Many of us associate the bathroom with a zone of comfort and relaxation. Here you can have a great rest after hard working days and recharge with positive energy. Modern models of plumbing amaze with their diversity. Specialized departments offer a wide selection of shapes, colors and sizes.

After purchasing this sanitary ware, most users have a question: “How to beautifully decorate a bathroom bowl?”

Some people prefer to hide this household item behind special panels, which in most cases act as a spacious storage area. Our material provides a detailed master class on how to make a frame for a bathroom.


Advantages and disadvantages of a protective frame

Such structures have both positive and negative qualities. The advantages of this design include:

Strong fixation of the bathtub on the surface of the frame. This installation is used not only for cast iron models, but also for acrylic and aluminum products.

For each type of bathtub bowl, a certain type of material is provided for the construction of the frame system. For example, for acrylic models, you will need slats made of solid pine or maple about 5 cm thick.

The wooden bath frame is lightweight. It is reliable and can withstand more than 100 kg. For cast iron and aluminum products, the best option would be brick or metal slats.

Beautiful design of the lower part of the bathroom. On a solid base of the frame, you can attach sheets of plasterboard, which are later decorated with ceramic tiles.

The disadvantages of this structure include its heavy weight. This applies to the supporting structure made of bricks. Another disadvantage of this product is the complexity of installation work. To do this, it is necessary to prepare a detailed project that will take into account the size of the future structure in relation to the dimensions of the bathroom.

Recently, stone masonry is practically not used in apartment buildings. The fact is that the stone exerts significant pressure on the floor covering. To produce the structure, most consumers prefer to use wood or metal slats.

The bathroom profile frame is ideal for acrylic models. They have a minimum weight that is not capable of damaging the future structure. In the process of creating a product, each metal element is coated with a protective compound. In the future, it will help reduce corrosion processes on the iron surface.


Frame shapes

As noted above, three types of materials are used to produce the support structure. These include:

  • wooden beam;
  • metallic profile;
  • profile pipe.


In turn, all frames are divided into several types, each of which is designed for a specific shape of the bathtub bowl. These include:

  • standard base. It is used for models that have a rectangular shape;
  • round. These designs are considered popular. They allow you to save enough free space. This frame is made of wooden boards, the thickness of which varies from 5 to 6.5 cm;
  • corner. They help secure the corner designs of bathtub bowls. These structures are made from profile pipes. Its diameter should reach 5 cm. The main elements of the material are installed in one of the corners of the room.

Master class on making a frame for an acrylic bathtub

Ready-made supports are quite expensive. This is explained by the fact that the creation of such a structure requires certain experience. An alternative solution would be to assemble a bathroom frame with your own hands. During the work process, it is recommended to follow a strict sequence of actions.

The stages of manufacturing a support structure include:

Marking. Making the base. To do this, special anchors and profile elements are fixed to the floor.

Installation of all parts into a single composition. Here the design is carried out in accordance with the drawing. The number of elements is calculated based on the mass of the bathtub model

When all the elements are in place, you can install the bathing bowl. The final stage will be covering the frame base.

Making a reliable support base with your own hands is quite simple. To do this, you need to prepare the correct drawing and high-quality materials. The photo of the bathroom frame shows modern options for arranging a relaxation area.

Photo of the bathroom frame

The under-tub support structures offered by modern manufacturers rarely match the weight of standard cuvettes. That is why most owners, when installing a bowl on a fragile factory frame or legs made from the thinnest profile pipe, strongly doubt the reliability and strength of this structure. If the bowl is small, then the frame can easily withstand the load; with bathtubs for two, the situation is more complicated; the issue of their installation should be approached especially carefully. If the kit does not include a strong, reliable structure, you can purchase it or make a frame for the bathtub yourself. We will tell you more about this in this article.

What materials are bathtub frames made from?

