, it is recommended to stick a flexible baseboard between the bathroom and the wall.
To fix the bowl well, holes are made in the wall. Three mounting points are created on the long side and one or two on the short side. The capacity is fixed close to the wall and is set according to the level. If necessary, then under the legs substitute linings made of steel or concrete.
Sometimes the corner bath is attached with hooks. Then one side will remain on the legs, and the second weighs on the mounting brackets fixed in the wall. The presented method is characterized by a very strong fastening of the bowl and an excellent guarantee of stability.
Metal corners
In case the decoration is ready, metal corners are used. To understand how to properly install an acrylic bath, you need to determine the height of the installation. Using a punch, holes are created in advance, according to marks, by level. Dowels are inserted into the grooves made. Then corners are applied to the wall. The locking pin is twisted into the desired seat. Then the bath rim is put on a corner. This fastener serves as a support for him. Joints are coated with sealant.
Step-by-step instruction on fixing on brackets
Installation of the bowl to the wall is done using brackets, corners or brackets. For all this, the same technique is used. Let's consider it in more detail.
To begin with, markup is made, which will correspond to the height of the edge of the side of the bath. First, the design is assembled, the frame of which was in the package. It can also be done independently. Cross steel legs with legs are also used. The adjustments on the legs are in the middle position.
To install the acrylic bath yourself, you need to fix it near a vertical surface. On the wall, markings are made comparable to the side of the bath. The adjustment of the legs and their horizontal level are compared. In the future, it will be necessary to select the height according to the marking of the fasteners. This should be checked using the building level. It is imperative that the layout is even, otherwise the bath may be skewed.
Installation completion
When considering how to install an acrylic bathtub with a frame, attention should be paid to completing this procedure. Mount the desired type of fasteners. The latch is drilled into the wall with a punch or a good electric drill. Then the assembled frame with a bath is fixed with brackets. The side must be engaged with a prepared catch.
Following this, you need to adjust the legs with the screw to set the desired bath height. To achieve a good result, a level is used. When the bowl is set in the correct position, you can install the siphon and connect the water supply. Over time, the finishing of the room is carried out (if it was not there before). It should also be remembered that it is necessary to process the joint between the bathroom and the wall with sanitary sealant.
These recommendations and tips should be applied only to ordinary acrylic bathtubs. If the bowl has a hydromassage, it is better to hire a professional to install it, as this is a very painstaking installation process. And it requires the correct connection not only of plumbing communications, but also the corresponding installation of electronics. Therefore, without special training to make such an installation is very difficult.
Brick frame
The brick frame is one of the most durable, which is used when fixing the structure. It eliminates any chance of loosening and guarantees stability for many years.
The construction process is simple. With the help of brick blocks and a mortar for masonry, a wall of the desired height is erected. But it is worth taking into account that you need to leave a small gap between the bottom of the bath and the floor. Also, a hole is made in the brick wall for easy access to the siphon.
Start building a niche only after acquiring a bath. It is necessary to know its exact size. A bowl is created for certain dimensions of plumbing. On the opposite side there will be an insertion of the bolts on which the bath will rest.
The gap between the floor and the bottom of the bathtub is strongly recommended to blow out with a layer of foam. This is to ensure that it is impossible to damage the back of the bowl. When mounting an acrylic bath in a prepared container, you need to draw water, then it is better to sit in a niche.
Over time, when the mortar and polyurethane foam are completely dry, you can install the bath in the prepared recess. After that, the joints are smeared with silicone sealant.
Some newbie mistakes
As you can see, in most cases, inexperienced masters can carry out such work. But to get a good understanding of how to install an acrylic bath yourself, you just need to consider some recommendations. Sometimes beginners make mistakes when mounting and fixing the bowl to the wall. And then the bath begins to stagger, the silicone joint is deformed and begins to let water through. And this will lead to failure of the drain system. You can also damage the bathtub body.
To avoid such problems, it is necessary to fix the bowl to the wall with brackets, brackets or other fasteners. It is not enough just to push the product against the wall and cover the joint with silicone. By tapping into the wall, you can also achieve good fixation. This is one type of bowl installation.
Some masters cover the joints with gypsum mortar. It is white, dries quickly, but it is not suitable for wet rooms. If moisture gets on this material, the solution is quickly destroyed, and soon the water will flow under the bath. Therefore, it is highly recommended to use silicone sanitary sealant. It contains fungicidal additives; fungus and mold will not appear on it.
After reading the recommendations for installing an acrylic bath, you can easily install it yourself. And if you follow all the tips, then the work done will allow your bath to serve for many years.