Bathtubs ยท Los Angeles
Bathtub replacement and new tub installation
For some households the tub is the whole point of the bathroom. We help you choose the right type and material, then plan the floor, plumbing and walls so it goes in properly.
Types of tub
Four ways to install a bathtub
The type of tub decides how much wall and floor work is involved, how the room looks and how easy the tub is to clean around.
Alcove tubs
The standard in most Los Angeles hall bathrooms: three walls, one finished apron, often with a shower above. Replacing one means removing at least the lowest course of wall tile, since the tub flange sits behind it. Most people take the chance to retile the surround and replace the valve at the same time.
Freestanding tubs
A sculptural tub that stands on its own, finished on all sides. It needs clearance around it for cleaning and a floor-mounted or wall-mounted filler. It looks best with room to breathe, so it tends to suit primary bathrooms more than hall baths.
Drop-in tubs
A tub set into a built deck of tile or stone. The deck gives you a ledge for bottles and a place to sit while filling the tub, and it can hide an oversized or jetted tub neatly. It takes more floor area and more finish material than an alcove.
Soaking tubs
Deeper tubs meant for sitting in up to the shoulders. They can be alcove, drop-in or freestanding. A deep tub needs more hot water to fill, which brings the water heater into the conversation.
Materials
Cast iron, acrylic or stone resin
Each material behaves differently in use and in installation. This is a general comparison; individual products vary.
| Enameled cast iron | Acrylic | Stone resin / solid surface | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Very heavy | Light | Heavy |
| Heat retention | Holds heat well once warmed | Moderate; often insulated | Good |
| Feel | Hard, glossy enamel | Slightly warm to the touch, some flex | Smooth, matte or satin, solid feel |
| Repair | Enamel chips are hard to repair invisibly | Scratches can often be polished out | Surface scratches can often be sanded out |
| Installation | Needs extra hands and a floor check | Easiest to move and set | Needs extra hands and a floor check |
| Relative cost | Higher | Lower to mid | Higher |
Weight, floors and older framing
A cast-iron or stone-resin tub is heavy when empty. Filled with water and a person, the load concentrated on a small area of floor goes up a lot. On a ground floor over a slab this is rarely a concern. On a raised foundation, an upper floor or an older house where joists have been notched for past plumbing, it deserves a proper look.
Before we commit to a heavy tub, we check the joist size, span and condition from below or from the room once it's opened up. If reinforcement is sensible, we add it while the floor is exposed. For larger tubs on upper floors or where the framing is uncertain, we may recommend an engineer's review. It's a small step compared with finding out later.
Access matters too. Tight stairwells, hillside homes with long carries from the street, and condo buildings with elevator size limits all affect which tub can realistically reach the bathroom.
Plumbing
Fillers, valves and drains
Filler and spout
Wall-mounted spouts need blocking and a valve in the wall. Floor-mounted fillers for freestanding tubs need supply lines run up through the floor, which is straightforward over a crawlspace and more work on a slab. Deck-mounted sets suit drop-in tubs.
Drain position
Tubs come with drains at one end or in the center. A freestanding tub with a center drain can sit on different lines in the room, but the drain below has to move to match.
Hot water
A deep soaking tub may outrun a small tank heater. We look at your water heater's capacity when you choose the tub, not after it's installed.
Tub-shower combinations
In a hall bathroom that serves kids or guests, a tub with a shower above is still the most useful arrangement. It's also where upgrades make the biggest daily difference: a new pressure-balance or thermostatic valve, a handheld on a slide bar for bathing children and rinsing the tub, a recessed niche instead of a hanging caddy, and a hinged glass panel instead of a curtain.
The wall above a tub needs the same membrane and care as a stand-alone shower, and the joint where tile meets tub is a common failure point. We seal it with a flexible joint rather than hard grout, so the tub can move slightly as it fills.
If you're asking whether the tub should stay at all, that's a different project. Our tub-to-shower conversion page covers when removing it makes sense. For showers on their own, see shower remodeling.
Deciding between tubs?
We can look at the room, the floor and your water heater, then narrow the options.
Budget
What affects the cost of a tub project
- Tub type
- An alcove swap with the same drain position is the simplest. Freestanding and drop-in tubs involve more plumbing, framing or finish work.
- Material
- Cast iron and stone resin typically cost more than acrylic, and their weight adds labor.
- Surround
- Removing an alcove tub disturbs the wall tile. Retiling the surround is usually the bigger part of the job.
- Floor and structure
- Reinforcing joists or repairing subfloor around an old leaking drain adds scope.
- Filler and trim
- Floor-mounted fillers and thermostatic valves sit at the higher end of plumbing trim.
More on how we price work: bathroom remodel cost and estimates.
Where we install tubs
We replace and install bathtubs throughout Los Angeles. A freestanding tub is often the centerpiece of the primary suites we plan in Beverly Hills and Pasadena, while tub-shower upgrades are common in the post-war homes of Burbank.
If the tub is part of a bigger primary bathroom, see luxury bathroom remodeling. If you're weighing whether a tub matters to future buyers, our journal piece on remodel value and resale in Los Angeles sets out the questions worth asking.
Questions
Bathtub FAQ
Can you replace a bathtub without replacing the tile?
With an alcove tub, it's difficult. The tub's flange sits behind the bottom row of tile, so at least that row comes out. Matching old tile is rarely possible, which is why most tub replacements include a new surround.
Is a cast-iron tub too heavy for my floor?
On a slab, usually not. On a raised foundation, an upper floor or older framing, we check the joists first and reinforce if needed. For large tubs or uncertain framing, an engineer's review may be wise.
How much space does a freestanding tub need?
It needs room to clean around it and to step in comfortably. Manufacturers publish recommended clearances for each model, and we lay the room out to those before choosing.
Will a soaking tub drain my water heater?
A deep tub can take more hot water than a small tank provides. We compare the tub's capacity with your heater before you commit.
Call us
Talk to us about your bathroom
Call and tell us what isn’t working in the room. We’ll talk through scope, materials and timing, then set up a visit to measure and see the plumbing and structure.
Call for a consultation
(213) 566-7696Open daily, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Tell us whether it’s a house, condo or ADU
- Describe which bathroom and what you’d like to change
- We arrange a visit to measure and look at the room