Making a frame for a bathtub with your own hands is not at all difficult, and besides, you can use a variety of materials for this. The only prerequisite is strength, the ability of the material to withstand the highest loads (human body weight and the weight of a bowl of water). In addition, it must have a special protective coating that protects against direct moisture, high humidity, and deformation from temperature changes.

Such materials include:

  • wood beams;
  • galvanized profile intended for the construction of plasterboard structures;
  • You can also use iron profile pipes.

So far, nothing better than these materials has been found, and they are inexpensive. That is why it is worth dwelling in more detail on their advantages and disadvantages.

Modern frames are made from the following materials.

Wooden beam

It is durable and affordable, but it has one huge drawback - the process of rotting may begin. Moreover, the structure of wood, due to increased humidity and temperature changes, is deformed. Therefore, if the timber is not properly processed, it is not recommended to use it.

Important! To make a frame for a steel bathtub out of wood with your own hands, you don’t need any special tools; you can get by with an ordinary screwdriver and a hacksaw for metal or wood.

Metallic profile

This material is not entirely suitable for plasterboard structures; it has insufficient strength. It is not suitable for the heavy loads that a bathtub bowl creates. It is better to use it as decoration or to make an additional frame. In this case, the main load falls on the supports. It is important that they are extremely durable; the load can be distributed due to the frame.

Important! If you have no choice, you only have a metal profile, but you still need to make a frame, then you can try to strengthen it. For example, using a wooden beam impregnated with a composition against rotting and corrosion. The result is a universal frame, but buying both materials at once is financially incorrect.

Profile pipe

Experts consider this material optimal. This bathtub stand, made with your own hands in accordance with all the rules, can withstand the heaviest bathtub. It has almost no disadvantages, except for possible corrosion, but you can get rid of it with the help of a primer. Such designs have to be boiled; perhaps this is the only problem that novice home craftsmen have.

Important! When choosing a material, be sure to pay attention to the protective characteristics and strength of the product. It is also necessary to correlate the total load with the technical properties.

Remember: it is better to make a light, durable metal frame than a massive one made of wood. The financial costs will be repaid by your own peace of mind and long service life.

How to assemble a bathtub frame yourself?

First, you should have a good understanding of what bathtub stands are. In simple terms, these are non-solid load-bearing structures, frames with posts and lintels that evenly distribute the load among themselves. People call them farms, because indoors you will have to assemble a similar system, closed around the entire perimeter.

The frame for an acrylic bathtub is created with your own hands, taking into account some features:

  • First, measurements are taken to determine the choice of material (section of a profile pipe or timber, if the frame is made of a metal profile):
    1. If we are talking about a metal profile for drywall, then CD or UD would be the ideal option.
    2. It is better to make a wooden frame from timber with a section of 20 by 100 mm. The key measurement is precisely the figure of 20 mm, since this distance is considered standard for the bending of the side and side of the ditch.
  • Other measurements, width and length, are taken from the underside of the bowl, starting from the fold of one side and ending with the inner folded edge of the opposing side.
  • Next, you need to measure and lay out the reference perimeter, which is determined from the above data. If you make a support stand from timber or a plasterboard profile, then everything is as simple as shelling pears - just nail the bars cut to size to the floor with dowels.

Important! If you need a frame for a heavy bath, then it is better to lay the tubes on the floor and weld them in the shape of a rectangle.

  • Then the corner support posts are assembled; the work should be done carefully, because the main load of the font, the weight of a person and water falls on them.
  • Next, the upper support triangle is assembled, which is necessary in order to evenly distribute the load of the bathtub across all racks. The structure is assembled according to the same scheme as the lower supports. The pipe or profiles are laid on corner posts and secured by welding or self-tapping screws.
  • Naturally, additional load-bearing posts will be required to strengthen the entire structure. They allow you to support the entire weight of the bowl along with water. The racks are mounted and fastened in increments of 50 cm along the longest side of the structure.
  • The most crucial moment comes - installing the bathtub on the frame. But there shouldn’t be any difficulties, because it’s enough to assemble the frame itself and mount it at the location of the bowl. Then the font is lifted and installed in a frame made of plasterboard or metal.
  • All that remains is to foam the outside of the bathtub and decorate it - you can use tiles, drywall or plastic for this.

