1-piece tub/walls-can they be replaced?

[Snoozan]

I sooo hate my tub, which is a 1-piece tub/wall system that came with our modular home 18 years ago. It is just stained beyond cleaning and I'm sick of looking at it. Anyone know how easy/hard it is to replace one of these? How do you fit a new one piece tub/walls through a bathroom door? Or is that impossible and I'd have to do the separate tub and walls(which then means chaulking, etc.) ?

My DH hates it when I get these ideas in my head, as he's a do-it-yourselfer and would rather die than pay someone to do any job that he could do-even if he hates doing it, he refuses to pay and I suffer for that!!!

Anyone have any experience in changing their tub/walls?

 

[grinningghost]

We replaced our ugly one a couple years ago. DH cut it apart piece by piece with a saw.

It was that lovely 70's shade of Harvest Gold. I was never so happy as the day that thing was GONE.

 

[mudnuri]

More than likely you'll ruin the sheetrock around it. Your best bet is-

To rip out the sheetrock AND the tub/surround at the same time.
Go down to the bare studs/plumbing

Go to Home Depot or Lowe's and PRAY that yours is a standard size...

Order a new one- and new faucet/drain hardware or, if it's standard- they'll have it in stock....

Get new Blue Board (water board, safe for bathrooms, wont mold/mildew)

Put up new blue board, install the new tub/shower and put the new faucet on-

Your talking start to finish- a do it yourselfer, 3-4 days of work, due to demo, mudding/tapin to dry, paint and finish install.

A pro- 2 days

those times are if everything you need, you have...no wait for ordering.

Brandy

ps can ya tell we did this?

 

[Snoozan]

Brandy - Thanks for the breakdown. Did you get a new 1 piece unit to replace your old one? How easily does a new one fit in a hallway and into a bathroom? Or will I end up having to get a separate tub and walls?

 

[mt2]

I have never done this but good luck.

How is your DH's back? I've been wondering about ya'll.

mt2

 

[Jodi1980]

I purchased a showertub over a year ago and just now getting estimates to install. The plumber said since I got a two piece, it would probably not fit upstairs into the bathroom door.

I had someone with a truck bring it back to Lowes today so I could get a 3 or 4 piece. I didn't have a receipt nor did I remember what I paid for it. They still had the shower information on file but they had to deduct 25% for restocking so I got credit of about $250. Now I need to find another shower.

They do make them now where you don't use caulk which I am very happy about!

 

[mudnuri]

well, it's not the same as your set up though...

We gutted the house- didnt matter if we scratched something, or if it didnt fit through the door- it was all studs anyway....it was very tight, but without the walls up in the hallway, and no door casing it just barely fit.

If I was you? I would rip it all out, get a tub- put the tub in, replace the blue board right down to the tub (well leave 1/2 " space for moisture to escape) then get either a 3 or 5 piece surround and put that up on the walls.

If your house is anything like any that i've ever lived in , or worked on, the walls are not square- this is where the 5 piece surround is much easier to work with...you put up the piece with the shower head, the one across from it- then the 3rd piece goes to your side, in the middle of the wall- then it has 2 corner pieces, if it's not square- this helps big time!..instead of the corner pieces being premolded to the 1st and 2nd pieces I mentioned.

The prefab 1 piece and 2 piece tub/surrounds are built for construction, not for remodeling. I agree that the 1 piece tub/surrounds are very nice, however, when it comes to home improvement, I've learned that sometimes, ease of installation out weighs looks!

Keep askin if ya need more info...my DH sells tubs/showers etc... though his are for manufactured homes, we sell the 1 piece and the 2 piece plus the 3 and 5 piece surroun- I can ask him if you have any questions...a stick built an a manufactured are the same when it comes to do it yourself remodeling, just have different depth walls.

Brandy

 

[sha_lyn]

Is this a master bath? If so does the bedroom had a large window? sometimes it is easier to bring a tub through a nearby window, than is to get it around the corners of a hallway.
Sounds like you need a 2 or 3 piece. We have a very nice Jaccuzi 3 piece that has only 2 seams. The seams do not have caulk, but interlock and screw together before the tub is slid into place. It is in 3 pieces from top to bottom.. the tub, then a wall surround piece that is U shaped, and then the top that is part of the walls, and also encloses the top. It came through our bedroom window easily.

 

[sha_lyn]

here is the one we have
http://products.jacuzzi.com/nd/WpbP...OITEMS=43&STATE=1&PG=Vantage Surround w/Skirt

we did not get the body sprays or steam option.

 

[mrsstats]

I have a 1 piece that I would like to replace. However, I have never been happy with how this cleans. Are the newer ones better to clean. How do you keep them looking new & shiney?

 

[SplshMtn99]

Have you considered bathtub RESURFACING? If you are replacing simply because of stains, resurfacing would be much cheaper...and alot less work. They come to your come & are done in hours.

We had a crack in our fiberglass tub --- and had it repaired that way. But they can also simply change colors of porcelian tubs & tile too.

Just open your yellow pages to "bathtub repair & refinishing".

I need to call one of these people this week to fix ANOTHER small crack in the same tub since we are getting ready to sell our house. The original 2 cracks were here when we moved in. This newer crack is from standing on a step stool in the tub to do some tiling a few years ago. The original cracks were repaired 11 yrs ago....and you still can't see them.