Short answer: There are three common ways to put a bathtub in a remodel: freestanding, built into a platform, or set in an alcove against three walls. The style you pick changes where the plumbing comes through, what the floor has to carry, and how much of the walls get tiled. It is easiest to decide before the rough plumbing goes in.
Three jobs, three tub styles
- Dedham: in the first bathroom, the contract covered new framing for the tub, a new shower valve, supply lines and drains for the tub and the walk-in shower, and a free-standing tub.
- Lincoln: a master bathroom rebuild with a walk-in shower and a jacuzzi tub, with new tile on the walls above the tub.
- Lexington: a new tub, with cement board above it, full waterproofing and new wall tile. The baseboard heater was shortened to fit the new tub.
Freestanding
A freestanding tub stands on its own, so you see all of it. That makes it the most visible piece in the bathroom, and the one that needs the most room around it.
- Plumbing. The filler and the drain have to line up with where the tub will sit. The supply lines come through the floor or a nearby wall, and the drain has to meet the tub’s drain opening. Both are easiest to place while the floor and walls are open.
- Floor. A filled tub with a person in it is heavy. Have the floor framing checked, especially if the tub goes in a new spot.
- Space. Leave room to clean all the way around it, and to open a door without hitting it.
- Walls. There’s less tile than around an alcove tub, but cement board and waterproofing still belong wherever water can reach the walls and floor.
Built-in (set into a platform)
A drop-in tub sits in a framed platform, which is then tiled or finished to match. The platform hides the tub’s sides and gives you a ledge for a candle or a bottle of shampoo.
- Framing. The platform has to be built before the tub is set, and it has to be strong enough to hold a full tub.
- Plumbing. The drain and valves can sit inside the platform, so plan a way to reach them later.
- Finish. The platform’s top and sides are tiled, so it adds to the tile and waterproofing work.
- Whirlpool tubs. A jacuzzi-style tub has a pump, which needs power and a way to reach it for service. Follow the maker’s instructions for the access panel. Lincoln’s contract included new tile on the walls above a jacuzzi tub.
Alcove
An alcove tub fits between three walls, usually with a shower above it. It’s the most common style, and the one that makes the most of a small bathroom.
- Plumbing. The valve and the shower head are on the wall at one end, and the drain is at the same end.
- Walls. Cement board and full waterproofing go above the tub, with tile over it. Lexington is an example: the contract covered the tub, the cement board above it, full waterproofing and the tile. How those layers go together is in what’s behind shower tile.
- Fit. Measure the opening before you choose the tub. In Lexington, the baseboard heater was shortened to fit the new tub, which is the kind of detail that shows up once the old tub is out.
Choosing between them
- Room size. Alcove for tight spaces, freestanding or built-in where there’s room to walk around.
- Shower or not. If it’s your only bathing spot, an alcove tub with a shower is the practical choice. If you have a separate walk-in shower, the tub can be a feature.
- Layout change. Moving a tub means moving its drain. If the plan changes the layout, see changing a bathroom layout for what that involves.
- Floor. Tile is the usual choice near a tub because it handles water; which floor goes where covers the options.
- Cleaning. A freestanding tub has to be cleaned on all sides. A built-in has a ledge that collects dust and water.
Permits
Moving a tub or adding one usually means plumbing work, and sometimes electrical work for a whirlpool pump, and those usually go through their own permits and inspections. More is in what needs a permit when you remodel in Massachusetts. Your town’s building department has the final word.
Planning checklist
- Choose the tub before the rough plumbing and floor framing are done
- Check where the drain and the supply lines will come through
- Ask whether the floor framing needs checking or reinforcing for a heavy tub
- Measure the opening for an alcove tub, including anything on the wall like a heater
- Leave room to clean around a freestanding tub and to reach a whirlpool pump
- Decide how far the tile and waterproofing go on the walls around the tub
- Bring the tub plan to the estimate visit so it’s priced with the rest of the work
FAQ
Can I swap an alcove tub for a freestanding one? Sometimes. The drain and supply lines usually have to move, and the walls that were tiled around the old tub may need to be redone, so it’s more than a swap.
Does a freestanding tub need a stronger floor? A full tub is heavy, so it’s worth having the floor framing checked before you buy, particularly on an upper floor or in a new location.
Can I add jets to a regular tub? Whirlpool tubs are a different product from a regular tub. They have a pump that needs power and a way to reach it for service, so choose one before the work starts, not after.
Does the tub need waterproofing around it? Where water can reach the walls or floor, yes. In Lexington, the contract listed cement board and full waterproofing above the tub.
Sun Shore Construction Team. Sun Shore Construction is a general contractor in Greater Boston, founded in November 2019. We’re licensed and insured, and we handle permits and inspections on the projects we take on.
Planning a bathroom remodel? Get a free in-home estimate: call us or fill out the form on sunshoreconstruction.com.
