I don't recall (building code/Aust. Standards, etc,) that the insulation must be covered in behind a bath but most do it as the insulation is installed then sheeted over before the bath frame is constructed.

The codes don't require the area under bath, etc. to be waterproofed unless it has a shower above it (Shower over bath type of set up).

I wouldn't expect the bath to sit on loose blocks of timber...... nor have rubbish left behind.....Have they completed this stage of the job though?

Waterproofing underneath the bath is not mandatory however, it is normal practice in my line of work to waterproof the entire bathroom.

Insulation is not required and it is not normal to chock up the bottom of the bath with unsecured wood blocks

Alarm bells are ringing...... I'd kindly ask them to clean up their crap.....remove bath to fix a small issue?......I'd have lost confidence in them after seeing the rubbish......

"most do it as the insulation is installed then sheeted over before the bath frame is constructed" That's how I recall ours.

The rubbish was left under the bath the first time it was installed? Unacceptably sloppy.

If you have an acrylic bath, it is at risk of cracking if not supported appropriately.

I have a bath spa that we fitted ourselves and is made of fibreglass and has had a steel frame fibreglassed to the underside of it with adjustable feet.

I still have access to the plumbing and have not membrained the drain area, so I'm pleased to have read this article and I will do it before everything is permanently closed off.

As for the mess, disgraceful is all I can say and as others have mentioned, one would and should be suspicious of the tradies work ethics if he/she/they thought this is an acceptable practice!!

In our build, because we are building ourselves, everything is pristine, under the house, there isn't a stone or lump of concrete to be found, it was all left neat for the future that if one has to get under there, it isn't a horrible mess. Everywhere is tidy and free of debris even in places no one will every be able to look, like under the bath for example, as a matter of fact, I have neatly stuffed insulation all around the bath and not just on the outer wall, as I figured it would help keep the water wamer for longer and the spa pump has been plumbed outside to minimize noise.

After watching this year's 'The Block', I would definitely waterproof the area. I remember Keith going off his head because it had not been done to a bath. Admittedly it was an upstairs unit, but, it's better to be safe than sorry.

We are currently renovating one of our bathrooms. We were not going to remove our floor tiles as my husband liked them but when my son chose a mocha striped tile (it's his bathroom) the dark green marble look floor tiles had to go. Thankfully we did pull them up! Even though they looked (and sounded) fine when they were removed there was a lot of water damage underneath. Water can get in everywhere in a bathroom and cause a lot of damage before it becomes evident. Our advice was to waterproof everything that could be possibly waterproofed and this is what we have done. I would definitely waterproof inside your tub as much as possible. If you know the brand of your tub you should be able to google the manufacturers installation instructions for it on the internet. You will then know for sure whether it has been done properly. An incorrect installation will more than likely void any warranty. As stated previously if you have already had to remove the tub to fix a problem I would be asking questions. Finally my father has been in the building industry for over sixty years and has seen bathtubs supported in many different ways - even stacks of beer cans!

I suggest contacting your state's plumbers' registration board to check this mob's credentials. I'd also enquire about procedures for getting the existing work fully checked by a qualified plumber/inspector and for getting all defects rectified. If this lot are treating you so disrespectfully, they are doing it to others too. Older householders and lone women are particularly vulnerable when it comes to tradies thinking they can get away with this sort of thing.

These tradies are cowboys . I have never seen a mess like that in a bath or else where in over 30 years . The bath normally sits on a bed of concrete slurry or if it is a cast iron bath it should be supported by either feet or the hob. The bath should have enough room under the edges to allow the tiles to go under the lip so a proper silicon seal can be applied all the way around the lip of the bath.

As for the insulation it is not necessary to have it wrapped in any water proof protection. If the water is getting onto the insulation then you have bigger problems and from the look of the photos this looks like a definite future possibility.I like to put insulation batts all the way around the bath to try to retain the water temperature for as long as possible,not many people do this though ,but the more you insulate things the better. Looking at your photos the pipework connecting the waste is broken off so the hob will need to have atleast one side pulled off or an access hole cut into it to connect the plumbing. I would be getting these plumbers and builders checked out,if the photos are any indication to go by then there would be other areas of faulty workmanship for sure, -sorry to tell you.

That's just lazy

Yes, Wuff, I have seen many examples of food wrappers, bottles, foil pie plates etc stuffed behind insulation/under sarking, secreted all over building projects. Leads me to believe that it a some kind of warped, stupid deliberate "joke" on the "wealthy" client. NOT funny. I am sure there are many meticulous and respectful professionals around, but I have not met many. Over the years I have developed a very jaundiced and cynical view of "tradies" and subsequently HATE dealing with them. I avoid them wherever possible. Sorry to generalise and offend those tradespeople who are not like this, but experience has taught me to generalise.

Whilst we are still in the throws of building our own home, there is always all manner of rubbish and I personally am so meticulous that I vacc the sub floor and have a tin for nails and the like seperate to degradable rubbish and there is no such debris as shown in the post in any wall or cavity anywhere on the site!!

Unfortunately there are some plumbers who do chock the bath on loose timber, happened to be just like that in a bath we recently removed, probably the same guy!