Strengthening a bath.

[matt204]

I have got a bath to replace our current bath and am not too happy with it. It is a standard acrylic or fibreglass bath with an integrated base board. I have had a carronite bath before and was very impressed with its stregth and heat retaining qualities. However, now I have this bath I do not want to have to waste it and spend £500+ on a new carronite bath. The bath just does not seem to be up to standard for my liking. If you hold it against a window and look inside the bath you can actually see light shining through.

My question is is it possible to apply some kind of resin coating to the outside of the bath as this is basically what the carronite baths are? If this is possible what would be the best material. I was thinking of some kind of polyester resin. Would any material like this have an adverse reaction to the existing material of the bath? Would they adhere to the fibreglass material well enough.

Many thanks.

 

[Newboy]

Short answer is regrettably no.

By the time you've tried to add more material to the bath you might as well do what is you know is the right thing - buy a decent bath.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

What's actually wrong with the bath? Being able to see light through it is not at the top of my list of things to check when I choose a bath.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Stuff fibreglass or Rockwool insulation around the sides when you install it. It will firm it up and keep the water warmer

 

[matt204]

Seeing light through the bath when it was next to the french door made me think it is really not as well made as it should be. It was only in a few patches where I could see light. This made me think it was a fault. Most reinforced baths have 1 or 2 extra layers of polyester resins providing extra stregth and rigididty something really needed if using also for a shower.

 

[Dextraneous]

Just add a few more blocks of wedged timber under it if you're that worried.

 

[Nozzle]

You can use a whole bunch of expanding foam between it and the floor in order to stabilise it. The improved stability make make you feel better about the perceived quality

Nozzle

 

[Newboy]

The difference between a decent (carronite) bath and a cheap acrylic is chalk and cheese.

Nothing you can add to an acrylic bath comes close to the rigidity of a decent one - especially if there's an over-bath shower

 

[geraldthehamster]

What's wrong with a steel bath?

Cheers
Richard

 

[mattylad]

What's wrong with a steel bath?

Cheers
Richard

1) They cost more
2) They are heavier
3) The OP has not got one, he bought a plastic one (see #1).
4) Nothing.

 

[longdogs]

If the bath is installed correctly, it should be fine. I am always amazed at how some of these flimsy baths actually work when they are installed. You can put blocks under the chipboard as already suggested, build a wooden frame around it, support corners with brackets or lengths of 4x2. Masticking the bath will also stop it moving.

 

[geraldthehamster]

What's wrong with a steel bath?

Cheers
Richard

1) They cost more

True, but that's because they're better, and don't flex

2) They are heavier

They're surprisingly light actually

3) The OP has not got one, he bought a plastic one (see #1).

True again, but he said he wasn't happy with it, and I want the OP to be happy

4) Nothing.

Cheers
Richard