About Alcove Bathtubs
Alcove bathtubs are found in most of today’s homes. They consist of a tub that has the shower fixture in it and is surrounded by 3 walls. Combining your bathtub with the shower in one fixture you conserve a good amount of floorspace in your bathroom. It also simplifies the installation process. Clean up and maintenance after install is also easier as you have only the one fixture to worry about. They tend to get a lot of use which means they can have fairly limited lifespans. These types of tubs are found in a few different materials. There is a pressed steel version which has an enamel finish, plastic tubs, and even fibreglass tubs. The fibreglass tubs of today seem to have a more durable finish than those from a decade ago.
Installing An Alcove Bathtub
If you are not planning on doing a complete bathroom remodel consisting of new walls then you will want to find an alcove bathtub that fits the current dimensions. Keep in mind that you most likely need to remove some wall tile to complete the install. One question to ask yourself prior to the removal of these wall tiles is do they still make those same wall tiles. If they do great, it will be no problem to replace the ones that you remove for the installation. However if they do not manufacture those same wall tiles any longer you will have to retile that entire wall. If this is case you want to find a new wall tile that is the exact same size in order to guarantee the same fit.
Need Help?
Plumbing an alcove tub is not for the novice plumber. You will need to get access to drain lines attached to the tub. You will also have to get into the floor as well which can be quite difficult. In some cases you may find that the current tub was not built to code leaving an access panel that is too small or even non existent. Over the course of the next couple of articles we will be providing you with the steps on how to remove your current alcove bathtub and also how to install a new alcove bathtub. However, if you are looking to have this project done we do recommend hiring a professional. You can book an appointment with Caldwell Plumbing today to help with this project. We service Toronto, the GTA, Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa and the rest of Durham Region.
