A Step by Step Process on How to Remove a Bathtub

The topic of how to remove a bathtub can be an arduous job. It needs practical know-how if you are planning to do the entire process by yourself. Of course, you can always request the aid of an expert, but it can cause you huge expenses from the services fees and materials needed. Doing it without the help of a professional is possible, which can save you a lot of money.

And if the instances I have mentioned above are indeed your primary concern, then the article I have written for today will especially address your needs. In this article, I’ll provide you with straightforward tips on how to remove a bathtub without damaging tiles and other bathtub removal costs that you have to take note of. So without further delays, let’s begin…

• Preparation Before Removing

• Step by Step Guide on How to Remove the Bathtub

• Tips and Warnings

Preparation Before Removing

Before you begin the bathtub removal process, you have to consider the following necessary materials and tools in order to successfully modify your bathroom area—

Tools and Materials

The tools you’ll need are as follows—

• Allen Wrench
• Screwdriver – flat-head and Philips screwdrivers
• Pliers
• Prybar
• Safety gear such as face masks, safety goggles, and gloves
• Jigsaw
• Utility or putty knife
• Tub drain extractor
• Drain key if there is accumulated gunk or hair in the tube
• Drill bits and drivers
• Sledgehammer

Now, below are the materials you’ll need—

• Garbage bags
• Containers to where you’ll temporary place the screws, bolts, and other parts of the bathtub and the water systems

You have to bear in mind that the process of removing a bathtub is a complicated task which explains the number of tools and materials needed.

Step by Step Guide on How to Remove the Bathtub

Before anything else, you have to remember that bathtub removal is a two-step process—detaching the fixture and then the actual removal.

So how hard is it to remove a bathtub? Below is the step-by-step guide that should put all your concerns aside and gain the confidence you need in modifying your bathroom—

Detach the Bathtub

First and foremost, you have to detach all lines connecting the bathtub from your wall and floorings. And then, you have to remove all debris or any obstructions as you move your tub to other areas.

In order to do this, you have to follow the steps indicated below—

• Turn off the water line connected to the bathroom, particularly to the bathtub
• Remove all gunk build-up in the drain. You can use an Allen wrench to do so and then completely remove any excess using a plumber’s putty
• And then, remove the overflow drain grate using a flat-head or Philips screwdriver. Make sure that you have to unscrew all of them and place them organized in a container
• Also, remove all the fixtures connected to the bathtub, like showerheads and faucets. Again, you have to be certain that all of the screws are removed before you turn and twist the fixtures
• Remove the caulks or excess solution from the previous installation by using a screwdriver or caulk-stripping tool
• Put aside the items that would potentially be damaged surrounding the bathtub when you begin its move. This includes tiles that are usually made of ceramic or synthetic compounds. You can remove them by using a prybar
• Using a prybar or cordless drill, remove the drywall or cement board
• Again, there should be another flange that connects the tub to the main water lines. Unscrew them, and then use a prybar to remove the fasteners
• If access to your bathtub has a sliding glass, you apparently have to remove them as well. In other cases, if you’re tub is a whirlpool spa, you need to detach all water hoses as well

Remove the Bathtub

The actual removal of the bathtub is as follows—

• You need to have a person assisting you in the entire process
• If you’re no longer going to use the bathtub and you’re sending it to a landfill, it would be better if you just break up the tub using a sledgehammer so it will be easier for you to remove them
• If you’re planning to repurpose them, you have to be careful when you’re lifting them. First, lift the tub from the opposite end where the drain flow is located. Place the pry bar over the flanges, and move the fixture as soon as it’s lifted a few inches from the ground
• Most often, there won’t be enough space to be in a position where you can lift the tub. You may have to remove the vertical stud to swing it out. Or hire a professional in this case if you’re not sure what to do
• You can move a metal bathtub from its place by loosening or bending the forward corner of the tub and swinging it out
• With the help of an assistant, you can move the bathtub out of the room by maneuvering the fixture until it’s finally out of the bathroom and then out of the house, eventually

Tips and Warnings

The topic of bathroom modification is also true, even if the concern is about how to remove a bathtub in Australia or other areas around the globe. But to help you further, the following are additional tips and warnings to help you in handling the removal process of the bathtub—

• Check the faucet if there are bolts screwed before turning it and removing them. Although you don’t really have to remove them, it would be better to do so to prevent damaging the fixture
• To save time, you can disconnect fasteners by cutting them with a multi-tool blade
• To safely move the bathtub, place a 2/4 wood between the wall or floor and tub once you have lifted them a few inches

Takeaway

I hope today’s topic has provided you with the insight you need about the topic. Bathtub removal is a two-part process that includes disconnecting the lines between the water lines to the bathtub. Although it’s going to be a difficult task ahead, the question of how to remove a bathtub is possible on your own.

Frequently Asked Questions about How to Remove a Bathtub

Below are some of the commonly asked questions about how to remove a bathtub—