Changing a dated, unused bathtub to a bathe is a trendy and sensible replace for any house. A walk-in bathe could make your lavatory really feel bigger and extra trendy, whereas additionally making it extra accessible for these with mobility points.
In the event you’re dreaming of an opulent bathe, however aren’t positive learn how to start a DIY bathtub conversion, we’re right here to assist. Learn to substitute your outdated tub with a bathe on this easy five-step information.
Concerns Earlier than Changing Your Tub With a Bathe
Earlier than you get began, there are a number of vital issues to bear in mind. First, ensure that the brand new bathe design you select is sensible for your loved ones’s way of life wants. When you’ve got younger youngsters (or are planning to), a bath could also be extra purposeful than a walk-in bathe.
Second, you need to take into consideration the structure of some other bogs in your house. Based on the Nationwide Affiliation of Residence Builders, having no less than one bathtub in the home is vital to the vast majority of homebuyers, which needs to be famous should you ever plan to promote your house.
Lastly, you need to plan forward for each side of the Convert bathtub to walk in shower. The bathe type and fixtures you select shouldn’t solely match your style, however must also suit your finances.
Finances for all related prices earlier than beginning the mission, together with the bathe equipment itself and the supplies and instruments you’ll want for set up. As well as, plan for the way you’re going to wash up and any professionals chances are you’ll want to rent alongside the way in which.
Supplies You’ll Want:
- Plywood for ground safety
- Screwdriver
- Wrench and/or Allen wrench
- Putty knife and utility knife
- Drywall noticed or reciprocating noticed
- Prybar
- Jigsaw
You must also contemplate renting a ten yard dumpster to eliminate your outdated tub, drywall, tile and some other mission particles, since most cities gained’t settle for this stuff for curbside pickup. Cities that do settle for bathtubs and renovation waste nonetheless often require you to attend for a month-to-month or yearly bulk assortment day, leaving you with an eyesore in your garden or driveway for longer than you (or your neighbors) would really like.
“When deciding on a bathe that matches your type and finances, first decide how a lot upkeep you wish to cope with. Tile methods are costlier and labor-consuming, however there are loads of choices that provide a fancier look. For a home-flipping mission, you may use an acrylic or fiberglass bathe encompass equipment, which is extra generic in type however low-cost. In the midst of the finances band is a bathe wall panel (laminate or stable floor stone), which is fashionable, sturdy and cost-effective.”
Photograph Courtesy of Innovate Constructing Options
5-Step Information to a DIY Bathtub-to-Bathe Conversion
1. Decide Spacing and Placement
When changing a bathtub to a walk-in bathe, it’s finest to put in your new bathe within the area left behind by your bathtub, because the drain traces and water provide will already be in place. Transferring plumbing will add vital prices to the mission, and also you’ll want to rent a plumber to do the work correctly.
Spacing Required for a Stroll-In Bathe:
- Not less than 30 inches by 30 inches of ground area
- Not less than 80 inches in top
- Not less than 15 inches between the aspect of the bathroom and the bathe wall
- Or no less than 21 inches between the entrance of the bathroom and the bathe wall
- Door-width area within the radius across the bathe, should you plan to put in a swinging door
2. Determine on Stroll-In Bathe Design
Once you’re going the DIY route for changing your tub with a bathe, utilizing a bathe stall equipment is a really interesting choice.
Kits are comparatively easy for a DIYer to put in on their very own, and so they are available in a variety of types, together with sq. nook, spherical nook and alcove showers. Some choices even help you tile them to match the remainder of your lavatory.
You’ll additionally must determine whether or not to go curbed or curbless.
Evaluating Bathe Stall Kits
| Description | Execs | Cons | Common Value | |
| Curbed Showers | Bathe pan varieties an entire enclosure utilizing low curbs you will need to step over to enter the bathe. | Most typical kind of walk-in bathe and the simplest to put in. | May pose the identical issues as your outdated bathtub for these with mobility points. | $600 – $1,000 |
| Curbless Showers | Bathe pan sits flush with the ground, with no enclosures. | Simply accessible for anybody with mobility points. More and more in style because of their visible attraction. | Pricier and requires extra work to put in than curbed choices. | $1,800 – $4,000 |
“You need to take into consideration the way you’ll stop water from getting out of your new bathe, and what that’s going to seem like. For instance, are you going to have room for a pivoting door opening out into the area, or does it must be a sliding door? Will the particular person utilizing this bathe be capable of step over a 4-inch curbed pan long-term?
