Can I install a new tub on my own?

[Megma]

We are two people with zero tiling/plumbing experience, but one of us (me...) would really like a new bath tub with a tile surround instead of the 1980s acrylic/plastic. I got quotes from 3 professionals, the lowest being $3,400.

Has anyone installed a tub themselves? Tiled a bathroom with zero experience? How did it go?

I am concerned about the following:
- We will not be able to get a 150lb+ tub up the stairs in our house and into the tiny bathroom and in the slot where it needs to go. The models of tub I'm looking at are all at least 120lbs.
- We'll need to remove the toilet because it will be in the way of the tub (never done this nor do I know how. Might install a new one while we're at it!)
- Messing up the tile and getting water leaks/having a mold problem

I have read MMM's post on shower installation and it was a little daunting, im hoping that a tub+tile combo will be slightly easier aside from getting the giant tub in place. I have read some tutorials online already but cannot find any personal accounts of dig tub moving and installation.

As for help, I can consult my dad who lives 1500 miles away and is very handy but hasn't ever tiled, but does have some plumbing experience.

Thanks for you help and suggestions!

[tccoastguard]

Sure you can. All you have to be is fearless and go for it. I'm doing this myself next week!

[Megma]

Any advice or tips to Tccoastguard?

[MrSal]

One advice... first tear that thing down !! Dont think!!

Believe me you'll push yourself beyond your limits once you'll realize "Oh shit... I really need to get this right!!" :D

[Cwadda]

Those estimates are way off. If you want a more reasonable estimate, rip out the old tub and put the new one in yourself. This is a matter of shutting off the water, disconnecting the tub, and putting a new one in. Now taking out the tub may be extremely difficult without the right tools. Also take out the acryllic/plastic/whatever old tiles.

You can THEN pay someone to put in just the tiling. Seeing as it'll take them half a day, at $50/hour that's no more than $250. If the tiles and grout cost another $250, you're in pretty reasonable prices.

As for tiling it's fairly simple. I'd imagine it'd be like laying floor tile except you also have to grout. I've done floor tiles and bathroom wall tiles before - very straightforward. All it is is making a paste and using a trowel to even it out. You just pick a pattern and start at the dead center to make sure the cut tiles are the same on either side. Grouting on the other hand I'm not sure how difficult that is. I think it's a multi-step process with grouting and sealing? As long as you're willing to put in the time and prepared to make every detail, you'd be set.

As with any DIY project, the key is confidence and not being afraid. You learn a lot and improve as you go along.

[alberteh]

yes you can. If you are mechanically inclined it is possible, make sure you do a bunch of research on the proper way of doing it.

[kudy]

I rebuilt my shower last year.

I did a lot of research on tiling shower walls, and viewed a lot of youtube videos before jumping in. I decided to do KERDI fabric behind the tile. I already had a cheap tile saw from a previous flooring project, and I spent quite a bit of time buying supplies and planning out all of the details. The tiling turned out pretty good with my rudimentary skills and tools. There are imperfections, but it's not bad. The tub is a relatively cheap fiberglass one from a big box store, so I didn't have to worry about the weight.

One of the biggest aspects of the project was swapping out the valve system, because my old one was constantly breaking, and old fashioned technology. I had the added benefit of a friend who is a plumber, who helped me out for $35/hour with the proper installation of most of the new plumbing.

My total monetary cost was about $1475 (I wrote a blog post breaking down the costs, if you're interested). I also took a week off of work, and worked harder on this project than I would have at my day job in order to get it done - lots of sweat equity! It was fun to learn some new things, but a lot of hard work. Because it's my only shower, I also had the added craziness of showering under the garden hose hooked up to the hot water heater in the laundry room.

[thurston howell iv]

LS85:  Do yourself a favor and make a comprehensive list.

Make measurements, think about all the jobs you want to do, factor the tools, and costs for all of the materials (also leave some room for the inevitable extra issue that might pop up- like a rotten subfloor.)  I'm in the middle of a full home renovation- so this is all fresh in my head. While it is a PITA, it is worthwhile to do things on your own.

Additionally, try and calculate how much time you think it will take and triple that number. (Make sure you have an extra working bathroom before you start.

Make sure you know where the water shut off valve is inside the house as well as out on the street (just in case the house one doesn't work-  ASK ME HOW I KNOW)

Are you going to renovate the whole bathroom? (new vanity and so forth?)
How much room do you have to maneuver?  (Tubs are deceptively small until you get inside the bathroom and then they seem to grow just enough to not fit.
Measure your door frame (make sure it's wide enough)
Measure your hallway or whatever spaces you plan to walk through carrying the tub.
Consider that the removal of the tub - especially cast iron will be a HUGE undertaking. Those SOB's are heavy. Might need to bring some friends. (I cut out an old fiberglass tub/shower unit and it took me quite a while using a new heavy duty sawzall!) I imagine the removal of a complete cast tub will be worse.
Consider a fiberglass tub. Sturdy and Light enough one person can carry and maneuver.

Demolition is a dirty job. Make sure you have planned where all the debris is going, that you have proper demo tools, buckets or pans for possible water leaks...

Toilet removal: turn off water to basin. flush. (I prefer to remove basin from bowl as it's lighter and easier to move. Some like to remove the whole thing.
Disconnect the water line to the basin.
There's two bolts on either side. Undo them and lift.
There's two bolts on either side of the bowl. Undo them and lift.
Be sure to plug the hole in the floor (Old rag or some plastic bags- keeps the smell out of the house)
Move toilet assembly out of your way. (There's an old wax ring under the bowl. Make sure you have a peice of cardboard or something to protect the floor when you set the bowl down and out of the way- it's very messy)

Hope this helps.
No way bathroom should be $3400!
I just did mine. $400 for fiberglass tub/shower; $200 for vanity and sink; reused toilet; $300 in tile, mortar, grout, sealer and some extra labor; $5 caulk, $20 insulation; $40 or so in drywall and mud; $250 for new fixtures

Even if you buy a cast iron tub and use durock around the tub for a shower surround to put tile on you will only have the cost of the durock ($15 a sheet) and the additional tiles, mortar, grout and sealer.