It is impossible to say which room in an apartment or house is the most important. To one degree or another, each of them is irreplaceable and serves its own specific purposes. The specification of the room has a certain influence on what materials should be used when carrying out finishing or repair work, what color scheme to choose for interior decoration, and so on.

So, in the bathroom it is necessary to use only moisture-resistant materials that can withstand temperature changes. For example, before making a frame for a bathtub, you should pay close attention not only to studying the features of the installation process, but also to the basics of choosing a material suitable for these purposes.

How to choose material

As mentioned above, only a material that can confidently cope not only with the mechanical loads that this piece of plumbing will exert, but also with almost constant exposure to moisture, can be suitable for making a frame for a bathtub. The conditions in which all the elements inside the bathroom will have to be can be called a real test of strength, and therefore it is worth identifying some criteria according to which they need to be selected.

  • Moisture resistance. Resistance to moisture can be called the main condition for choosing any material used for work in the bathroom. This room will always be damp to one degree or another, and therefore all materials must have increased resistance.
  • Fungus resistance. Based on the above, an important property of the material that you should pay attention to is the ability to resist the occurrence of mold and other fungal infections. Dampness and darkness are ideal conditions for the emergence and development of fungus, which means this must certainly be taken into account when choosing a material.
  • Mechanical strength. Another condition for choosing a material for making a bathtub frame is its strength. Depending on the material chosen, the bathtub may weigh more or less, but in any case, when filled, the weight will be quite decent. And if we add to this the weight of a person, then the load on the structural elements of the frame will be quite significant.

Based on the selection criteria listed above, the following materials can be used as a material suitable for making a frame for a bathtub:

  • Wooden beam. This material is publicly available, quite cheap and durable, which makes it possible to use it for the manufacture of a bathtub frame. However, it is necessary to take into account that the timber must be treated with antiseptic and waterproofing compounds before installation.
  • Metal profile pipe. Profile pipes are also durable, easy to install and affordable, but at the same time they require additional treatment with anti-corrosion compounds.
  • Galvanized metal profile slats. The slats, which are most often used to make laths for finishing, can also be used to make a bathtub frame. The lightness and yet strength of this material make them a very good choice.

Frame making

As for the actual manufacture of the frame, it should be noted that this work can be done with your own hands without the involvement of third-party specialists. You only need a certain minimum of tools and straight hands. As in all other cases, work should be carried out in stages.

Note! Most often, the bathtub is installed first, and then covered with a frame. In some cases, when you want to get away from stereotypes, a frame is made into which the bathtub will be installed.

We will not dwell on only one option, but will consider both.

Marking

To begin with, the place where you plan to install the bathtub needs to be marked for installing the frame. Everything here is individual. Each bathtub, depending on the model, has its own dimensions and this should definitely be taken into account. Based on the parameters of the bath, markings are applied to the floor and walls. You can use painter's cord.

Base

The first element of the frame structure is the base. It serves as a support for all other elements, and therefore maximum attention should be paid to its installation. Supporting elements are laid along the marking lines and screwed to the floor with anchors. It is necessary to ensure that the base is strictly horizontal, for which you need to use a building level.

Supports

Top tie

Then the elements that will serve as screeds for the entire structure are laid and secured. Their installation will be carried out horizontally, on top of the supports. It is necessary to remember to control the horizontal position. It should also be noted that, depending on the design of the frame, the upper horizontal elements can be located not only on top of the frame supports, but also mounted on the wall.

Sheathing

As the final element of the frame design, you can consider a sheet of OSB (or plywood), which is laid on top of the frame and fastened. Then a hole is cut into it for the bath tank itself.

