The bathtub is the most crucial and essential part of the bathroom as it adds more value and decor to the washroom. However, minor problems in tubs can create significant problems for you in the future, and it is better to sort them out and fix them immediately.
Old Bathtub Creaks when standing in it due to the absence of a mortar bed, molding of plastic foam, uneven floor, or presence of cracks in the tub. Moreover, you can face this issue due to improper installation, loose-fitting, acrylic material, and damaged floor.
The issues of bathtubs can be dangerous because they can crack, and you can fall or get injured. Therefore, it is essential that you check your tub whenever you hear a creaking sound and squeaks when you step into it.
| Problems | Solutions |
| Absence of mortar bed | Construct a mortar bed under the bathtub |
| Molded plastic foam | Inject the polyurethane foam |
| Uneven floor | Make an even subfloor |
| Presence of cracks | Replace and avoid throwing heavy objects |
| Improper installation | Change the location and do not leave the gaps |
| Loose fitting | Tighten the screws |
| Damaged floor | Wipe and dry the floor under the tub |
Absence of mortar bed
A mortar bed is a mixture of water and cement, which is usually present under the bathtub as a support and subfloor.
In addition, this is essential for protecting your bathroom floor from the weight of the tub.
Moreover, it protects from producing friction between the tub and the surface.
However, some people do not use mortar beds as the subfloor and use poor-quality subfloors, which can deteriorate over time.
The cemented mortar bed can help your bathtub with strong support and reduce the chances of creaking and cracks as well.
Moreover, it can protect your original washroom floor from water flowing on the floor. So it is beneficial in that aspect, and you can free yourself from worrying that it will damage and ruin your floor.
You can ask your plumber or a laborer to come and make a mortar bed under your tub because this task includes removing and re-installing the tub.
Molded plastic foam
Most acrylic tubs are installed with a layer of foam beneath them as a substitute for the subfloor to prevent the tub from directly contacting the floor.
However, foam can decay with time, and your tub can directly contact the floor, producing a squeaking sound whenever you stand in the tub.
It is essential to keep a check on these foams, whether they are in good condition or have become useless and cannot serve you more as the support for the tub.
Moreover, there are rubber foams and plastic foams, which are under the tub. The mold can attack the foam and ruin the support under the tub.
However, the molded plastic foam can cause the tub to touch the floor and start squeaking. The unbalanced movement can be risky, and you can fall along with the tub.
You should contact your plumber or ask a professional about the best quality foam. Then, you can inject the polyurethane foam with the injection under the gap between the tub and the floor.
Furthermore, the foam will swell after some time and increase in size. Therefore, it is essential that the size should not be bigger because the large volume of the foam can be a risk of uneven support.
Uneven floor
The uneven floors can be the most common reason behind the creaking of the bathtub.
The even floor helps in the proper flow of water and provides balance to other items on the surface of the bathroom.
In addition, the uneven floor will cause water to stand in one place for a longer time, and it can damage the floor.
The uneven floor will fail to provide stable support to the bathtub, and eventually, it will damage the floor or fall with you inside it.
Therefore, making a subfloor that is even and can provide balance is essential.
You should contact a professional who can solve this issue and make a strengthening subfloor for you.
Cracked bathtub
There can be any reason behind the cracks in the tub. It mostly happens when it is made from acrylic and fiberglass, which is of poor quality and bends easily if you put weight on it. Moreover, it cannot bear much weight and crack under heavy weight.
They will crack if you put a weight on them, and they can make a sound creak when they are under a heavy object.
Furthermore, using harsh bathroom cleaners can eventually damage the tubs and its layer, and they can crack due to them.
In addition, a lack of support under the tubs can cause them to chip and crack. Therefore, ensuring that your tub is not breaking from beneath or that your subfloor is not damaged is essential.
You should avoid throwing things in it because they can crack if anything hits it with force.
Furthermore, you should avoid jumping in it because the force can damage the floor with the tub.
Improper installation
The builders, sometimes in a hurry, do not pay attention to the essential details of the subfloor construction for the tub.
They leave gaps and do not make it even, which can cause to create more gaps over time. Furthermore, it happens that they do not install the tub properly.
There should not be any gaps beneath the tub and the floor because the areas which do not touch the subfloor can stay unstable and creak every time you step in it.
You can add shims under the tub at the place of gaps to provide support. The shims can be made of wood or stone, and find one with a size equal to gaps.
The builders can make a huge blunder and not install the tub where the joists are present inside the floor, which can be dangerous if it is present on the upper story.
The support is essential for the tub because it is heavy and requires support to stand firm in its place.
Loose fitting
The plywood is also used as a subfloor, but the screws and nails holding the plywood can become loose, and the sheet can flex due to loose nails.
The tub then rubs against the subfloor, nails, and screws. It can make a sound of creaks and squeaks when you step in, and it touches them due to its weight.
Moreover, the tubs loosely fit their surrounding walls and floor causes this issue.
You should be careful and check before stepping in whether your bathtub is standing firmly at its spot or moving.
Damaged floor
The wooden floors of the bathroom can be the reason for the disturbed balance. The waters can get under it, and prolonged stay of water there weakens the quality of the floor.
The damaged surface cannot be a better source of support, and it can fall out of the floor.
You should dry and wipe the floor when you are done with the shower.
It can be dangerous if you let the water stay there for a long time, and eventually, the molds will grow and damage the surface under the tub.
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