Bathtubs last a long time, but not forever. Enamel chips and rusts, fiberglass flexes and cracks, and a tub from the 1950s may be shallower than you would like. Replacing one means opening the walls around it, so it is always paired with new surround tile.
We replace bathtubs in Arlington-area homes and handle the plumbing, the tile and the finishing in one project.
Choosing a New Tub
The alcove dictates most of the choice, but you still have options.
- Acrylic alcove tubs: light, warm to the touch and available in deeper soaking depths
- Enameled steel: affordable and durable, though louder and cooler
- Cast iron: the quietest and longest lasting, and very heavy to get up a staircase
- Freestanding tubs for larger bathrooms, which need floor space and a relocated drain and filler
How Replacement Works
The old tub comes out, sometimes in pieces if it is cast iron. We check and repair the subfloor, set the new tub level on a full mortar bed so it does not flex, and connect a new drain and overflow. The tub is filled to test for leaks before the walls are closed.
Then the surround is rebuilt with backer board and waterproofing lapped over the tub flange, and finished with tub surround tile.
Replace, Refinish or Convert?
Refinishing can make a sound cast iron tub look new for a few years at low cost, and we will say so if that is the sensible route. If you rarely take baths, a tub-to-shower conversion may serve you better than a new tub.
Need something else? See all of our bathroom remodeling services, or learn more about your local tile contractor in Arlington, VA.
