Lasco fiberglass tub question.

tommyboy · Mar 25, 2008

I replaced my fiberglass 1 piece tub/shower enclosure with a 2 piece fiberglass enclosure 2 months ago and it already has a crack.I would of used cast iron but the bathroom is 60" wide and it was tighter than a well diggers you know what.Anyways what causes them to crack?Is it things like shaving cream cans being dropped in the bottom or is it body weight.Is there anyway to repair it?Is there any way to prevent it from happening?
Thanks Tommyboy

hj · Mar 26, 2008

crack

Either the tub is constructed from very thin material or it was not supported properly when it was installed. A professional fiberglass plumbing fixture repairer can fix it, but unless the cause is found and taken care of it will happen again. Dropping toothpaste is not going to damage it.

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Jadnashua · Mar 26, 2008

The installation instructions on many of these say that bedding it into a mortar bed is optional, but as you've seen probably more like required. Fiberglass flexes. If it is supported 100% underneath, like when setting it in wet mortar, when that cures, the whole thing will feel much more substantial. That doesn't mean something sharp or heavy can't damage it, it means that it won't flex and get punctured or stress cracked.

Master Plumber Mark · Mar 26, 2008

call lasco

I would simply call the place you bought it from....

the Lasco tubs we used to install always
took care of troubles like this for free..!!!!!

its not a big deal they have repair guys everywhere.

as long as you dont wait a year or two...
and let the sub floor get soaked you will be ok

Gary Swart · Mar 28, 2008

I'd be willing to bet the problem is faulty installation. You must support these units with a mortar bed otherwise they will flex when stepped on and causes the cracks. There is no repair that I know of that would either work or be less expensive than replacement. This time, make sure it's installed over a mortar bed.

Master Plumber Mark · Mar 28, 2008

I never supported any of them with concrete

We put in hundreds of them years ago
and all that was necessary wat to be sure
it had contact with the floor .....through
whatever means it took ...like shims or 2x4s
shimmed under the long support leg under the tub....

And along the way I am pretty sure my dumb ass
employees forgot to shim up a good number
of them and they still held firm since 93

if the fellow has a crack in the base ,
he probably has a defective floor and they should have
a repair man who will literally cut the whole bottom
out of that tub and re-do the whole thing
unless he dropped this himself and broke it during the install

Jimbo · Mar 28, 2008

this from the lasco installation brochure: "

c. The wood blocks attached underneath the bottom of the bath fixture units are for storing and shipping. These blocks need not touch the sub-floor.
It is common in the industry to set foundation materials underneath the bottoms of tub and shower units with casting plaster/plaster of paris.

NOTE: Finished alcove must have interior dimensions, shown on product technical data sheet rough-in diagrams, to properly install unit."

Master Plumber Mark · Mar 29, 2008

oh well,

Well that is a new one on me...

I have never ever seen that done much around here anyway...
on a one piece fibergalss tub.....

and never were told to do it by the people selling
us the products either....

I was always told that it was not necessary

Now my curosity is now peaked and I will have
to call the aquaglass and lasco people on Monday
to heat it from the horses mouth

Lasco fiberglass tub question.

tommyboy

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hj

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Jadnashua

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Master Plumber Mark

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Gary Swart

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Jimbo

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