51
votes
Is it a problem that my bathtub drains directly into the wall?
OK I am going to answer this like you are in the US. It doesn't differ much but to give a baseline.
To sum it up - This is F'ing crazy as hell, unsanitary, and not code.
So it looks like there is ...
- 46.2k
45
votes
Accepted
Do I really need to fill the tub with water to properly apply caulking?
While caulk is fairly elastic, it handles better under compression than tension. By filling the tub all the way, you expand the gap quite a bit. Once the caulk is applied and the tub drained, the ...
- 128k
29
votes
Is it affordable and reasonable to create a tub using tile
My speculation is the reason you can't find resources for that specific approach is because that approach is inferior in almost all ways to modern tub construction.
Most importantly: tile and grout is ...
- 417
21
votes
Accepted
How can I fix cracks between the bathtub and the wall surround?
I'm not sure where some of those cracks came from, but it doesn't look like anything a good quality bathroom caulk won't fix. Here is the big secret to caulking anything in the bathroom:
Clean those ...
- 26.6k
21
votes
What is this silver plate beside by tub and what is it for? Why is it leaking? What to do?
That's a cover for your drain clean out. If water is leaking out of there then either the threaded cap below, if there is one, is loose or there is a blockage starting to form and the drain water is ...
- 53.1k
16
votes
What are the drawbacks to having the bathtub on a different floor from the bedrooms?
If you plan to stay in the house until you are old, consider what amenities you'd like to have when stairs become difficult, impossible, or risky for your aging self to use. Stair lifts have their ...
- 132k
15
votes
Accepted
How does an external tower style bathtub drain work?
It's called a "standing waste". It works just like you say. The cone at the base of the inner tube seals against a flange and the water must fill the outer tube (attached to your floor) before (over)...
- 2,310
15
votes
Is it a problem that my bathtub drains directly into the wall?
I'd be tempted to poke that large white fitting on a piece of flexi hose with a stick o see if it's really a trap that is meant to be screwed to the bottom of the bath drain. It's hard to tell for ...
- 281
15
votes
Accepted
Install a new tub that has cracks?
The key questions are:
Is it warranted? For how long? Are you willing to accept liability for failure after that period (or after the company closes its doors)?
Does the warranty cover replacement ...
- 104k
14
votes
Accepted
Is it affordable and reasonable to create a tub using tile
You can make a tub out of tile.
There are some issues to think about:
you will need a thicker more rigid structure for the tub and they can be made custom to an area and look great.
The massive ...
- 95.4k
13
votes
Can a freestanding bathtub drain be damaged by regular use?
There would be no such thing as "excessive wear" on a bathtub drain - unless there was caustic material being poured down the drain which ate away at the drain pipe and joints.....although from the ...
- 61.1k
13
votes
slow draining bathtub - is a frozen pipe a possibility?
It seems pretty unlikely that the drainpipe would freeze in your crawlspace. Even if there was a 20 degree wind whipping through it (which there isn't: it's enclosed), the only way that could be is ...
- 1,761
13
votes
Install a new tub that has cracks?
I would send it back and for sure not get that type of tub again. If tubs are cracking during the shipping process I would not trust them to stay in one piece when there is a bunch of weight and ...
- 46.2k
12
votes
Accepted
Faucet supposed to stick out this far?
That's just.... nasty. The spout looks fine but the faucet is both too far out and not square. There's a large gap at the base that looks like it can leak water into the wall space.
The "plumber" was ...
- 136
12
votes
What is this silver plate beside by tub and what is it for? Why is it leaking? What to do?
Buildings of that old often had an external drain open / shut device for the tub. Rather than being built into the tub itself, there would be a lever or pull-up/push-down plunger mechanism next to (...
- 121
11
votes
Accepted
How to remove shower drain
The lettering on the drain cover leads to a number of similar (but not exactly the same) products all over the 'net. What is consistent about this particular company's line of products is that the ...
- 9,293
11
votes
grouting or caulking? bottom of tiled wall at tub rim
Caulking always! Fill the tub 50% with water and caulk it. Allow the caulking to dry then drain the tub. If you caulk with no water in the tub poly, fiberglass and composite tubs stretch and tear the ...
- 95.4k
11
votes
Is it a problem that my bathtub drains directly into the wall?
Your bathtub drains directly into a concrete sump pit; not "the wall" as such but a pit constructed for this purpose. In the US and Canada, open sumps are used only for groundwater, like from drains ...
- 950
11
votes
How to remove Delta Bathrub Handle?
Using a flat plastic tool (like a putty knife), pop off the small cap at the end of the lever (handle). Then use an Allen wrench or well-fitting screwdriver, as appropriate, to loosen the attachment ...
- 104k
11
votes
Accepted
How to repair this hole in our bath?
Steel or cast iron with enamel coating. Steel is thinner and more flexible, also more prone to rusting out, cast iron is thicker, inflexible, and would take a lot longer to rust out.
Which is which is ...
- 132k
9
votes
slow draining bathtub - is a frozen pipe a possibility?
If that was the case the bathwater would melt the ice plug in short order (unless it was totally blocked). I suspect a common debris plug.
Also, it usually takes much colder weather to freeze things ...
- 104k
9
votes
Is it a problem that my bathtub drains directly into the wall?
You definitely shouldn't fix this yourself if you are renting and the landlord said it's good like this.
But if you live in a place with sufficient regulation in the housing/renting market you can ...
- 200
9
votes
What are the drawbacks to having the bathtub on a different floor from the bedrooms?
Children, especially young ones (diaper/nappy age), can often need a bath in the middle of the night to clean up from accidents. Turning on the lights, running a tub, and cleaning up the kid are ...
- 29.1k
8
votes
What are the pros and cons of adding a vapor barrier behind shower backer board?
I called USG,the maker of Durock cement board Next Gen, and they advised using no vapor barrier so that the wall cavity can breath and allow any moisture to evaporate. Their online instructions/...
- 81
7
votes
How to fix small holes/separation in caulk around bathtub?
One more thing is to keep water in the tub when you caulk until the caulk dries. It's a pain to work this way, but flex in the floor under the tub when there's weight in it can help open up a gap in ...
- 336
6
votes
Grout or caulk between acrylic bathtub and tile?
My Uncle was a plumber, so I called him, before re-caulking my newish bathtub for the 3rd time.
I told him that no matter how good a job I did, scraping & cleaning out the old caulk, spraying a ...
- 61
6
votes
Do I really need to fill the tub with water to properly apply caulking?
Depends on the tub, to some extent, and how (or if) it was bedded when installed. Acrylic, fiberglass and thin steel tubs do noticeably deform with a load, especially if not bedded (I'm a fan of the ...
- 132k
6
votes
Accepted
Shower surround - does it need adhesive?
The installation instructions you linked specifically say to "Apply a generous bead of polystyrene compatible adhesive" on the back wall studs first, then on the side panels.
These installation ...
- 8,017
6
votes
Accepted
Do you need spacers for subway tiles?
4-1/4" and some larger wall tiles have bumps cast in that act as spacers. Unless you want a larger gap, no additional spacers are needed.
Whether your particular tile has them is uncertain. They're ...
- 104k
6
votes
can KY jelly be used in a pinch if no silicone plumbers lubricant is available? this is NO joke!
KY is water soluble, so would be pointless as a lubricant for plumbing fixtures. In a pinch, maybe petroleum jelly would work.
- 23.8k
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