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one-piece fiberglass shower enclosure


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Old 04-05-16, 09:59 AM
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one-piece fiberglass shower enclosure

I like my shower enclosure at home so much I wanted one for my cottage. I bought a used one because nobody carries this type any more. I don't know the make and have no installation instructions.
The main question regards the base. It's got a plywood stiffener embedded in the 'glass and has no discernible flex when I stand in it but should I do something further to support it?

The pic shown is similar.

 
  #2  
Old 04-05-16, 11:36 AM
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They are generally set in a mortar bed for solid support. (A giant thick blob of mortar that will spread out and settle once the enclosure has settled down onto it. You have to leave room around the perimeter of the mortar for it to spread.)
 
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Old 04-05-16, 01:25 PM
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Are you going to be able to get it in the bathroom? Hopefully not many turns and plenty of door opening as well as tilt up space.
 
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Old 04-05-16, 03:09 PM
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No walls at the moment.



.
 
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Old 04-05-16, 03:15 PM
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I watched a YouTube where someone injected expanding foam around the drain line from underneath and that swelled up to fill in the void and dry hard enough to support weight. Would that work as well as mortar?
 
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Old 04-05-16, 03:21 PM
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You have the manufactures name right on the packaging, why not go on line and down load there install directions?
 
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Old 04-05-16, 03:26 PM
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Is foam as rigid as cement? Guess the mfg instructions would clear that up. +1, Joe.
 
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Old 04-05-16, 03:39 PM
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Joe I made it clear that pic is not mine.
 
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Old 04-05-16, 05:24 PM
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Here's an example of a tub installation instruction manual. I know the one pictured may not be exactly like yours, but if you are after instructions, this would be a good guide. Notice there is no mention of foam. Sure you could do it but it isn't what's recommended, and probably for good reason.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...L2IhuHzhWjTGJQ
 
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Old 04-05-16, 06:38 PM
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I wouldn't use foam because you have no control over the expansion.
Of course professionals would have more experience and can judge the expansion better, but the mortar is a tried and true method even for a novice.
 
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Old 04-05-16, 07:17 PM
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Good find XS--Aqua Glass has discontinued all these enclosures and I couldn't find any instructions on their awful website.
So for *their* one-piece domed enclosure you don't put anything under it except a couple shims to level it.

I don't know how to link YouTube from my phone (no link tools) but this guy also shows the install of this type enclosure "dry":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlvO5g4eGeQ

So is a mortar bed for shower bases or other flexible and plastic units?
 
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Old 04-11-16, 11:43 AM
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Wrapping up

I got up to my cottage and started the bathroom renovation with the help of a buddy that does remodeling for a living. I found a warehouse tag glued to the back of the shower unit that included the make & model. It's an Aker ACS-36. Went online and found installation instructions & saved to my phone.
The instructions detail (exhaustively) how to build the alcove the unit slides into--and the dimensions given were actually so tight it wasn't possible to push the shower into place without removing the header and one side. There is NO mention of any bedding below the enclosure and no possibility of lifting the unit to place it on top of a mortar bed.

The shower I took Saturday night felt real good after spending about 3 hours wiggling around in the dirt crawlspace beneath the bathroom
 
 

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