Acrylic bathtubs today are gradually replacing other varieties of such plumbing. They are made of lightweight, practical material. At the same time, the cost of acrylic bathtubs remains acceptable for buyers. For them to last a long time, you need to properly mount the bowl. This procedure can be performed independently. How to mount an acrylic bath to the wall will be discussed later.
Acrylic Features
Installation of acrylic bathtubs can be done independently. This is due to the features of this material. It is lightweight and practical. Therefore, products from it are much easier to install in the bathroom than, for example, cast-iron or steel bowls.
The advantage of acrylic bathtubs is the variety of their shapes and sizes. If desired, you can purchase a straight, angular, curly bowl. For any style of interior, you can choose the right option. Therefore, wanting to repair and replace the bath, the owners of houses and apartments most often opt for plumbing made of acrylic.
It is also worth noting that various sizes of bathtubs are on sale. They can be very small. In this category, an acrylic bathtub with a frame of 150x70 cm is most often purchased. However, other sizes are in demand. The choice depends on the size of the bath.
Acrylic has a high ability to retain heat. Water in such a bowl will not cool quickly. At the same time, the inner surface is easy to clean and does not turn yellow during operation. This is true for high quality acrylic products. Baths in this case serve several decades.
During the installation process, it is important to fix the bath properly in its intended place. If this work is performed incorrectly, the bowl will deform. This is a flaw in the material presented. However, it is easy to eliminate by performing the correct installation.
Sustainability
Installation of acrylic bathtubs does not have to be trusted by professionals. This work, if desired, can be done independently. To do this, take into account that the stability of this product in different planes is not the same. So, in the vertical direction, the structure on the legs is stable. Manufacturers create such supports that could withstand the weight of a bowl of water. It is easy to feel if you get inside the bath.
However, in the horizontal plane, the material cannot boast of stability. Bowls of acrylic, as well as steel, go out of balance in this direction quickly. If the installation leaves the bathtub able to move horizontally, the connection of sewer lines may be damaged.
It is also worth noting that an acrylic bathtub 170 cm long in the bathroom with dimensions, for example, 180 × 200 cm, can adjoin only one side to the wall. In this case, its side parts remain unfixed. The tightness of the joint between the wall and the bathroom will necessarily be violated over time, unless other fasteners are provided for.
For a bowl made of acrylic, it is important to choose one of the correct installation options. This will allow you to securely fix the bowl in a horizontal plane, avoiding future troubles.
Wall mount
If you want to make fixture acrylic bathtubs 170, 180, 150 cm wide or other size, you can position it in one of four positions. The following options are possible:
- Near one wall.
- In the corner. The bath is in contact with the long and short sides with two walls.
- Close in the niche. The bowl is fixed between the three walls.
- Island location. The bath does not come into contact with any wall, it is located in the center of the room.
It is believed that the most durable installation option is to install the bathtub in a niche. This can be done in typical Khrushchev. In such apartments, the bathroom is very small. Therefore, by purchasing an acrylic bathtub 150x70 with or without a frame, it is possible to ensure reliable fixation of sanitary ware between three walls. If the room is spacious, such an installation will be more difficult. You will need to build another partition to create a niche of the required size.
However, there are many methods that allow you to firmly fix the bath. She may not be in contact with the walls at all. True, it is much more convenient when the plumbing is not located in the center of the room. This option is only suitable for owners of very spacious rooms.
To perform the correct installation, you need to use special clips. Fixing material should firmly hold the bath in the wall. Its main element should be bent up. This will allow him to get closer to the wall below. The side of the bath is put on fasteners. So he can snuggle up close to the wall below.
In order for the clamps to fulfill the functions assigned to them, it is necessary to perform accurate marking, as well as to control the position of all components during installation.
Factory hardware
How is an acrylic bathtub attached to a wall? There are several options for this fixation. A reinforced steel frame may be included. This is a prefabricated structure, which is made of steel profile (square section). Such a frame is attached to the bottom of the bath. The design takes on the weight of the bath, water and person, evenly distributing the load on the supporting posts, horizontal structural elements.
Installing an acrylic bathtub on the frame with your own hands is simple. The design allows you to firmly fix the bowl. It can be installed even in the center of the room. She will not be loose. However, it is far from always that there is a similar frame in the delivery set. Sometimes, in order to save money, the manufacturer replaces it with two cross bars. They have short legs. In this case, the installation of an acrylic bath on the frame with your own hands should be done next to the wall.
It is worth noting that simply supporting the bowl against a vertical surface will not be enough. Over time, she will begin to move away from the wall. A gap will appear between it and the bathroom. To avoid this, the fixation of the acrylic bath is carried out using special brackets. They can be purchased at a specialty store.
Before fixing the bath with the help of brackets, it is recommended to glue the side with double-sided tape or sanitary sealant. After that, the product is attached to the wall using brackets. This option is also suitable if the owners want to decorate the external side of the plumbing with tile.