Just take your time, watch some you tube videos... It's not that hard. AND you'll save a ton of cash and maybe get inspired to tackle more projects....


Good Luck!

[Megma]

Yes Kudy I would be interested, please send me the link!

We won't begin until at least July, this is the research phase.

[Spork]

Just to chime in with the rest:

Yes, I've installed one with zero experience.  I also did all the tiling (but have done that a few times).

As you have surmised: sometimes getting the thing into the bathroom is half the battle.  Remember: more often than not, bath tubs are put in during framing.  They can often slide through openings that haven't been framed (or a window that isn't installed, etc). 

DO make sure it will fit before you try.  Removing the toilet is easy... that isn't a worry.  But make sure it will make it up the stairs, around corners, through doors, etc.

You may have to move the drain as well -- also do-able.

[Megma]

Spork and Thurston, do you think it would be easier to install a shower pan instead?

I was originally thinking to remove the tub and only have a shower but thought if we did it ourselves it would be easier to put in a tub (there is one there now) that change to a shower. Primarily because of the increased risk of water leaks through the floor and need to use cement but also having to make changes to the plumbing to accommodate a shower only.

I have read MMM's post about doing this but it did not exactly seem easy!

[Spork]

I can't say I've done a shower pan.

I've done a tub and a handful of tile tub surrounds.

[kendallf]

I have done tubs, shower surrounds, and a shower from scratch including preslope, liner, curb, all tile, etc.

I think the tub will be easiest among these choices.  If you are going to live there a while, I would consider an insulated steel tub instead of fiberglass.  Much more durable and not all that heavy; you can easily carry it with two people. 

Getting it in: if your current bathroom has an alcove for the tub that's 5' wide, and the rest of the bathroom is wider, it won't be hard.  Strip all old tile, sheet rock, whatever down to the bare studs where the tub will go.  A sledge hammer, used with some restraint, works wonders.  :-)  Shut the water off, get the old valve set out, and cap the lines.  Do you know what material your supply lines are yet?  Galvanized, PVC, copper.. the first two are easy enough to replace a manifold without specialized skills or tools, but if it's copper, you may need to pay someone to braze the lines.

Assuming your framing and floor are in decent shape, get the new tub in place and roughly leveled.  Then work on getting the new valves roughed in.  Fasten the tub to the walls, install concrete board (Durock or similar; easily cut with a circular saw with a diamond blade).  You'll probably need a masonry hole saw for where the valves go through.

The tile isn't hard; materials are cheap and you can do a few rows at a time.  You can get a very basic wet tile saw for $50 at Harbor Freight that will work fine for moderately sized tiles.  Use plain old mortar (no mastic); it's much more durable for wet applications but will require spacers and support for the bottom row.  I usually use something like roofing nails shoved under each bottom row tile, then the regular tile spacers between rows.

Good luck!  Here's my shower from last summer for possible inspiration.  There are lots of photos of tile work in my house albums.  :-)

Finished shower

[thurston howell iv]

^^ I agree, tub is easier. Less tile to work on as well... While I like full tiles showers and have done some in the past. Nothing beats a new fiberglass tub/shower set up. It's cheap and easy to set up and save a ton of time and hassle that you'd have with the tile... 

Best advice I can give is to measure a lot, expect multiple issues, and be prepared to fix other people's past "fixes". If you expect issues, you won't be surprised.

My renovation is on a 40 year old house that has been neglected and hacked on. Floors were rotten and instead of replacing, previous owners simply slapped on some more wood that also rotted.. When I cut out my tub/shower there was a wasp nest inside the wall!  (found some of my air leaks at least...)   Best part about this is that I get to fix things properly and do it all right the first time.

[Megma]

Thank you all for your advice and tips. I am feeling more confident that we can do this already. Maybe I can even convince my handy dad to help during the visit he is planning.

Also, thank you for the suggest of a steel tub kendallf, they are much much lighter and could be a good option. I don't really like fiberglass, I think it's hard to clean (though cheaper/lighter) but the steel is a good alternative to cast iron in terms of weight, I'll check it out more!

[QajakBoy]

You can definitely do it if you don't mind putting up with the time (both on the research end and the demolition/construction end), mess and effort involved.
I like kudy's suggestion to use Kerdi waterproof fabric between the cement board and tiles.  MMM used Redguard instead of a waterproof fabric.  Technically, you don't have to use a waterproof coating or waterproof fabric underneath the tile above the tub in a tub/shower, but to me it's worth the peace of mind to have real waterproofing and also worth the reduced tendency for future mold growth in the shower. 
Since you are going to have exposed studs after you take the existing tub/surround out, you might also consider adding some nice touches such as a niche or two in the tiled walls or possibly adding some handy grab bars for convenience and safety.  They would really help to spruce up a shower.

[neophyte]

Would it be possible to DIY a job like this if you only had one bathroom? 

[kudy]

I did it with 1 shower; my neighbor said I could shower at her house, but I hooked up a garden hose to my water heater and showered in my laundry room.

Here's the post with total cost rundown: http://www.monetarymusings.com/528/bathtub-remodel-cost-total/

[Megma]

Thanks for the link to your cost breakdown! Based on the lowest estimate I got for my project, you saved at least 2,000!