At this point, the installation of the bathtub frame can be considered complete. Subsequently, the frame is sheathed, for example, with waterproof plasterboard. As mentioned above, the work on making the frame is not too complicated and can be done independently. To better understand the nuances of the process, you can familiarize yourself with the corresponding photos - and video materials.

Photo

Installing a bathtub frame will create the basis for the future screen, and will also hide part of the communications, which will give the bathroom a more aesthetic appearance. There will be additional space under the bathroom where you can store various household chemicals, as well as bathroom accessories.

Please note that for acrylic bathtubs you can use either a factory-made frame or a frame made by yourself.

Some types of bathtubs have rather complex shapes and do not allow the product to be attached directly to the walls. Their service life will depend on how well the frame for them is created.

Preparing to make a bathtub frame

For example, we will use the most common version of bathtubs, which is found in almost every home, namely an oval bathtub. It will be used as a finishing material, but you can use any desired material that will look harmonious specifically in your bathroom.

The installation technique for such a frame is quite simple:

  • we start by laying the base of the frame around the perimeter;
  • We install vertical (support) posts on it;
  • Boards are also laid on the racks;
  • A sheet of plywood (preferably waterproof) is placed on top, in which a hole is cut to match the shape of the bathtub.

If your bathtub is rectangular, then there is no need to install plywood, since the sides of the frame are adjusted to the edges of the container and act as a landing platform.

Calculate the height of the support posts

Since both adults and children use the bathtub, it is necessary to calculate the maximum comfortable height for all people.

  • We place the bathtub in the place where it will be installed and measure the height from the edge of the sides;
  • from the resulting figure, it is necessary to subtract the thickness of the base and upper part of the frame, as well as the plywood.

Preparing the base for a frame for an acrylic or cast iron bathtub

First, boards are laid along the perimeter of the bathtub, which will act as a base. For fastening we use self-tapping screws with “crocodiles”. To make the process of attaching to the floor easier, drill holes in the right places in advance.

Next, we install the racks and if they are adjacent to the wall, we fasten them in the same way as the base was fixed. The racks should be located at each corner of the bathtub, as well as along the perimeter at a distance of no more than half a meter from each other.

Bath frame: installation

After securing the corner posts, we begin working on the perimeter.

To make it easier to attach the racks and also have a high level of structural reliability, you can use wooden blocks or metal corners.

The upper part of the frame is attached to the racks in a similar way, and in places of contact with the wall, the boards are attached using self-tapping screws (nails, screws).

Once the installation of the supporting structure is complete, a sheet of plywood is laid on top. You can find a wide variety of options on the market, the main thing is the high level of strength of the product, since a third of the weight of the bathtub will be focused on plywood. We screw it around the perimeter to the top of the support, also using self-tapping screws.

Attention! When choosing plywood, it is necessary to take into account not only strength, but also water-resistant characteristics, and the thickness, depending on the type, should be at least 15 mm (for chipboard - at least 25 mm).

Cutting a hole for the bathtub

Most bathtubs at the factory are equipped with a special installation template, according to which you can easily make all the necessary markings, but if you don’t have one, you will have to measure everything manually, using a meter or “by eye.”

The easiest way to cut a hole in plywood is with a jigsaw, but if you don’t have one at hand, you can use a narrow hand saw.

Installing an acrylic bathtub on the frame

Once the frame manufacturing is completed, you can begin installing the bathtub itself. The sequence of actions may vary slightly depending on the size of the bathroom and convenience. There is no clearly defined algorithm here, the main thing is to have the right cement tray, which will reduce the load from the bottom of the bathroom.

To do this you need:

  • fill the required space under the bathtub with a special cement mortar (do not forget to take into account the height or other floor covering, as well as fastening material);
  • let the pillow harden;
  • After the pillow hardens, we place the bathtub in the frame and connect it to the sewer.

Closing the frame

Once the installation of the bathroom is complete, you should start tiling the frame. The effectiveness of the interior of the room will depend on how this work is carried out.

