How To Remove A One Piece Bathtub- The Easy Way

Want to rennovate your bathroom and are wondering about how to remove a one piece bathtub? We can help.

Removing the bathtub is the first step to remodeling your bathroom. And if you can do it on your own, you will have money that you can add to the remodeling budget of your bathroom later.

The job will need a few hours to complete. What you need is some plumbing tools and a bit of heavy-lifting. You may find most of the tools already in your possession. You may need to buy the rest, which you can use later as well.

And for the lifting part, you can request a friendly neighbor or one of your friends to lend a hand.

How To Remove A One Piece Bathtub

The first step of how to take out a one piece bathtub is to gather some tools. Tools you might need here:

• Screwdriver
• Allen Wrench
• Jigsaw
• Pry bar
• Knives – putty and utility
• Saw – drywall or reciprocating
• Plastic sheets or bags to cover vents

To prevent any sort of health hazards or injuries, you should also wear the following:

• Work gloves and safety glasses
• Shoes with strong or sturdy soles
• Face mask to prevent dust from going into the nose

Step 1: Shut off Main Water Supply

The first step of the job is to shut off the valve to the main water supply line of the house. This will prevent any accidental leakage.

There isn’t any steadfast rule about how to remove a one piece shower tub unit. You can start by removing the drain and then start stripping faucets or other additions to the tub itself. But we would suggest taking a top-down approach.

Step 2: Unscrewing Tub Adapter

As we have said, let’s start from the top.

• The task of how to remove a one piece bathtub starts from scraping away the caulks between the wall and the faucet. A putty or utility knife would do the job just fine. Some faucets need screws to be attached. In that case, you need to unscrew them first. The Allen wrench is the tool for this job, though.
• Removing a bathtub faucet without screw requires to pull it away from where it is attached to the wall. But before you apply force, remember to grab the faucet with both of your hands. You also need to turn it counterclockwise.
• Then unscrew the adaptor from the exposed pipe. This will disconnect the adaptor from the supply line.

Step 3: Removing Faucet Handle

Now the handles of the faucet should go.   

• If the handles are lever-like, you will find screws under them. Allen wrench can unscrew them all.
• If the handles aren’t lever-like, use a Phillips screwdriver.
• If you can’t see any screws, that means they are under the plug at the front portion of the handles. Sometimes the top part has the manufacturer’s logo. Using the tip of the screwdriver, you can pry the top off. This will get the screws out in the open. 
• When the unscrewing is done, remove the faucet handles by sliding them toward you. If the handles don’t want to give away, spray WD-40 or solutions similar to it and leave them be for 10 minutes. They should come off easily by then.

Step 4: Disconnecting the Pipes

Now, you might be thinking about how to remove a one piece bathtub drain.

• The task starts unscrewing the drain cover. After that, remove the cover by prying and pulling it from the tub.
• Like before, if there aren’t any screws, use a putty knife to pry the drain cover up. If it seems stuck, twist it counterclockwise and then pull.
• To take out the cover of the overflow drain, find the screws first. You will find them on the face of the cover or underneath the faceplate.
• Now you locate the panel that gives access to the tub’s main and overflow pipes. It can be behind the tub on the other side of the wall.
• If your bathroom is on the ground floor, you will find the panel in the basement ceiling. You may need to cut across the wallboard to have access to the panel.
• When you find the access panel, you will see that the main and overflow pipes of the tub are attached to the panel. Use a wrench to disconnect the pipes from the panel. Remember to turn the nuts counterclockwise.

Step 5: Separating Tiles

At this stage, you have to separate the tiles that surround the tub.

• From about eight inches apart, remove the tile plaster. Use a utility knife to dig through the grout or the plaster.
• Remove the tiles by prying off with the help of a putty knife.
• Repeat until all the surrounding tiles are removed.

Step 6: Removing Drywall

Now it is time to remove the drywall:

• Start with cutting it into small pieces with the drywall saw. Do not go deeper than half an inch with the saw to avoid damaging the studs.
• If the walls have plaster, you should use a reciprocating saw instead of a drywall saw.
• Use the pry bar to remove the drywall pieces from the studs.

Before going to the next step, make the workplace safer by getting rid of the debris.

Step 7: Unscrew the Tub from the Wall

Finally, you are on the stage where you can lay your hands on the tub itself.  But you have to remove the bindings that attach the tub to the wall.

• Locate the screws that secure it to the wall studs.
• You may need to get rid of caulks if they cover the screws.
• You also have to remove the fasteners with the help of a screwdriver or a pry bar.
• And finally, remove the caulks from the place where the tub is attached to the floor. Check if the bathtub is stripped away from all sorts of attachment by gently pushing it.

 Step 8: Remove the Tub

It’s time to lift heavy. Or better if you call for help.

• Push the tub away a few inches from the back wall using the pry bar. Make sure the tub is completely free.
• Bathtubs are heavy, so instead of testing your powerlifting skills, cut the tub into manageable chunks and remove them from the bathroom with the help of your friend or neighbor.
• Finish the job by removing the tub piece by piece. Don’t forget the clear out the debris as well.

This Video Will Help You Too!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 Bottom Lines

If you’re still with us, you can say for yourself that the process of how to remove a one piece bathtub is something you can carry out on your own.

To remodel the bathroom the first step can be the removal of the old bathtub itself. A new bathtub can increase the comfort manifolds. When we get a new bathtub, it can also enhance the aesthetics drastically.

And as we have seen, the removal of a one piece bathtub is a project that you can complete on your own – with a little common sense and some assistance.

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• How to Remove Wall Mounted Toilet: Hard Steps Turn Easier
• How to Shim a Toilet on Uneven Tile: Ways for Leaky or Non-Leaky
• How To Remove Stopper From Pedestal Sink: An Easy Step By Step DIY Guide

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