How to Install a Four Piece Bathtub Kit

If your bathtub is starting to look a little worse for the wear, maybe it could use a quick and easy upgrade. Prefabricated four-piece bathtub kits are made for easy installation over existing bathtub walls. In most cases, a home owner will be able to handle the installation of a four-piece bathtub kit on his or her own. All it takes is a little preparation and a few tools.

Things You'll Need

• Four-piece bathtub kit
• Screwdriver
• Pry bar
• Hammer
• Goggles
• Face mask
• Cardboard or blanket
• Drywall compound
• Sand paper
• Waterproof primer
• File
• Drill
• Jigsaw

Instructions

1. Remove the faucet, showerhead and temperature controls. Most of the time, this is done simply by removing a few screws. Pry the cover from the faucet handle and you'll find a screw. Remove the screws from the faucet plate and pry away from the wall. To remove the showerhead and faucet, you will need to pry them away from the wall as well. Check beneath the faucet for a hole. There may be an Allen screw to remove.

2. Remove tile. It is possible to install the kit over tile, but, most of the time, removing the tile is the best idea. Tile will have to be pried away from the wall with a pry bar. Tough pieces will need to be broken apart before being pried away. Wear goggles and a face mask and cover the tub in cardboard or a thick blanket for protection. If your wall is not tiled and is flat, you can install the kit over top of the existing wall.

3. Repair the wall. You can fill holes with drywall compound. Once it dries, sand the wall down to level and cover the entire wall with a coat of waterproof primer.

4. Dry fit the panels of your kit. To reduce the panels down to size, use a file to gently file away extra. This will help prevent you from cutting off too much. Cut out the holes for the faucet, showerhead and temperature controls. The easiest way to do this is to use the holes already in your wall as a guide. Use a tape measure to determine how far across the wall the hole needs to start and the diameter of each hole. Once you measure where the holes need to be, use a drill bit to start each hole and a jigsaw to cut each hole out.

5. Use the supplies that come with the kit. Each four-piece bathtub kit will be different and the manufacturer will include detailed instructions. Most kits will come with a foam tape and an adhesive glue with which to attach the panels to the wall. You will use both the tape and the glue. The glue will usually go around the outer perimeter of each piece, while the glue will help the piece stick to the wall in the middle.

6. Attach the bottom of each panel first. The best way to get a smooth, even fit with your bathtub kit is to align each panel up with the top of the bathtub. Push the bottom of the panel into place and slowly smooth the panel up the wall.

7. Caulk around the perimeter and fill the gaps. Your four-piece bathtub kit will more than likely come with a waterproof caulk for this purpose. If not, you can pick up waterproof caulk at your local home improvement store. You will fill in the gaps between panels, the space between the bottom of your panels and the top of the bathtub and line the top of the panels where they meet the wall.

Resources

• Bathroom Remodeling