AboutCarolyn Expertise I have worked in Electrical Engineering for 30 years in power distribution and am now a Senior Electrical & Instrumentation Designer, but I am a handy homeowner more than anything else and have a lot of skills when it comes to home repairs. Bathroom remodeling, flooring, painting, reconditioning old wood items, plumbing, car repairs and troubleshooting most problems. I think of myself more of a teacher than someone that is going to tell you exactly what you have to do, but I will share as much info as I have to help get your problem fixed, so if you are not interested in learning then don't ask me a question or rate me if you don't like my answers. To me, it is all about the journey so lets share the trail for a short ride and see where it takes us!
I also want to give thanks to both my Mom, who has passed and my Dad, who raised us with the "Can Do" attitude and instowed such confidence in not only my life but everyone that ever came in contact with them.
You can do anything that you set our minds too if only you can break it down into pieces and just tackle one piece at a time, for the rest will fall into place.
Experience My greatest accomplishment was finishing my first bathroom upgrades in my first home which helped me to sell my home is less than 3 days by myself with a For Sale By Owner sign and no more. Plus I got $10,000 more for it in just 4 years of owning it, now that is great equity.
Education/Credentials Nursing School, 1 1/2 years of a 2 year RN program, 1976
US Army, Intelligence School, Image Interpreter, 1977
Thomas Nelson Community College, Mechanical Drafting, 1980
Newport News Shipbuilding, Designer Training Program, 1981
School Of Hard Knocks
Awards and Honors Certificate of Achievement, Graduated with Honor's from Military Intelligence School,
Award from Planning Research Corporation for a Job Well Done,
Hand Selected to be an Internal Auditor for an ISO 9000 Certification Program for one of my longest employers,
Mutable Letters of Appreciation
Question QUESTION: Our tubs are making crackling noises and have some hair line cracks at the drain. I want to try drilling holes and spraying the expanding foam. How many holes should I drill and where? Do I stand in tub until it finishes expanding to avoid it lifting it and causing damage? I weigh 250 so it needs extra support somehow.
ANSWER: Hey James,
I don't know if that is a good idea? For starters, What kind of foam are you planning on using? I have used some of that liquid foam in my subfloor of my old boat and though it is pretty strong, drilling holes in your tub will only weaken it unless you can drill down low or underneath? I have yet to open up the boat floor to see how this stuff spreads so unless you have a site that can show you this it will create a mess for when you will, down the road have to replace the tub. But as far as standing in the tub, that may not be a bad idea, I just wish I could tell you how this stuff swells. Let me look into something here...Gel coat is what is used on boat hulls for surface repairs and it is an exoxy that you can get in colors, it may be another option but check these other sites out and I hope that they will help guide you. Can you get to the underside of this tub and brace it better, if so that would be my recommended point of repair.
You really may be better off to just call one of the companies that specialize in tub repair, it may save time and frustration, but if you are handy, it could be fun. I hope something here helps and good luck! I would love to hear back from you when you finished to know how it turns out!
~Carolyn~
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QUESTION: I have read that GReat Stuff is good foam for that. what about drilling from the side of the tub? doing it from wall is not possible. If I drilled in from side, I think I could get that foam underneath without having to drill in the actual pan. I am wondering since the cracks are around the drain, is there any problems with the foam getting around the tub drain or any pipes or pieces that are around there if I was to inject the foam underneath the drain area? I am not familiar with tubs at all and I dont know where that foam can or cant go. Tub has one of those levers that you push up and down to open and close the drain and I am not sure if the foam would affect that from under the tub.
Answer Hey James,
This is my first Choice, check out this site:
I think this is the way you need to go! Get the Rigid Fiberglass Bathtub inlay Kit and fix it right!
Man, you are teaching me alot here, LOL! But that stuff will not work here. I called their product line and talked to one of their technical specialist:
He validated this for me. For starters, it need moisture to work and second, it will not be strong enough for the added support you are seeking, not to mention it designed for insulation only. So you may need to take a look at the marine foam or jump back to my first choice. But talk to John first at AeroMarine:
They have some 8# foam that may work here, it sets up hard.
I feel that you are still going to have a hard time getting it in to where you need it most, unless you can get a tube or something to guide it to the right location around the drain before it starts to swell and set up.
But here are some pictures for you? After looking at a few of these do you know just how much room you have between your tub base and the actual subfloor? You need to know just how much room you are dealing with here so that you will know how much you need to fill, it could be more, it could be less foam, not being able to see this makes it really hard to say! But know that all the piping is sealed off and you will not be affecting its function.
Geez, I hope you learned something here, cause I am exhausted, LOL! I just hope you take a good look at the layin, I really feel that it will be the best choice for you and good luck!
~Carolyn~
