How to Replace a Bathtub

Learn about bathtubs including how to remove and replace one.

Excerpted from Do It Yourself Home Improvement

Installing a New Bathtub: Measuring and Positioning

Before installing a new bathtub, make sure that your selection is an exact fit into the old bathtub space. Make sure it is apron-styled or drop-in, and that the drain is on the same side, because bathtubs can have right-hand or left-hand drains. If the bathtub is not an exact fit, the piping will have to be modified for the new bathtub. If it is an exact fit, you’ll follow the same steps for removing the old bathtub, just in reverse. You may need to repair the wall surface so it rests on the flange of the new tub. Always use cement backerboard under tiles in the bathtub or shower areas for moisture protection and to prevent a possible mold problem. Regular drywall is not rated to handle extreme moisture. To begin, measure and mark the location of the bathtub’s ledger.