When a bathe or tub, suppose not nearly as we speak, however about how your residing association may change, and be considerate of that in your design.”
Mike Foti | Innovate Constructing Options
3. Take away Tiles and Wall Sections
Earlier than you substitute your tub with a walk-in bathe, you’ll must take away a number of the tile and drywall across the bathtub in an effort to tear it free.
To arrange the world in your bathtub removing, you’ll must:
- Cowl the ground with plywood to stop tile injury.
- Flip off water to the lavatory at your house’s fundamental water shut-off valve.
- Unscrew the drain cowl, overflow drain cowl and tap knobs. Pull the tap from the bathtub, utilizing an Allen wrench to loosen any screws.
- Disconnect the primary and overflow drains from the entry panel behind your tub, or out of your basement. Use a wrench to show the locking nuts counterclockwise.
- Take away the tile across the tub to a top of about 8 inches by scoring the grout with a utility knife, then prying the tiles off with a putty knife.
- Lower by the drywall with a drywall noticed, being cautious to not minimize into any studs. In case your wall is plaster, use a reciprocating noticed for this step.
Photograph Courtesy of Innovate Constructing Options
Professional Tip: “In the event you’re tiling your bathe, be sure to’re utilizing the appropriate grout. You’ll be able to’t use unsanded grout within the bathe – if the grout joint breaks down, water will transfer by it. The backer system must also be water-resistant. Paying just a little additional to be sure to’re correctly waterproofed in the course of the transforming course of can prevent a ton of money and time in the long term.”
Mike Foti | Innovate Constructing Options
4. Take away the Bathtub
Now, for the second you’ve been ready for – eliminating that outdated tub.
Use these 5 simple steps to take away your bathtub and make room in your new bathe.
- Take away any nails or screws attaching the bathtub to wall studs.
- Use a utility knife to chop by any caulk between the bathtub and the ground.
- Use a prybar to pry the bathtub a number of inches away from the wall.
- Working with a helper, use your prybar to pry up one finish of the bathtub and maneuver it upright. Guarantee it’s going to match by your doorways this manner first.
4a. Alternatively, minimize by the center of the bathtub with a jigsaw to separate it into two items. Pry every bit up and maneuver them till you may slide the bathtub out of its area. - Toss the outdated tub into your rented dumpster, then restore the drywall you chop away.
Eradicating your tub will expose the concrete backing board and subfloor beneath, so now is an effective time to evaluate and repair any injury it might have. Subfloor injury is often attributable to overexposure to moisture, and in case your subfloor must be changed, you’ll save your self loads of time and stress down the street by taking good care of the problem now.
“Plumbing work ought to all the time be accomplished by knowledgeable. A variety of householders can deal with the removing of a bathtub after shutting the water off, however should you’re changing the bathtub with a bathe, it might influence your plumbing system and require a change in pipe dimension. The worst-case situation on this course of is should you get a leak and destroy the ground beneath.”
Mike Foti | Innovate Constructing Options
5. Set up Your Stroll-In Bathe
When you’ve eliminated your outdated tub, you’re prepared to exchange it with the brand new bathe.
Comply with the precise directions in your bathe stall equipment, and also you’ll be within the house stretch. In the event you’re changing to a curbless walk-in bathe, remember that you’ll first must decrease the ground of the bathe space in order that the bathe pan will sit flush with the remainder of the lavatory ground.
In case your lavatory has a slab subfloor, you’ll want to rent a concrete contractor for this step. Luckily, that is usually a fast job that shouldn’t break your finances.
In case your subfloor isn’t slab, you may get a allow out of your metropolis’s constructing division to chop down the tops of the ground joists beneath the bathe pan till it sits stage.
Professional Tip: “To make sure all the things matches collectively and is correctly waterproofed, all the time put your tub/bathe base in first prior to installing any tile or wall panels.”
Mike Foti | Innovate Constructing Options
Photograph Courtesy of Easy Tub
Cleansing Up After Changing Your Tub Right into a Stroll-In Bathe
Finishing a DIY bathtub to bathe conversion is a large accomplishment for any house owner, and whenever you’re completed, you need to really feel enthusiastic about your lavatory’s new look – not careworn in regards to the cleanup.
The best method to hold your house in good condition whereas changing your tub with a bathe is to lease a house renovation dumpster and toss particles as you’re employed. There are a selection of sizes for numerous initiatives and supplies, so you may select which one works finest in your particular wants.
Feeling motivated to proceed updating your house? Study learn how to transform the remainder of your lavatory, and take a look at our DIY house enchancment information for much more renovation ideas.