At a certain point, a new bathtub for your mobile home can become a necessity rather than a side project. Whether your tub suffers from leaks, cracks, has draining issues, or the finish is fading, it's good to know the basics of replacing your mobile home bathtub. Follow these steps to get started on this essential home renovation project.
Choosing Your Replacement Tub
Unless you're working on major renovations, it's good to use your current tub as the basis for your new one. We recommend using your bathroom's current layout as a guide when finding a mobile home bathtub to install.
Finding the bathtub that works best for you is vital before making significant changes. Making some upgrades is acceptable, such as choosing a different color or going for an acrylic-coated fiberglass tub over a basic ABS plastic model. Keeping similar measurements, drain placement, and bathtub style makes the process a much more straightforward affair.
It's also worth mentioning that it is actually quite easy to adjust the drain location of your tub from one side to another or to a center-drain configuration. While it requires adding a step to the installation, it is not a technical process and is easily accomplished by a plumbing professional or an experienced homeowner.
Removing the Old Bathtub
One of the basics of replacing your mobile home bathtub is removing the old one. This may be obvious, but here are a few pointers for this process.
The first step is to turn off the water supply and disconnect the water lines. Once all the lines and faucet are off, carefully cut out the surrounding material. Once you find the lip of the bathtub, you can remove the screws that secure it to the studwork and pull the bathtub out.
Some bathtubs may have been installed with an adhesive product, so removing them is not as simple as removing a few screws and pulling the unit out of the alcove. In certain cases, we’ve had customers who’ve needed to demo the unit with a sledgehammer or hacksaw (depending on the tub material) to remove it. Don’t let this deter you—take the opportunity to blow off some steam!
When removing the old unit, you will likely have to also remove (and replace) the wall surround as well. We have a wide variety of options that will match or enhance your bathtub and tile is also a great option!
Finally, NEVER remove the old tub before you’ve confirmed your new replacement is going to fit your space. Once you start the removal process, you can’t go backwards and if there is any issue, you won’t want to be without a functioning bathroom.
Installing the New Bathtub
When installing the new tub, the best protocol is to simply follow the manufacturer’s installation guide and instructions. If you cannot locate this, please reach out to our customer service team and we can easily provide them to you.
You’ll want to make sure that the alcove space is clear of all debris and that you’ve done all your prep work for the new drain plumbing (it is not uncommon for the drainpipe(s) to break upon the removal of the old tub; replacement is simple, but you’ll want to be prepared for this). You can then proceed with installing the tub in the alcove. Again, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to properly secure it to your studwork and ensure that it is level and draining properly.
Once the tub is installed, you’ll need to install your wall surround or tile to the surface of the alcove. Be sure to install greenboard (or other water-resistant backer board) if using an ABS plastic or Flexstone wall surround or if you plan on installing tile. This is also a good time to replace your plumbing fixtures, like your faucet, drain, and showerhead. While your old ones may appear to be in good shape, removing them and reinstalling them a second time could prevent them from tightening properly when you reinstall them. Issues here could result in leaking, which is the last thing you want to deal with after installing your new tub.
A Final Word
Replacing your bathtub can feel like a daunting project, but it doesn’t have to be one. At Mobile Home Outfitters, we’ve worked with customers all over the country who have successfully accomplished this on their own and are enjoying the results! If you need any help planning for your project or picking out the best replacement option for your needs, don’t hesitate to call our team of knowledgeable experts at 888-MHO-SRVC (888-646-7782).