Installing new bath tub

You tube. Expect to put down the tub 8 or 9 times as you test fit set mortar etc... I just did my first tub last month. My best advice is make sure the drain is PErfectly centered in the tub drain.

A heart transplant is also easy for a Cardiac Surgeon....:whistling

Hook temp power to patient, crack the chest, unhook a few lines,
install new heart, stitch lines together, hit it with the jumper cables...:whistling

Next.......:laughing::laughing:

SectorSecurity said:

So I am not a plumber by any means. I want to change the bathtub in my bathroom and put in a new one, same size and same place. I am assuming it should be easy, I have the plumbers keys for the drain, is it as easy as disconnect, remove, install new, and reconnect? Anyone have any advise for someone wanting to do it themselves?

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Is it a big boy cast iron one . Do you have access from below . Is the tile staying on walls .

if its fiberglass I recommend a full bag of mortar under it

the drain will never line up, so I recommend cutting it out and redoing it after the tub is in...I typically cut the old trap out and redo it from there..it requires being able to get under the tub or behind the tub...if your planning on getting it lined up perfect and then dropping the tub down onto it expect to spend 2 days on that(as a homeowner)

good luck!

If you've never done one it will be pretty tricky first time through. I've done hundreds and I still run into some that make me want to cuss. I would recommend replacing the drain and trap. Your not going to want to reuse the old one only to have it fail on you later. If you put a plastic drain kit back in it should have a little flex to ell you line it up but not a ton. If you are doing a steel tub you may not have to mortar it if you are doing fiberglass definitely mortar under it.

It's a nightmare...

SectorSecurity said:

Anyone have any advise for someone wanting to do it themselves?

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Yup, hire a plumber. I wouldn't even want to do one in my own house. And don't buy one that requires caulk to seal the wall kit and base.

EricBrancard said:

Yup, hire a plumber. I wouldn't even want to do one in my own house. And don't buy one that requires caulk to seal the wall kit and base.

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Connecting the plumbing is the easy part...It's wrestling the bastard in there, ripping out the tile etc.

You will be doing drywall work. You will need to remove drywall on the sides in front of the tub.

For me I could do it very efficiently and leave the rest to the carpenter.

SectorSecurity said:

So I am not a plumber by any means. I want to change the bathtub in my bathroom and put in a new one, same size and same place.

I am assuming it should be easy, I have the plumbers keys for the drain, is it as easy as disconnect, remove, install new, and reconnect?

Anyone have any advise for someone wanting to do it themselves?

Click to expand...

Not easy!! Without getting too much into it, aside from hooking up the drain, you want to get it solid, supported and level (both ways)..to support the user & the water weight. That's the challenge. No creaking, squeaking or any of that. It's one of the bigger pita's in a bathroom reno. There's a lot to getting them set nice and tight.

Inner10 said:

Connecting the plumbing is the easy part...It's wrestling the bastard in there, ripping out the tile etc.

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The demo part is easy. Plumber does the rest.

What happened to the poster? Still trying to wedge the new one in??

I'm in the "call a plummer" camp.

I've only done them when it's a complete bathroom redo so banging into vanities and finished walls was not a problem.

Put a new cast iron tub in mine. Hate standing in on anything that flexes. Damn thing was 400lbs tho.

Sounds simple..... Tubs are a biiiiiotch.....

Consider a hot tub on the deck, or a swimming pool in the back yard.... or a lake in the front yard, .....all are easier.


(It's not the end of the world.... just a whole lot of adjustments and repair work. If it's cast iron.... it's a whole whole whole lot of work)

Paulie said:

What happened to the poster? Still trying to wedge the new one in??

I'm in the "call a plummer" camp.

I've only done them when it's a complete bathroom redo so banging into vanities and finished walls was not a problem.

Put a new cast iron tub in mine. Hate standing in on anything that flexes. Damn thing was 400lbs tho.

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Fiberglass unit set in a bed of mortar isn't flexing.

I am still here, went out to do some christmas shopping, sounds like I was way under thinking this. I figured it was a simple pull one up put one in, but that is just me speaking as I have no experience with this type of thing.

I do have access from under it and behind the wall where all the plumbing is run, sounds like I may just do the removal and open everything up and get the new tub here then leave it to a plumber.

Thanks for stopping me before I had a tub sitting in the hallway swearing at the new unit for not just going back in where the old one was.

skillman said:

Is it a big boy cast iron one . Do you have access from below . Is the tile staying on walls .

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How in the world would you keep the tile on the walls? The tile should overlap the tub lip.

Inner10 said:

Connecting the plumbing is the easy part...It's wrestling the bastard in there, ripping out the tile etc.

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Nah, we can have one out and back in less than half a day.

And more importantly my girlfriend thanks you for stopping me before I got half way through.

There is no tile on the wall now, its some stupid plastic insert thing which I will be removing, like I said I think I will handle what I know, the demo and removal, then hire a plumber I don't need to deal with the leaks and squeaks of doing it wrong.