Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Can bathtubs break under normal usage?

My tenant has reported that the bathtub has cracked along the bottom and water is leaking. This bathtub is not metal, but rather a plastic type of material (maybe aryclic). It has been working fine for at least 5 years. I am going to replace the bathtub, however, am I right in thinking that the bathtub must have been misused, as it is almost impossible to break a bathtub with normal usage, i.e. is it the tenants fault that the bathtub is broken or could we say that it is normal wear and tear?

Thanks fr the replies.

Seab

A fiberglass/plastic tub can crack from normal use if the tub was not properly installed. Better tubs are reinforced and require no additional support, but many require that they be set in mortar or similar bed to support the bottom. If the tub does have proper support and the person is heavy, it will eventually break/crack.

If you are looking to point fingers.......

Point a finger at the guy that originally bought and installed the tub, the inexpensive (this will be good enough for a rental unit) tub.:wall:

I tend to agree, the tub likely failed due to faulty installation (inadequate support).

OR, the tub already had a leak, perhaps around the drain and the sub floor has rotted away, removing what support the shower had. Now your tenant is one step away from falling though the floor and registering a lawsuit against you.

My nephew's tub cracked. He didn't set the tub in mortar. Drop ins can break as well if they are hung by the lip.