I just moved into a new house and discovered that the fiberglass bath tub has two cracks in the bottom of the tub where it curves to meet the side of the tub. This is a one piece unit, and there is NO way to remove the tub the way it was installed. It will have to be cut out and a two piece, or three, or four, will have to be installed. I don’t know what the builder is going to do about this and am wondering what my options are. I sure do not want a “patched” tub in a new house!!!
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You sure the tub is actually cracked and not just the enamel gel-coat? Does it leak? Becasue it's the bane of acrylic tubs that the enamel "gel-coat" cracks--usually at installation if the installer is not REAL careful. If it is just the enamel, it' a mere cosmetic problem, but it can be be fixed--there are even tub repair specialists in the yellow pages who do just that. Or you can leave it be. It will no doubt crack again, probably in the same place.
Hop to it and present your findings to the builder. A tub that is cracked before you use it is unacceptable, in my book. Have you gone through the punch list with the builder? Do you have a punch list? There is no such thing as "NO way to remove" or having to settle for a multipiece unit as a replacement. Case in point: I designed and built a custom bathroom with a special oversize cultured marble whirlpool style tub. This tub was set between a tile and glass block shower, a vanity end and two adjacent walls and then the wall and floor tiles were set. It took two men and a boy just to carry it in and set it. It cracked, just like yours, but right at the end of the one year warantee. The fabricator, whose people installed the tub, pulled that monster out and put in a new one, damaging (and replacing) just a few tiles. No charge. Don't let anyone tell you something can't be done.