Who puts plaster under a fiberglas tub shower?

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Ballvalve

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The instructions of all I see insist on plaster or cement bedding of the tub pan to keep some whale from breaking the bottom.

I do it, but most houses I have been in are all dry underneath. I saw a lady in the Wal mart check out line that could put 900 PSI easily on one foot. On her toes only, maybe 2000PSI ....She could dance on rocks and make gravel.

How about a few cans of foam?
 
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Terry

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It depends on the foam.
Some foam is only for insulating around windows. It's fluffy and breaks down.
Some foam is expanding, which on some tubs can push up the bottom.
If the tub has a plywood reinforced bottom, then you can use that type, but make sure the tub is filled with water first to keep the expanding foam from floating the tub.

The mortar mix, a few piles that can squish out is the safest method that I've found.
Not the only method, but a safe method.
 

LLigetfa

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I had a shower base that had foam injected by the factory. Despite my setting it in a bed of mortar, the foam broke down over time and the acrylic base eventually cracked. I set the wife's soaker tub in a bed of mortar and it is rock solid.
 

Tom Sawyer

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I use mortar. Foam, the non expanding kind works also but is more expensive, messy and essentially glues the tub to the sub floor which can be a real bear when if it needs to come up. Always check tghe manufacturers instructions because if they say to bed the tub and you don't, any cracks or failures will not be warrantied.
 

Kimster

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I use mortar. Foam, the non expanding kind works also but is more expensive, messy and essentially glues the tub to the sub floor which can be a real bear when if it needs to come up. Always check tghe manufacturers instructions because if they say to bed the tub and you don't, any cracks or failures will not be warrantied.

Any problem with using a layer of poly (plastic) in between the floor and the mortar and the shower base and the mortar (just in case you need to take it out in the future or if you messed up)?
 

Terry

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Plastic between the tub and mortar would be fine, though I don't think it's needed. The mortar doesn't seem to stick to the tub.
The expanding foam does stick to everything.
 
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Ballvalve

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I think the MFG says plaster because it expands when it sets and mortar shrinks unles you mix it stiff as a rock.

Seems like a few low cross bars and a bag of plastic shims would be nice of the tub maker.

I'm thinking of 4 or 6 sets of large pressure treated shim sets bedded in pl400.....
 
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Pmaru77

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I just demo'ed a perfectly working fiberglass shower (no leaks, solid floor) and it was set with a few piles of mud ...probably drywall mud. It popped right off the shower and the floor.
This was after 38 years. Got Mud?
 

hj

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You put a couple of bags under the tub, then make a few cuts in the plastic to allow air in to harden it. Doesn't really take too long. It is usually hard long before anyone uses the tub the first time.
 

Markore

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How heavy are the "couple bags"

hj, you give a lot of great specific advice on here, so I hold you to the standard:

You put a couple of bags under the tub, then make a few cuts in the plastic to allow air in to harden it. Doesn't really take too long. It is usually hard long before anyone uses the tub the first time.

For a 60" tub, would you need a "couple of bags" that weighed 20lbs each or 50lbs each? Or maybe get one 60 or 80 and call it good?
 
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