"Soft spot in tub flooring"

[Adrian Williams]

I moved into new construction about 6 weeks ago and I noticed a soft, spongy bottom in the center of my second-floor bath/shower tub. I have experienced this before in other tubs and figured I would monitor it and see if it got worse. I could feel the unevenness of the tub flooring. I did some research and think I know the installation issues that caused this problem. I have a standard plastic (fiberglass/ acrylic) type tub. This morning, I noticed a jagged 3” crack near the tub’s center, but thankfully no leaking. My question is: Considering this is new construction, should I allow the contractor to repair the tub and understructure or demand total replacement. This does not appear to be a simple job either way, but more importantly, I do not want this issue to resurface a few years later after my warranty has expired.

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

I doubt that is repairable. A chip or crack somewhere else could be repaired, but the floor of the tub needs replacement and reinstallation with proper support under the tub.

In my experience that entails drywall and tile repair at a minimum.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

I moved into new construction about 6 weeks ago and I noticed a soft, spongy bottom in the center of my second-floor bath/shower tub. I have experienced this before in other tubs and figured I would monitor it and see if it got worse. I could feel the unevenness of the tub flooring. I did some research and think I know the installation issues that caused this problem. I have a standard plastic (fiberglass/ acrylic) type tub. This morning, I noticed a jagged 3” crack near the tub’s center, but thankfully no leaking. My question is: Considering this is new construction, should I allow the contractor to repair the tub and understructure or demand total replacement. This does not appear to be a simple job either way, but more importantly, I do not want this issue to resurface a few years later after my warranty has expired.

A plastic tub should have mortar piles under. Search for piles mortar using the search box above.

 

[Jadnashua]

Some fiberglass and acrylic tubs specifically call for mortar support underneath them during installation. SOme suggest it. Some ignore the subject altogether. A few come with something underneath that is actually flat and designed to support the tub well. IMHO, the only ones pretty much guaranteed to be strong enough to not need this are made out of cast iron, which, while still a good choice, doesn't show up in many new homes these days.

 

[Terry]

A friend I play softball with had a tub repair outfit come out they opened some holes in the tub, poured something in there to support the bottom of the tub, and then patched and refinished the tub where they did the work. It saved him replacing the tub. I should really find out the tub repair company in Kirkland that did the work for him. I had also told him it was going to be a complete replacement.