How to assemble a frame for an acrylic bathtub

Acrylic bathtubs have thin walls. To avoid damaging them, the structure must be installed on a support. It can be installed on a special frame, which is manufactured at the factory and supplied with the bathtub. Installation on a brick base is also allowed.

As a rule, the delivery package includes, in addition to the bathtub, a frame or legs.

A must-have tool for installing an acrylic bathtub

As with any business, the process of assembling the frame must be approached thoroughly. When starting work, check that all tools are prepared. You will need the following:

1. A hammer drill and a drill for it. They are useful for making holes in the wall for installing fasteners.
2. Drill-driver. Necessary to secure the frame during assembly. You will also need to drill holes in the bottom.
3. Open-end wrench to adjust frame legs.
4. Square. The corners must be completely straight.
5. Roulette.
6. Level so that the frame and the bathtub stand level.
7. Marker or pencil for marking.

You will also need silicone sealant or sealing tape. We will use them to seal the gaps between the bathtub and the wall.

How to properly assemble a frame and install an acrylic bathtub on it

This method takes some time, as you have to act carefully, carefully following the instructions. But this installation is more reliable. Frames, as a rule, come complete with a bathtub, since they are developed specifically for a specific type of structure.

The main element of the entire structure is the frame. All other elements are fixed directly on it. Often the frame is supplied assembled (welded) by the manufacturer, but this is not always the case. Sometimes you have to assemble it strictly following the instructions.

Turn the bowl over and place the frame on it. Now you can assemble the rest of the frame. We fasten the parts sequentially, without rushing from one to another. The kit contains everything necessary for installation. The set of elements depends on what design you have. The more complex it is, the more different parts there will be in the kit.

The vertical stand is secured with a pin onto which a nut is screwed. The pin is inserted into the corner hole on the frame, then the stand is put on and secured. An additional fixing nut is screwed onto the top of the stud. The rest of the racks are installed in the same way.

After all the racks are in place, we level the frame. After this, it is screwed to the base of the bowl with self-tapping screws. The first thing you need to do is screw the frame to the places where the reinforced plates are located on the bottom, and then fasten the racks to the corners of the bathtub - where there are embedded plates.

Now it's up to the legs. There are holes where they should be installed. We screw the studs into them and adjust them in height, after which we fasten them with nuts. Then we screw on the legs equipped with thrust bearings.

If the kit includes a screen, then additional plates should be installed on the outer legs on which the screen will be held.

The bath needs to be turned over, the screen placed closely and the desired height set using the nuts on the legs. Having moved the bathtub to the wall, we mark the places where the fasteners will be installed. We fix them on the wall, and then attach the structure to them.

Place the screen back on the bathtub, marking the installation locations of the fasteners at the corners and in the central part. We secure the plates using self-tapping screws. Next, we attach the screen to the plates.

Where the bathtub meets the wall, we treat it with sealant. First you will need to clean everything from dust, and then remove grease. This can be done with regular alcohol. We glue strips of adhesive tape (construction tape) on the wall and on the sides, and then apply a layer of sealant to it. Using a finger soaked in soapy water, smooth out the silicone.

Advantages of installing a bathtub on a frame

Installing an acrylic bathtub is much more effective and reliable when compared with other options. All frames are developed individually, for a specific design option, and, therefore, the entire load is distributed evenly, which eliminates the possibility of breakage.

Everything necessary for installing the frame is included in the delivery package, so there is no need to visit stores and incur additional expenses. Installation on the frame does not take much time. During work, there is no need to pre-prepare the floor, as is the case when laying it on a brick base.

No extra dirt. The frame does not create excess pressure on the floors. If there is a decorative screen, which can be purchased separately, then the entire supporting structure is perfectly hidden from prying eyes.

Thus, installing a bathtub on a frame solves several problems at once: it increases the operational safety of the product and speeds up installation time. And taxes the work of cleaning the premises after completion of work.