How to Install a Walk-In Bathtub and Shower
As you grow older, it gets harder and harder to get around. This is particularly true if you have range-of-movement difficulties. Create a better bath experience and install a walk-in bathtub. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Walk-in bathtub/shower
- Saw
- Pry bar
- Utility knife
- Caulking
- Tile or other matching wall material
Instructions
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1
Determine the necessities needed, such as step height and tub width.
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2
Choose the location to install the walk-in tub with safety in mind. A disabled person needs to walk into the bathroom and go straight to the bathtub, if possible.
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3
Think logically. If you cannot put a second bathtub in the bathroom (and few can), you must simply remove the old tub or stall shower. Locate the access panel for the plumbing or make one as you go through the wall to get to the pipes. Turn off the water and get started.
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4
Remove the tub liner, shower wall, or as much of the bathroom tile as you need using a pry bar. Disconnect the water pipes. Clean off the old caulking with a utility knife. Pry the old tub or shower away from the wall and take it outside.
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5
Survey the install site. Set the tub in place and reconnect the water pipes and fittings. Check for water leaks before you start to put the wall materials back in. Match the original line of the bath wall area when you add the new materials. A tub liner may need to be custom ordered or you can cut your own and apply trim in the right areas.
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6
Make sure you use caulking in all areas that can leak into the wall underneath the liner or tile. Doors, added trim and the areas where the tub meets the wall and flooring are the main areas that need caulking.
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Tips & Warnings
An older or disabled person is more likely to bathe daily if he does not have to worry about his own safety or the ability to stand long enough.
Install a bathtub that has whirlpool jets, if you have circulation problems.
Walk-in bathtubs are very expensive. If this is the case, you can buy a kit to change an older tub into a walk-in.
