After tiling, grouting, and sealing, I am finally ready to install a freestanding bathtub! This renovation journey has taken a lot longer than I planned due to the global pandemic and homeschooling the kids, but if that is the only thing I have to complain about right now, I’d say I’m in pretty good shape.
During this process, my family has only been able to use a tiny shower in the basement, so needless to say, installing the bathtub is a top priority.
Let’s start with the faucet
Before installing the backer board and tiling, I had to do my best to estimate how far the faucet valve needed to stick out of the wall.
Here’s a reminder of what it looked like. I was super nervous about this part because if it doesn’t stick out enough, I will be tearing through walls to fix it. It wouldn’t be the first time, but I really don’t want to do it again!
This is what it looked like after tiling and now it is time to check if handy Mandy is an appropriate name for me.
Luckily, the hard part of setting the valve is finished, so if all is right, installing the rest of the faucet should be easy.
Step 1: Wrap all threads with pipe seal plumber’s tape.
This will ensure a tight connection and eliminate any leaks.
Step 2: Screw the faucet and the handles into the valve making sure they snugly fit.
That’s it. Can you believe something was actually easy for once? I will have to check for leaks once the bathtub is in, but for now I’ll give myself a pat on the back.
Side note: I originally wanted a freestanding bathtub faucet, but ran into some issues with that. First of all, they are extremely expensive and I am trying to save money, Second, I didn’t trust my plumbing skills enough to move the pipes to the appropriate space under the floor.
I am glad I went with this option. I love how it looks and it was incredibly affordable! Click here to see the faucet.
Installing the freestanding tub
Before I started the installation process, I wanted to make sure that the bathtub would work with the placement of the faucet. So with the help of my husband, I moved the tub into place. OMG, it works!
Once I was positive it would work, I started the installation process. The Woodbridge freestanding bathtub I purchased has its own unique drain system, which is part of the reason I chose it. Using this tub, I didn’t have to move my waste drain, which was a big deal. Also, it was relatively inexpensive!
Step 1: Wrap all threads with thread seal plumber’s tape.
Step 2: Lay bathtub on its side on top of a blanket to protect it from scratches. Attach the drainpipe to the bottom of the bathtub.
Step 3: Attach the bathtub drain pipe to the waste drainpipe.
The instructions from the bathtub manufacturer were unclear for this step. The pipe fit, but not as snugly as I would like, so I added silicon sealant to attach the two drain pipes together. It worked just fine.
Step 4: Level the bathtub and check for leaks.
The tub comes with 4 leveling legs underneath. My husband and I took turns lifting the tub and adjusting the legs until it was level.
Once the sealant was dry, we dumped a few buckets of water down the drain to ensure there were no leaks.
Step 5: Seal the bottom edge of the tub with silicone sealant. This is done for a couple of reasons. One, the bathtub was surprisingly light, and I was worried about it moving around. The sealant has the added bonus of an adhesive as well. Two, the sealant will keep the underside free of water and moisture that may drip from the tub.
Let’s try this baby out!
Here’s another throwback. Remember when I was installing and moving around the water pipes? I installed 2 shut-off valves so that I didn’t have to run outside every time I needed to turn off the water.
Because I haven’t installed the shower valve yet, I capped the lines to the shower so that I could check the bathtub faucet for leaks.
The water is on, and there are no leaks!
My kids were so excited to finally have a bathtub again that they had to take a bath immediately! Now my 4-year-old gets ridiculously dirty on purpose just so she can use the bath. Well played little one.
All in all, I am incredibly happy with everything. I was a little skeptical about the bathtub, but the drain has held up and it is not budging. I also love the contrast of matte black faucet against the white wall. Now I cant wait to finish the shower!
I started this blog in the hope of inspiring other people to try something new, especially if it is unexpected. If you like what you are seeing, please like, comment, or share! Thanks for reading!