Get matched with top bathtub replacement pros in Martin, SC

Yes, you can remove a bathtub yourself if you have previous DIY experience and basic plumbing knowledge. You should have at least one other person help you if you approach this project as a DIY. However, hiring a plumber or bathroom remodeling pro can prevent accidental damage from demolition or water leakage.

There are several ways to save money on a bathroom remodel through proper planning and savvy design strategies. To reduce costs, consider the following:

• Purchase your own materials: Buy your own bathroom fixtures, hardware, and other materials to avoid contractor upcharges and delivery fees.

• Shop smart for big-ticket items: Save on pricey items like tiles and tubs by shopping sales and at discount stores.

• Avoid major layout changes: Keep plumbing in its current location. Opt to replace fixtures rather than moving them to avoid significant renovation work.

• Focus on high-impact, low-cost updates: Make affordable but impactful smaller changes, such as upgrading hardware, installing new lighting, and adding stylish but economical accessories.

• DIY where possible: Handle easier parts of the remodel yourself, like painting or installing light fixtures, to save on labor costs.

• Time your remodel strategically: Consider remodeling in the spring, which tends to be a lower-demand time of year and may result in lower costs.

An alcove tub is designed to fit into a three-walled enclosure in a bathroom. A drop-in tub, on the other hand, is placed into a custom-built frame or enclosure. This frame can be fitted to an alcove, making a drop-in tub a viable alternative if you want a more custom or spa-like look. Because the frame is custom, drop-in tubs offer more design flexibility and a wider range of materials, such as cultured marble or tile, compared to the simpler acrylic or fiberglass of a typical alcove tub. The frame for a drop-in tub can also be placed anywhere in the bathroom it fits, not just in an alcove.

The water supply lines run underneath the bathtub. These two pipes deliver cold and hot water to the bathtub—the cold water comes from the main water supply, and the hot water comes from the water heater. The pipes are made from copper, cream-colored plastic CPVC, or red and blue PEX tubing.