My shower floor is a Royal Whirlpool Bath fiberglass tub with a central drain. I can feel a slight deflection when shifting my weight on the floor and I hear a squishing sound that I attribute to water caught between the bottom side of the floor versus the bed the shower floor was fitted to. Is this a sign of trouble that needs to be fixed? If so, what must be done?
The house is five years old and uses a concrete slab. There is no sign of water damage to the surrounding drywall and no sign of water leaking past the exterior brick facing.
Jerry
Replies
I'll bump your question so someone else can see it and answer it.
I'd get a plumber in there to see if they can get the drain sealed to the unit. For what it's worth, best practice is to set those units in plaster or mortar so that they do not deflect. My preference is Structo-lite plaster. Too late for that now, unless you remove the wall finish enough to remove the pan.
Not a FT plumber, don't know what the problem is yet, may not know exactly how to fix it.
The little bit of give in the bottom of a FG tub is not unusual, however, that squishing sound is probably not a good sign.
Is there an access panel on the other side of the wall which can be pulled so you can at least see under the tub, perhaps with a mirror? Have also seen panels made by tiling a removable section of a tub facing - held in place with magnetic catches - look closely for missing grout, pry very gently to avoid tile damage.
Typically the drain piping enters the slab through a void in the concrete slab ( formed during the pour, forms removed, then finish plumbing for the drain done when the tub was installed). The void will be 18" to 24" square, 6+ inches deep, gives the plumber space to connect traps, etc.
If you cannot see water at the drywall or at the exterior brick - this "drain void" may be where the bulk of the water from a drain leak is going . Then maybe leaching out under the slab?
Have a look! Run the water in the tub while looking through the access panel - whatever drips is your problem. Once we all know the source - maybe we can help with a cure.
Hints: if there is water present in the void, but you are not seeing any drips or trickles - try filling the tub to the point where water is being drained via the overflow fitting and look again. Turn on the whirlpool pump and look again. Have cured several leaking whirlpools by discovering the overflow source.
Just some thoughts. Good luck!
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
Jerry, I would guess that the fiberglass is either cracked or the interface between the fiberglass and the drain.
Most of these prefab plastic units should be installed with a mortar bed under the plastic to prevent flexing and stress fractures in the drain area.
I'd replace the unit.
Regards,
Scooter
"I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow." WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934