Bathtub Replacement in Dallas, TX

The tub you have now was installed before the walls around it were finished, which is why replacing it usually means opening those walls. Knowing which type of tub you are taking out, and which type you are putting in, tells us how much of the bathroom has to change.

Bathtub Replacement in Dallas, by Type of Tub

• Alcove tubs. The most common tub in Dallas homes, set between three walls with its flange behind the tile. Removing it means cutting out at least the lower part of the surround, and often all of it.
• Drop-in and jetted tubs. Set into a framed deck, often in 1980s and 1990s primary baths. The deck, pump and wiring come out with them.
• Freestanding tubs. No walls or deck, but they need floor or wall-mounted supply lines and a drain exactly where the tub sits.
• Walk-in tubs. A door in the side and a built-in seat for people who cannot step over a tub wall.

For each, our replacement includes removal and disposal, a new drain and overflow, valve and trim as needed, the surround or deck, and the plumbing inspection when the permit calls for one.

Signs the Old Tub Is Done

A tub needs replacing, not refinishing, when the damage goes past the surface. Chips that expose dark metal on steel or cast iron, a floor that flexes around an acrylic tub, a leak at the overflow and caulk that fails again within months all point to movement or water behind the tub. In Dallas, shifting clay slabs and original mortar-bed tile make that last sign common in older homes. A jetted tub whose pump no longer runs is another, since the lines trap water you cannot clean out.

Cast Iron Tub Removal in Older Dallas Bathrooms

Many homes in Dallas built before the 1970s still have their original cast-iron tub. These tubs are very heavy, often too heavy to carry safely through a hallway, so the usual method is to cover the tub and break it into pieces in place. We protect the floor, the doorway and the path out before we start.

These older bathrooms often have tile set in a thick mortar bed, and the drain under the tub may be cast iron or galvanized steel. If corrosion shows once the tub is out, we show you and price the repair before replacing it.

Can the Floor Carry a Freestanding Tub or Soaking Tub?

On a slab, weight is not the concern. On pier-and-beam floors and second stories, it is. A deep soaking tub holds far more water than a standard alcove tub, and a cast-iron freestanding tub adds the weight of the tub itself. We check the joists under the tub location and add support where needed.

Plumbing is the other question. A freestanding tub's drain must land exactly under the tub's drain outlet, and a floor-mounted filler needs supply lines brought up through the floor. On a slab foundation, both involve cutting and trenching the concrete; a wall-mounted filler avoids part of that work.

Jetted Tub Replacement and the Deck Around It

Jetted tubs are a common target in primary baths from the 1980s and 1990s. They take up a lot of floor, the jets are hard to clean, and the pump often no longer works. Removing one means taking out the deck, the pump, the piping and the dedicated circuit. Electrical changes have to be made by an electrician licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

The replacement can be a simpler drop-in soaking tub in a rebuilt deck, a freestanding tub on the open floor, or no tub at all in favor of a larger shower.

Is a Walk-In Tub the Right Fix?

A walk-in tub has a watertight door and a seat, so you never step over a wall. The trade-offs are practical: you sit inside while it fills and drains, the tub holds a lot of water, so the water heater needs enough capacity, and heated or jetted models need a dedicated circuit. For some people a curbless shower with a bench solves the same problem more simply.

Tub Surround Replacement, Valves and Drains

The surround is what keeps water out of the walls. We replace the backer board, apply a waterproof membrane lapped over the tub flange, and tile, or install a solid-surface or acrylic panel system if you prefer fewer grout lines. Every new tub gets a new drain and overflow.

The valve is often replaced too. Old two- and three-handle valves give way to a single pressure-balancing or thermostatic valve. Under Texas rules, that plumbing work must be done by a plumber holding a TSBPE license, with a permit and inspection.

In the City of Dallas, a contractor registered with the city pulls that permit, and the drain and valve are inspected before the wall closes; Highland Park, Farmers Branch and Garland run their own offices. Ask any bidder for the plumber's and electrician's license numbers and check them on the TSBPE and TDLR lookups.

From Old Tub Out to New Tub Filled

1. Consultation. We measure the space, the doorway and the path in, and identify the foundation type.
2. Selection. You choose the tub, valve, filler and surround finish; we confirm the tub's rough-in dimensions.
3. Permit. Valve and drain changes are permitted with the city.
4. Removal. The old tub and surround come out, and we inspect the drain, subfloor and framing.
5. Installation. Drain and supply set, tub leveled and supported, surround waterproofed and tiled.
6. Walkthrough. We fill the tub, check the drain and overflow and test the valve with you.

A tub swap is a natural time to replace the vanity too; see our bathroom vanities page. If the room is tight, our small bathroom remodel page shows how to make a compact tub bath work harder.

What Changes the Cost of Replacing a Tub

The tub itself varies widely by material and type: fiberglass and basic acrylic usually cost least, enameled steel and cast iron more, and stone-resin freestanding tubs more again. Keeping the same size and drain location keeps the surround work smallest. Beyond that, cost depends on how much of the surround comes out, whether the valve is replaced, whether drains move on a slab, any added floor framing, electrical work for jetted or walk-in models, and repairs discovered underneath.

We replace tubs across Dallas and nearby cities, including Highland Park, Farmers Branch and Garland, where older homes may still have their original cast-iron or enameled steel tubs.