Upgrade Your Bathroom with These Tips on Removing and Replacing an Old Bathtub”

 

If your bathtub is leaking, worn, cracked, or just looking tired, it might be time to upgrade to a new one. A standard bathtub replacement can be purchased at your local home center and installed by a plumbing professional. However, removing the old tub and installing its stand-in can be time-consuming and costly, so buy the best bathtub you can afford to ensure you won't have to repeat the process for another 15 or 20 years. And if you would prefer to take a DIY route, we'll show you how to remove the tub on your own in our step-by-step guide to replacing a bathtub below.

Because you're swapping out an existing tub, your options will be limited by the current tub's dimensions, as well as the size of your bathroom's doorway. Before buying a new tub, you'll need to know the tub's exact width and length measurements and where the drain is placed.

Tips for Buying a New Bathtub:

Materials matter when shopping for a new bathtub. Acrylic or interior designer Melbourne  are inexpensive, light, and easy to install. Some have fairly durable finishes, but they can become dull in time. An enameled steel tub has a sturdier finish but lacks insulating properties, so bathwater will typically cool quickly. Enameled cast iron is the most expensive and heaviest material but might be worth the cost because it retains a gleaming finish for decades, fills quietly, and keeps water warm the longest.

Generally, standard bathtubs feature decorative aprons on an exposed side and are found in white, biscuit, and cream, though other colors such as black, pastel blue, and pink finishes are available on midrange and pricier tubs. Rectangular tubs can feature rectangular, hourglass, or oval interiors, so give each bathtub you're considering a test run if possible. Lay down in the bathtub to check fit and comfort level. Are there contoured head and armrests, slip-resistant floors, and ample rims for holding toiletries? Integrated seats, available on some midrange bathtubs, introduce added convenience while tubs with a curved apron wall supply extra bathing space.

 

How to Remove an Old Bathtub:

Removing the bathtub yourself isn't all that difficult but it is highly advised to opt for professional help. Before you begin, measure the tub and make sure you'll be able to get it past other fixtures and out the door. Remove the sink or the toilet if they will be in the way. To protect the floor, cut and tape pieces of plywood to the floor and cover with a drop cloth.

Then follow these steps on how to remove your old tub. start From inside the tub, unscrew and remove the overflow cover plate. If a drain assembly is attached to it, pull it out. Unscrew and remove the mounting bracket if there is one. Now disconnect the drain, you might need to remove a screw or two and remove the strainer. You could also need to lift out a stopper and a rocker assembly.

Remove the tub spout and remove the wall surface all around the tub to a height of about 8 inches. Use a flat pry bar or putty knife to pry off tiles. Cut through drywall with a drywall saw. If the wall is plaster, use a reciprocating saw, taking care not to cut into the studs. Pry off nails or unscrew screws. Pry out or unscrew any nails or screws anchoring the tub flange to studs.

Where the tub rests on the floor, use a utility knife to cut through the bead of caulk if there is one. Unless the tub is an old-fashioned claw-foot or another type of stand-alone bathtub, it will fit fairly tightly between studs on either side. That means you probably can't slide it out unless you cut away the wall surface on both sides. The best way is usually to lift the tub on one end.