vicesiadmire
New Member
Hello all,
I appreciate any help you can give me!
I have a 72x36x20 Kohler (mariposa model) acrylic drop-in soaking tub (with feet) that my father in law is going to help me install.
I'm kicking myself because I should have gotten an alcove tub instead of the drop-in, but the previous tub was a drop-in and I thought, stupidly, that I could just pull out the old one and pop a new one in - done. Things, uh, didn't turn out to be that simple. So, after pulling out the step and the "frame" that surrounded the old one (the frame consisted of only the side facing out of the alcove which also had a built-in step) and the lower row of tile around the alcove, I dry fit the new tub and now i have more questions.
So..
1 -- do I need to install a flange kit to be reasonably sure that I can keep water out of the surround? If so, what brand do you recommend? I'm nervous about not having one, but my FIL says it shouldn't be a problem.
2 -- should I put this in mortar? I've read that I should, but I've also read that simply using construction adhesive on the feet would suffice. Which way is the right way? How do I know which method to use?
2a ---------> if I go with mortar, what's the right mixture to use?
2b ---------> if I go with mortar, I think the final frame measurement should be 18 1/2 + 1 inch (to account for the mortar) can you confirm that 19 1/2 is the right height for the frame? Of course, I would only push the tub into the mortar until the lip is about 1/16th above the frame (using shims to measure)
2c ---------> should I put plastic down before I put in the mortar? And how would that work, if so? Isn't the mortar there to not only support the tub, but hold it in place? Wouldn't the mortar slide all over the place with the plastic down? Or should the bottom of the frame hold the mortar in place -- as in, the mortar spreads out to reach the 2x4 around the bottom of the frame?
3 -- After I fill the wall with insulation, do I need to add a vapor barrier? We're in CO. I've heard from my wife's uncle -- who's a GC -- that adding the vapor barrier in Colorado actually does more harm than good because if moisture makes it through the tile, through the thin set, through the cement board, then the water will have nowhere to go give mold a foothold.
Thanks for the help!
I appreciate any help you can give me!
I have a 72x36x20 Kohler (mariposa model) acrylic drop-in soaking tub (with feet) that my father in law is going to help me install.
I'm kicking myself because I should have gotten an alcove tub instead of the drop-in, but the previous tub was a drop-in and I thought, stupidly, that I could just pull out the old one and pop a new one in - done. Things, uh, didn't turn out to be that simple. So, after pulling out the step and the "frame" that surrounded the old one (the frame consisted of only the side facing out of the alcove which also had a built-in step) and the lower row of tile around the alcove, I dry fit the new tub and now i have more questions.
So..
1 -- do I need to install a flange kit to be reasonably sure that I can keep water out of the surround? If so, what brand do you recommend? I'm nervous about not having one, but my FIL says it shouldn't be a problem.
2 -- should I put this in mortar? I've read that I should, but I've also read that simply using construction adhesive on the feet would suffice. Which way is the right way? How do I know which method to use?
2a ---------> if I go with mortar, what's the right mixture to use?
2b ---------> if I go with mortar, I think the final frame measurement should be 18 1/2 + 1 inch (to account for the mortar) can you confirm that 19 1/2 is the right height for the frame? Of course, I would only push the tub into the mortar until the lip is about 1/16th above the frame (using shims to measure)
2c ---------> should I put plastic down before I put in the mortar? And how would that work, if so? Isn't the mortar there to not only support the tub, but hold it in place? Wouldn't the mortar slide all over the place with the plastic down? Or should the bottom of the frame hold the mortar in place -- as in, the mortar spreads out to reach the 2x4 around the bottom of the frame?
3 -- After I fill the wall with insulation, do I need to add a vapor barrier? We're in CO. I've heard from my wife's uncle -- who's a GC -- that adding the vapor barrier in Colorado actually does more harm than good because if moisture makes it through the tile, through the thin set, through the cement board, then the water will have nowhere to go give mold a foothold.
Thanks for the help!
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