What Is Needed When Buying a Bathtub and Surrounds?
Purchasing and installing a new bathtub and surround requires some planning by the homeowner. The bathtub and surround can be large items, and transportation from the store outlet to the home may be a challenge that can be compounded by problems carrying the items from the vehicle into the bathroom. Does this Spark an idea?
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Know the Size
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Measure the space planned for the bathtub and surround before heading to the home improvement store. Bathtubs come in standard sizes, and if you have removed a standard tub from the space, you should be able to find a new tub to fit the space. The surround kit fits a variety of sizes, as the panels can be adjusted.
Transportation
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A standard pickup truck works well to haul the bathtub and surround to your home. If you do not have a truck, hauling may be arranged with the store. A bigger challenge may be getting the items into the home and bathroom. Measure the doorways to make sure the bathtub fits through the openings. Corners and turns in hallways must also be negotiated. Transporting the bathtub on end may make it easier to maneuver through the doors and halls.
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Plumbing Components
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Installing the bathtub and surround requires some plumbing components for installation. You likely need a drain and overflow kit that connects the tub to the plumbing. You might also need a P-trap and other drain components if they were not salvaged from the tub that was removed. Use polyvinyl chloride (PVC) glue to fasten the plumbing components together and construction adhesive to hold the surround components in place. These items are often purchased at the same time as the bathtub and surround.
Tools
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Make sure you have the right tools to install the tub and surround. You should possess and know how to use basic hand tools like a hack saw to cut the PVC pipe, wrenches and screwdrivers to tighten the drain and plumbing fixture in place and a caulking gun to apply the construction adhesive to the surround. After the installation, use the caulking gun to apply silicone caulk to any gaps or seams between components of the surround and the surround and tub.
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