Bathtub Install

matjone

I am installing a tub for the first time. My background is electrical but I am trying to branch out and learn some new things. So far I've pretty much ----ed up everything I've tried but that's the best way to learn right? Anyway, I took the old tub and its surround out and put the new tub in (bought a steel one with a ceramic coating because it was 50 bucks less than fiberglass), hooked up the drain and had a plumber plumb in the valve, but the plumber said I had it in wrong. He said you were supposed to put the tub in against the studs and then drywall down over the lip of the tub. The way I have it in now it is butted up to the drywall, actually there is about a 1/8 inch gap all the way around between the tub and drywall. Also, I already have the surround, it is one of the cheap home depot plastic things. I'd just like to get some advice on how to install it as simply as possible. The plumber was talking about tearing the drywall out, butting it up against the existing studs on one side and furring out the wall on the other side, but I think if I fur out the wall by the tub I'd have to do it on the whole wall to get the drywall to be flush with each other. That would mean tearing out all the drywall and furring out each stud on that wall. I'm thinking there must surely be a better way than this. I'd like to keep from tearing out any drywall if possible. Anyway, if someone can give me some advice on how to do this it would definitely help me quite a bit, and also if you can give me some advice on how you would do it next time that would help too. Thanks

ps - there is a window on the wall of the long side of the tub and I'd like to get some tips about cutting the surround around it, and also I'd like some advice on whether I need to put screws throught the lip into the wall (I'm worried about putting a crack in the porcelain coating) or whether I can get away without attaching it.

SelfContract

If plumber is your friend, then ask/pay him to work/teach you all the way as you learned the tricks... Good $$ paid for new lesson learned. Becareful, this thread is DIY & mod will close soon.

Double-A

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