First, decide on the color and material with which the decorative part will be created. After this, you need to prepare the substrates on which the facing material will be attached. They can be made using drywall, waterproof wood products (boards, plywood, etc.).

The base for the facing material can be secured using self-tapping screws or washers of medium length. It is best if they have a special coating that prevents corrosion or contain special impurities. The sides of the frame can be made tightly closed, or equipped, thereby creating additional space for storing various detergents and bathroom accessories.

If you can’t afford to make a door, you can purchase a ready-made one on the market or online.

After attaching the facing material, it is necessary to seal the holes with sealant. It is desirable that it contains special antiseptic substances that prevent the appearance of harmful microorganisms in the bathroom, as well as mold.

Metal frame option for bathtub

The metal frame is installed in almost the same way as its wooden version, but with the differences that metal products will be used instead of boards.

The most common option for a metal frame is a metal profile frame. It is quite easy to work with it, since all fastening work can also be carried out using screws or washers.

Video tutorial: installing a frame on a Triton bathtub

A useful, clear lesson on installing an acrylic bathtub from the company on a frame (video).

The facing base for this type is also created using plywood or plasterboard, and the top is covered with tiles or plastic. This type of frame, if installed correctly, will serve its owners much longer, since the material itself is less susceptible to moisture and temperature.

The amount of material to create a metal frame will have to be calculated based on the strength characteristics of the material (metal thickness, its flexibility and other properties).

Correct installation of the bathroom frame is the main indicator that affects the shelf life of both the product itself and the communications connected to it. When making a frame with your own hands, you save a considerable amount of money, because the finished product is much more expensive in price, and the quality does not always justify its price.

If you don’t have the opportunity to make a frame yourself, seek help from craftsmen who know a lot about their business. In addition to the fact that they will do all the work for you, they will also provide a guarantee for it, and also answer all your questions.

To increase the reliability of the position of the bathtub in the bathroom, its bowl must be secured to a special base called a frame. There are many options for supporting structures designed for various types of bathtub bowls and made from various materials.

Frame functions

The bathtub frame used as a supporting structure must at the same time:

  • ensure uniform distribution of load on the floor base;
  • eliminate the possibility of deformation of the bathtub body;
  • protect its bowl from mechanical damage.

If there is a box, a decorative screen can be easily mounted on it, giving the entire structure a well-appointed and attractive look.

Without a reliable and stable base, any bathtub will look lonely and unkempt, but sometimes, in order to save money, ordinary stands with legs are used. Along with brick-lined racks, this method is considered one of the simplest and cheapest.

For the manufacture of capital supporting structures, wooden beams or metal profiles are traditionally used.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of arranging a frame for an acrylic bathtub include:

  • reliable fixation of a not very massive product;
  • the ability to improve the appearance of the bathroom;
  • the presence of free space inside the frame structure.

The niches that appear after installing the frame can be used for storing household utensils and even for making shelves for bathroom accessories.

The structure has its drawbacks:

  • reducing the total volume of the room;
  • the need to monitor the safety of the wooden frame and the screen installed on top of it.

The second of the disadvantages is explained by the special operating conditions in the bathroom, the humidity and temperature in which are noticeably higher than normal.

Materials used

Common materials are traditionally used in the manufacture of frame bases:

  • wood;
  • metal profile or corner;
  • profiled pipe.

Each position has its own characteristics.

Tree

The good thing about the wood used in assembling the frame is that it is not very expensive and can be easily machined, cut and assembled. In some cases, well-preserved blanks left over from dismantling old partitions or doors can be used for self-production.

Note! Wood is good because all known types of protective screens can be easily mounted on it.

The only drawback of this natural material is poor protection from moist air that accumulates in the bathroom. To avoid rotting of wood blanks, they must be treated with antiseptic compounds before installation.

