Is it common for acrylic free standing tubs to rock back and forth due to improper installation, leading to potential leaks?
Asked by Harper Lévesque 
6 months ago
Last Updated: June 26, 2024
I got this cool acrylic free standing tub for our guest bathroom that we renovated. I had professional plumbers install it to be on the safe side. But after a year, I noticed some gunk building up around the caulk at the bottom. I finally took a closer look and realized the tub is wobbly and the caulk is cracked in the back, making me worried about a leak. Is this a typical issue with these tubs? Do you think it wasn’t installed properly? Just curious!
It’s not typical for these to shift positions. In our previous home, we had one installed and never encountered any problems. However, it’s crucial to ensure the installation is done correctly. The good thing is, unlike with an incorrectly installed shower pan, you won’t need to tear out the tile and everything else. You can have a professional disconnect the faucet and drain, and then remove the tub entirely to properly assess and install it.
While these tubs may have a sporty appearance, nothing beats a classic clawfoot tub.
Most of these units are sealed to the floor with caulk and a rubber seal around the pipe. If you break that seal, they might shift and potentially leak. Check the manufacturer’s instructions, but I bet they closely follow them, and it might be an issue of product/flooring compatibility. Without the installation instructions, anything else discussed here is just personal opinion.
The lightweight design of this style can cause some issues. From our experience, I wouldn’t recommend installing it.
My husband works as a plumber. He mentioned that most of these tubs are low quality. If it’s not sturdy, it will likely cause nothing but trouble. He installed one today that he carried on his own.
I apologize!
They’re not supposed to be heavy. My Kohler drop in tub that I invested in wasn’t heavy. Fiberglass is lightweight and even though the instructions mention the weight, they recommend two people to carry it. That’s why they prefer certified installers for the job
Many of these tubs come with adjustable feet that screw in. They may need some adjusting but it’s tricky without removing the tub. A plastic shim can help if the tub is moving around.
Patterson Oh no way. The most water damage happens when you can’t see the water on your floor. That’s why it’s important not to caulk your toilet to the floor. Water on the floor is a sign that action needs to be taken.
I updated my previous comment. I understand the importance of not caulking around the toilet and, in this scenario, the tub. I did not advise caulking it. Instead, I suggested attempting to level the tub since you mentioned it’s wiggling and the unnecessary caulk is coming out.
Patterson, adding a shim would place weight on the fiberglass, potentially causing it to crack. The feet need to be adjusted and properly caulked.
If your flooring is uneven, you may need to use shims to level it out.
I don’t have any recommendations, but I just wanted to mention what a lovely tub you selected 😍 Hopefully, you can resolve the issue.
You don’t seal a water device completely all the way around. You actually *want* them to leak a bit of water out (so you notice it) before it ruins the floor and everything around it (and you end up in the basement.) Use plastic shims (available at any home center) to prevent it from wobbling. A tub that size is heavy, especially when filled with water. Expect some settling of the floor if it wasn’t originally built for a tub that large. Even a 1/8” difference can cause wobbling.
I always leave a few inches without caulk in a discreet area. This way, you can still detect a leak if there’s one. The same applies to freestanding tubs, no caulking at the drain or faucet side.
My unit came with adjustable feet that you need to adjust before caulking. Mine is quite stable, so I assume yours is as well.