Walk-In Tub Bathroom Remodel, Manheim PA

[orson]

Finished up a walk-in tub installation today.

This job was very trying due to problems with the tub and poor customer support from the tub manufacturer.

There was a leak in one of the water jet line connections and I had to get new jet bodies from them to make a field repair(or wait who knows how many weeks to return the tub and get a new one).

I also take serious issue with the way the drain is set up on the tub. There is a ribbed plastic hose that you have to connect to the house drain and in order to do that with adapters the drain size is restricted down to an inch.

The actual tub itself seemed well built and the included faucet was of decent quality.

If we do one of these again I'll have to seriously consider if I want to use this tub again but with a different drain setup.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/owensechrist/IMG_0346.jpg

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/owensechrist/IMG_0349.jpg

[macatawacab]

Curious about the install, where is the access for motor? How does that door seal? You did a three wall tear out to install this? Did you mud in the bottom per normal tub install?

[orson]

Curious about the install, where is the access for motor? How does that door seal? You did a three wall tear out to install this? Did you mud in the bottom per normal tub install?

The motor access is the lefthand panel.

Their is a gasket material fastened to the door where it meets the "stop" and the door is held in place by the steel lever which compresses against a piece of plastic on the door.

The door seals nicely and is warranted for 10 years.

The tub has a box stainless steel frame and 6 adjustable feet, so no mud set.

We did a three wall tear out and then set the tub unit and then installed the extension panel kit which is about 8 inches to fill in the remaining space(extension panels are included). Was a little bit tricky to figure out how to get the panels in.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/owensechrist/Labelled.jpg

[OGStilts]

Looks good. I wondered about the size issue, good info there. You can't even see the extension panels. Great job!


My biggest concern with these tubs is that I assume there is a rubber gasket that seals that door shut. Who gets blamed when that gasket dries out, cracks, and starts to leak. You know some H.O.'s are going to blame us. Could you tell if the seals are easy to replace if there are problems down the line?

[orson]

Chad the door gasket appears to be a good quality rubber. I can't say I took notice of how it was attached, I'll have to check it, I have to go back to install a grab bar and replace the overflow cover/drain control which was corroded.

The door seal is included in their 10 year warranty.

[kevjob]

I had some the same drain size issue on my walk in tub, we used a 2inch drain. I like the idea but needs to be designed to drain better, I have seen a tub with 2 drains to really drain it quick.

[Bender]

Looks good Orson:)

[scctrim]

good looking job. Assuming this was for an elderly client..or handi-capped..you do much work for these types of clients?

[Allrounder]

Nice job. Thanks for the info regarding how the shower unit goes in.

[orson]

I had some the same drain size issue on my walk in tub, we used a 2inch drain. I like the idea but needs to be designed to drain better, I have seen a tub with 2 drains to really drain it quick.

Kevin did you completelely replace the tub drain/overflow/cable assembly or just adapt it into a 2 inch line off the bottom of the tub? They also make tubs with a pump assisted drain although I didn't see that option for this line of tubs(USMedical, same that you used).

If so was there a cable drain available from your plumbing supply house that was long enough to accomodate the distance from the bottom drain to the overflow?

We didn't have any access underneath the tub because of the main HVAC trunk being located underneath or else we would have adapted the male threaded drain piece on the bottom of the tub into a larger drain line.

The lack of technical literature for the tub didn't allow us to anticipate the drain issues ahead of time...was definitely a learning experience.

[orson]

good looking job. Assuming this was for an elderly client..or handi-capped..you do much work for these types of clients?

Just on occasion. These folks are not much past retirement age but the lady of the house has some debilitating health issues and is barely mobile.