Do full bath tubs ever fall thru the floor?

Question

Sometimes when I'm hung-over I can just lay in the bath tub for hours and hours. I have a little uneasiness about the possibility of the full tub just crashing thru the floor with me in it. I know there must be high standards for the supports beneath bath tubs though, right? I don't think I've ever read about someone falling thru the floor in their bath tub, but it must happen at least once in a great while, no?

I live in a smallish (8 unit, 3 floors) brick apartment building in Connecticut. First floor is a storefront. It was built in the 1920s. Sometimes if I shift my weight back and forth or something, the movement travels thru the floor and shakes things in the living room. I weigh about 180.

I really shouldn't worry about this at all though, should I? Some of you nice construction type people please tell me I'm just being silly! Thank yous!

Answer 1

Sorry dude, but I know of someone who's bathtub ended up in their kitchen.

The conditions were as follows:  It was an older home built in the 20's and not far from where you live.  Most of the bathrooms built at that time had "Wet set" tile.  That is, the tile was set into wet mortar and not applied with a little mastic or thin set mortar as is customary now.  Wet set bathrooms are noticeable because of the style of the tile and if it is a wains coating, you can see how much the tile sticks out from the walls (usually an inch or more.)  Typically the walls are plaster and the floor is also "wet set" into 2 to 4" of mortar.  

This type of tile installation was customary at the time and could have been adapted to wood frame construction from the masonry construction found in Europe.  Even though the walls of your building are masonry the floors probably have wood joists holding them up.  

All that cement has several effects.  It is very heavy, it is very porous, and it is very strong when new.  When it is first built the carpenter built walls out of  rough lumber (2 x 4 were actually 2" x 4") and didn't worry about making anything too straight because the plasterer would fix it up.  Then the plumber came along and while running his big waste pipes didnt't bother too much about cutting any beams because if the carpenter didn't come back and fix it, it only had to hold until the finished walls and floor were installed.  

Fast forward 80 years.  Pipes were brass, lead and galvanized steel.  Many were set into the mortar.  Settlement in the house has caused stress on the very rigid masonry and the pipes. Water leaks in the pipes have slowly eroded the mortar until it is no longer structurally sound.  Now you are depending upon the framing for solidity.  If the plumber was particularly rough in his work there is nothing holding that tub.

And the tub is not a steel or fibreglass tub.  It is cast iron.  It weights over 400lbs.  So while these tubs are great because of their size and ability to hold the heat I wouldn't want to lie in one in a leaking bathroom from the '20s.  

Not without a drink anyway.

Answer 2

Hey, if it has lasted this long, don't worry. You are renting, so it would not be your fault if it did happen, which the odds are slim and none. I think the hangover might have a little to do with this parnoid behavior. Good luck.

Movement may be caused by settling. It is common in older homes and apartments. Don't worry and don't drink so much.