Niche Tie
Considering the existing methods of fixing the bath to the wall, it should be noted such an option as a tie-in into a niche. It is suitable for a room in which there is not even a rough finish. To perform a similar installation, a stroba is cut in the wall. It must be created at the correct height.
To do this, the structure is assembled, mounted on the legs. Then it is put against the wall. The height of the bath is determined. At the level of her rim make a line. And you need to consider that tiles can still be laid on the floor, because of which the height of the base will rise. The edge of the side of the bath will have to go into the shtroba and lean on its edge inside the wall. Cutout depth should be at least 5 cm.
When the bathtub is installed in its intended place, the tile is mounted on the wall. The joint is coated with sealant.
Metal corners
If the decoration in the room has already been completed, metal corners can be used. First, the installation height of the bath is determined. At the required level, create holes using a puncher. The dowels are inserted into them. Then, corners are applied to the wall (if necessary, holes are also made in them). The retainer rod is twisted into the prepared seat.
A bathtub edge is put on this corner. He will lean on her. Next, you just need to grease the joints with sealant.
Step-by-step instruction on fixing on brackets
Fastening the side of the acrylic bath to the wall is most often done using brackets, corners or brackets. Installation in this case occurs according to the same technique. It is worth considering in more detail.
First you need to make the correct markup. A line is drawn on the wall that corresponds to the location of the edge of the bathtub rim. To do this, the structure is assembled using the factory frame or cross strips with legs. The adjusting screws of the latter must be installed in the middle position.
To mount the acrylic bath to the wall, the bowl is placed on a vertical surface. On the side there is marking on the wall. It is important to find out the features of adjusting the legs horizontally. Subsequently, it will be necessary to adjust the height to the height of the fasteners. The markup is checked using a level. It should be flat. Otherwise, the bath will be skewed.
Installation completion
Next, the selected type of fixture for the bath is installed. The latches cut into the wall. For this, a puncher or a powerful electric drill is used in the work. After that, the assembled design of the bathtub and frame is mounted on the brackets. The side should engage with latches.
After that, using the adjusting screws on the legs, adjust the height of the bath. Her position is checked using the building level. Only after the bowl has reached the correct position can the siphon be connected. Water connections are also being provided. After that, the premises can be finished (if it has not been created previously). The joint between the bath and the wall is treated with sealant.
It is worth noting that such recommendations apply to conventional acrylic bathtubs. If the design provides for hydromassage, it is better to entrust the installation to professionals. In this case, the operation of the system requires the correct connection not only to plumbing communications, but also to electronics. Therefore, it will be difficult to do such an installation yourself. Specialists will be able not only to correctly connect all elements of the system, but also rigidly fix the bath near the wall.
Brick frame
In addition to attaching the acrylic bath to the wall with brackets, corners, you can resort to a more radical way. It allows you to firmly fix the structure, eliminating the possibility of its loosening. This method involves the construction of a frame made of bricks.
In this case, a wall of the required height is erected from blocks and cement mortar. It should be noted that there should be a distance between the bottom of the bathtub and the floor. A brick wall should not be monolithic. It should have a hole providing access to the siphon.
With the help of bricks and cement mortar, a niche is built in the bathroom. A bathtub will be installed in it. You can start construction work only after purchasing a bath. A niche is created specifically for the specific dimensions of the plumbing. This method involves inserting into the wall the bolts on which the bath will rest on the opposite side.
Between the bottom of the bathtub and the base of the room it is recommended to lay a layer of mounting foam. In this case, it will be almost impossible to damage the back of the bowl. Also lay down a special mounting film. When carrying out the installation of the bath in the prepared space, water needs to be drawn into it. So it’s better to sit in a niche.
The bath is installed in the created niche only after the solution and polyurethane foam are completely dry. All seams are then treated with sanitary silicone.
Some newbie mistakes
Fastening an acrylic bath to a wall can be done by inexperienced craftsmen. In order for the bowl to be installed correctly, you need to consider a few simple tips. Some beginners make mistakes during the fixation of plumbing to the wall. As a result, the bath staggers, the joint, sealed with sealant, begins to let water through. Failure to take any action could result in damage to the drainage system or the bath body.
To avoid problems later, you should not think that by moving the bathtub close to the wall and covering the joint with a sealant or a special solution, you can achieve good fixation. To achieve this, use brackets, staples, or other appropriate mounting hardware. You can also make an insert into the wall, creating a stroba. However, a regular mortar or sealant will not be able to firmly fix the bath near the wall.
It is also worth noting that many masters cover the joints with gypsum-based solutions. Of course, such compositions differ in whiteness. But gypsum mixtures are categorically not suitable for wet rooms. Therefore, when creating the finish, you need to use special sealants in white or transparent color. Their composition should include antiseptic components. Thanks to the use of sanitary sealant, fungus and mold will not form at the joints.
Having considered how to fix the acrylic bath to the wall, you can do it yourself by yourself. Plumbing in this case will last a long time, will not be shaken and destroyed.