Metal

One of the popular materials on the basis of which a do-it-yourself bathtub stand is made is a metal profile in the following versions:

  • U-shaped channels;
  • profiled pipe;
  • corner profile.

When working with metal, you will have to face a number of difficulties regarding the methods of joining workpieces.

Additional Information! People who do not have special welding equipment can connect structural elements using a bolted joint.

Any design of the frame for a steel bathtub must meet the requirement to protect the body from deformation and destruction. It should be attached to the frame elements through rubber gaskets.

Profiled pipe

Boxes made of profiled pipes are one of the varieties of the previously discussed option of manufacturing from profile blanks. In this case, installation of the structure becomes somewhat more complicated due to articulation problems (bolts are used only in extreme cases).

To make a frame for a bathtub from a pipe-type profile, you will need a welding machine, which under normal conditions is not available in every home. The option is the most labor-intensive.

To make a metal frame with your own hands, the easiest way is to use a classic corner.

Installation

It is better to consider self-assembly of a frame for a bathtub using the example of wooden blanks made from timber.

When using them, it is important to consider:

  • the quality of bowl support depends on the number of support points;
  • the thinner the walls of the bath, the more of these points there should be;
  • The easiest way is to make a support box for bathtubs of complex configuration (with many protrusions and recesses).

Before starting work, you will need to draw a sketch, on the basis of which it will be possible to cut a complete set of wooden blanks of the required length.

Typical cast iron frame

To secure a cast-iron bathtub on a wooden base, you will need timber blanks (preferably made of pine) with a cross-section of at least 40 x 40 mm, as well as an edged board 25 mm thick. From the tools you need to prepare a hammer, a hacksaw, as well as a screwdriver and a set of chisels.

The process of manufacturing a wooden frame includes the following mandatory operations:

  1. The top trim is made in the form of two beams, one of which is fixed on the wall adjacent to the bathtub.
  2. The second or outer beam is placed under the outer edge of the bathtub, after which three racks made of blanks of the same section are placed under it.
  3. The racks resting on the floor board are positioned strictly vertically.

Note! A 25 mm thick edged board is pre-attached to the floor screed using special dowels.

At the final stage of work, the racks are fastened to horizontal beams using nails or self-tapping screws. The outside of the frame is sheathed with sheets of any finishing material (moisture-resistant plasterboard).

For acrylic bathtub

Installation of a wooden frame under an acrylic bathtub is carried out according to a similar scheme. The difference lies in the design features of modern acrylic bathtubs. Some product samples have areas with thickenings designed specifically for attachment to the frame.

When arranging supports for acrylic bowls, two options are possible. In the first case, the frame is assembled in the same way as for a cast iron product, that is, by placing horizontal and vertical bars under the installed bathtub.

The second approach is to first turn the bowl upside down, after which the previously assembled frame is put on it. In both cases, special hardware with a limited depth of penetration into the body of the bowl is used to articulate them.

Important! When drilling holes, you must use drills with a special stop. Their diameter and penetration depth are indicated in the instructions for the acrylic bathtub.

Upon completion of fastening the frame, it is turned over to its normal position, leveled, and then additionally fixed to the base of the floor screed.

There is another good, albeit simpler way to secure an acrylic bathtub. It consists of using two supports made of ordinary brick. There is no need to worry that the design will be unreliable. If you lay out the supports one brick thick, you can be sure of its stability.

Some craftsmen reinforce the brick support with additional masonry placed under the outer part of the bathtub bowl (including the side edges). Upon completion of the blind lining, the walls of the structure are finished with tiles chosen to match the floor covering.

Inside it, the supports are positioned in such a way that their contours completely follow the contours of the bottom of the bowl.

Note! The part of the structure located on the side of the sewer drain is made 1.5–2 cm lower in height, which ensures natural water flow.

The choice of method for fixing the bathtub is largely determined by the dimensions and configuration of the room itself. This circumstance must be taken into account both when purchasing a new product and during its installation.