How to Remove and Replace a Bathtub 🛁 _ The Home Depot with @thisoldhouse

Bathtubs come in many different shapes , sizes and styles , but the most common one by far is one just like this 60 inch , five ft and 30 or 32 inches wide and 14 , 16 or 18 inches tall .

Now , it's called an alcove tub because it's installed with walls called the bath surround on three sides .

Now , when it's time to replace a tub like this , it's usually part of a much bigger bathroom renovation .

Here's why see this flange right here .

This is designed to prevent water from leaking down in behind the wall .

But for it to work properly , it must be installed behind the tile on all three sides .

So to remove the tub , you'll need to remove the tile , usually down to the studs .

Once the tubs around is completely removed , you can disconnect the plumbing using a screwdriver , remove the drain screen and then you can use a special tub drain wrench to remove the drain plug , then remove the overflow plate and the stopper assembly .

If you don't have access to the drain connections from an unfinished room below , you'll need to cut through the walls or ceiling to expose the drain lines once you have access , remove the drain and the overflow by cutting through the pipes or by unscrewing the threaded connections .

Now we're ready to remove the bathtub .

This tub is cast iron which makes it very heavy .

So we're going to use a sledge hammer to break it into pieces .

Be sure to wear safety glasses and you could cover the tub with a drop cloth to prevent flying debris .

Now , if you have an acrylic or a fiberglass tub , you should be able to cut it up with a reciprocating saw like this porcelain enamel steel tubs should be removed in one piece .

Some tubs are meant to be installed in a bed of mortar .

The motor will help support the tub from flex when you step into it also help to level that tub perfectly , but it's always important to follow the manufacturer's instructions .

Now , the tub we're installing doesn't require a water bed .

It has this reinforced foundation right here .

So all you really need is a firm subfloor that's level for this installation .

We decided to add new plywood on top of the original sub floor to bring it to the correct height and to make it perfectly level .

Next , we place the new acrylic bathtub in the opening and confirmed that it was leveled .

We pre drilled the flange and secured the tub to the studs with two inch exterior panhead screws .

You may need to add shims between the flange and the stud the next step is to install the new bath waste and overflow , hold the overflow against the back of the tub and then insert the stopper linkage down into the overflow and attach the face plate with the screws provided from below , attach the bath t to the overflow pipe and then install the bath shoe into the bath t making sure that it aligns exactly with the hole in the tub .

Don't forget the gaskets that go between the tub and the bath shoe , install a P trap to the bath waste and overflow and then make the connections to the existing drain line .

The last step is to make a water tight connection between the tub and the tub shoe .

Now , in this installation , we're using silicone cocking , just tighten it up with your tub drain wrench and attach the cover plate .

Replacing a bathtub can be complicated and every installation is different .

Even if you know all the steps , you may still want to work with a licensed plumber to ensure that your project meets all local building codes .

But once the new tub is in place and plumb correctly , you'll be well on your way to a new and improved bathroom .