10 mo. ago • 100%

Is replacing a tub/shower combo DIY'able

Homeowner with a decent amount of handiness but wondering if I’m going to bite off more than I can chew. Is it worth it to try and remove the old shower tub combo and replace it with a new one pretty much by myself? I realize this is a bit of a loaded question and can’t really be answered without knowing my skills but if anyone with skills can share some tips or steer me away from attempting this that would be much appreciated.

17 comments

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11
- I attached the listing for the product I’m hoping to use so double check any material answers I give.
  
  Pretty sure it’s fiberglass
  
  Tub is fiberglass as well (current one and replacement one)
  
  Tub is being replaced
  
  Currently no shower door
  
  I would like to do a glass shower door
  
  House was built in 1981
  
  If plumbing needs replacing yes
  
  Not sure about the replace all question
  
  I’ve done a few projects at my house, garbage disposal and dishwasher replacement. Toilet replacements, laminate floor installation. Tool wise I have a pretty well stocked garage from miter and table saw to drills drivers etc.
  
  Edi: the listing
  Via 32-in x 60-in x 80-in White Bathtub and Shower Combination Kit (Right Drain) https://www.lowes.com/pd/MAAX-White-60-in-x-32-in-x-80-in-Bathtub-Shower-Kit/5001603959
  
  2
The biggest issue I’ve seen is hastiness - if you take the time to learn each step well and can keep yourself from rushing, then it can be fine.

It’s the ones that try to do it over the weekend because their wife is yelling at them about it that get into trouble.

9
- The step that has me most worried is setting the drain properly. Everything else seems more or else something I’ve done before (leveling the floor and securing the tub)
  
  4
  
  Depending on your situation, you may be able to use a quick connect kit which can be pretty easy. But yes, the drain assembly needs some care - especially if you need to cut finished pipe to length for, say, a cast iron standing tub. Its not too different from a sink drain assembly if you’ve done that before.
  
  3
Is this your only shower? I've done a DIY shower and it took forever, so be prepared for it to take longer than expected.

6
- Yeah it’s the only shower.
  
  4
The hardest part is lining up the new drain. You may have to trim out some drywall to angle the new tub in place, but overall the process isn't terrible. You'll want to wrap, cardboard and do whatever else you can to not scratch the fiberglass while you're doing the finishing.

3
I just removed an old walkin shower with a tub/shower combo. In answer to your question, yes its possible. That being said you should plan on it taking a while to complete if you need to change any walls or plumbing and thats if you don't run into any strange issues. An extra person is very helpful to help get things into place. If you have a lot of room that might not matter.

3
- I can get some extra hands for lifting but mainly it’d just be me. How long did yours take? It’s our only shower and I’d hate for my wife to be without one for more than a few days. I can always hose off
  
  3
  
  Mine took three weeks or more, but I had to demo a 1970's walk-in shower before I got to putting in the new one. I had two bagsters of mortar and tile, and had to re-sheetrock the walls and ect.
  
  Your mileage my vary based on how much is needed for the swap. Just expect that it will take longer than you think.
  
  1
experience tip: fill the tub up with water before you caulk everything or it'll pull your caulk job right off the walls the first time you fill the tub

3
Get a gym membership for shower usage just in case. There are many things that can balloon the project, father in law and I did his over a couple weeks, I wouldn't put a "solid weekend"timeline on things. If it's your only bathroom, be prepared for alternative showers, but it is definitely something a layman should be able to do.

3
As long as it doesn't end up like this: https://youtu.be/lfyaftYvFGg

Sounds like a can of worms. A soft spot in the floor probably means the subfloor needs to be replaced, and if the floor joist is also rotted, then you're really up a creek. I say just sell the house and move to an apartment.

2
- Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
  
  https://piped.video/lfyaftYvFGg
  
  Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
  
  I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.
  
  0
If you aren't sure, don't do it. Chances are, the project will be harder than you're imagining, unless you are starting with a good idea of exactly what it entails.

0
- There’s a soft spot in the floor of the tub now and I’m afraid of what’s under it and that I won’t be able to fix it and then we’ll be out of a shower.
  
  2
  
  I wouldn't worry about the soft spot too much, it could just be the foam supports underneath the tub itself and not the floor. Even if it is the floor, that's probably within your skill-set to fix if you can manage a circular saw and swing a hammer. I hired a contractor to install a shower for me in a new bathroom because I don't have the plumbing skills or time. He outsourced the plumbing, electrical, and did the, framing, tiling, and everything else himself. The shower alone took them about a week, one of the main issues he encountered was keeping the tile lines straight. His tile saw wasn't exact enough and the cuts were ever so slightly off which caused compounding problems.
  
  1

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