I purchased my home (new construction) in August of 2019. The day after closing I noticed my bathtub felt really spongy, lumpy. I have never felt anything like this. I contacted warranty which took them 5 weeks to get anyone out here.The supplier of the bathtub came out and said there was definitely a problem and this was not normal…In the middle of back and forthing.. realized after I was forced to shower in guest bathtub..it also is lumpy.Needless to say After 3 attempts to fix my bathtubs they are BOTH Still lumpy.Each time I shower I get upset due to the unevenness. I hired a inspector who confirmed even after 3 fixes that both tubs are still spongy. The builder sent warranty out who said “lumps and bumps are fine,its solid”, but neither are solid. I’m worried that I am going to experience water damage, (mind you these are 1 piece shower tub combo) the other day I had leaned against the side of the wall while showering and heard cracking..The bottom of the tub fluctuates with temperature as well..I have never been in a situation like this and don’t know what to do.
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It probably is to be expected unfortunately. From what you are describing it sounds like it’s the type of tub you have. It’s probably the cheaper less rigid type. And yes they feel very flimsy. If you kick or punch it hard enough it will crack or break. Installing a better quality tub in cast iron or thick fiberglass composite type is the only way to avoid it. Although it can be very annoying, you shouldn’t have any leaks. Unless you crack the tub by kicking etc.
Indeed, I just wish I would have been told that I was going to have to deal with this probelm 5 months ago when i purchased the home. I would have upgraded to something not so cheap and soft. The builder I purchased my home from "Had" a decent reputation but I guess they have done this to a few others in the neighborhood as well. Thank you for your response.
Yeah it’s a shame that you are having to deal with these tubs. Honestly, I never install the cheap plastic tubs even when the owner selects them b/c I know I’ll be back to make repairs on multiple occasions (learned my lesson the first time). I don’t know how it can be legal to sell those things in the first place. I would have a very direct conversation with your Contractor and explain to them that they’ve been out 3 times to try to correct your issues, but have failed. It’s not b/c of lack of trying or being negligent or bad at their trade. Your Contractor just needs to get to the point of realization that the tubs installed are not a good product no matter how great the installer is. A bad tile job holds up better than a perfectly installed tub like yours. The fact that the Contractor has been out 3 times to try to fix is a good sign that he/she is trying to do right. From the Contractors perspective he/she probably feels it’s a manufacturer’s responsibility to provide a good product. Which is a perspective I can appreciate and understand. The issue is that part of being a good Contractor is making your customers happy and not installing bad products. Just keep calling him and bothering him about it. Maybe try get some of the other customers you’ve mentioned to make comments to him about their disappointment with the tubs. He’s trying to save $, but will find he’s wasting it by installing these tubs. Check the wording in your warranty packet (assuming you have one), maybe something in there indicates allowable tolerances that is agreed to.
Poor quality fiberglass/plastic fixtures, poorly installed. Hard to say what is specifically the problem -- could be lack of proper underlayment, could be the units are sitting too high above the underlayment and can't bear on it, could be fins on the bottoms of the units got broken off, could be foam on the bottom was damaged/removed during installation.
Probably the only (crude) fix at this point is to somehow inject a hard foam under the units.
They have already done a spray foam pack 3 times and it is still lumpy and bumpy, do you knoiw of a reason they wont take out the tub besides the fact "it has to be cut into thirds" which will be time consuming? I still have 7 months of a warranty left.I did use Revel thermal imaging which is showing black spots up walls and the entire bottom of unit is only 4 to 9 degrees warmer than the weather. It has been down to 43 degrees in my bathroom. The drain is coming up from the tub as well and the putty is showing and drain is not centered. When they put the 3rd treatment oif foam in, the drain was centered, but now it is off to the left again. There is a large lump running the entire length of the lip of the outer edge from wall to wall. You cant even set anything such as shampoo bottle there becuase nothing will stay. The tub is not level itself, a level proves that. Thank you for your input. I do appreciate it.