Bathtubs & Showers Installation Guides

Swapping out an old alcove tub is one of those jobs that looks harder than it is -- until you hit a snag with the drain or the walls aren't plumb. Most of the work is careful measuring, a solid drain connection, and making sure the tub is level before you lock everything in. We typically see this take a weekend for a DIY homeowner, saving $500-$1,500 in labor if you're comfortable with basic plumbing and a bit of demo work.

A freestanding tub looks great, but there's more to the install than setting it down and hooking up a drain. You need the right floor support (these tubs are heavy), the drain roughed in at the exact right spot, and filler faucet placement matters more than most people realize. Plan this one carefully before you buy.

Replacing a shower valve sits right on the line between confident DIY and calling a plumber. The valve itself isn't complicated -- it's a brass body between two supply lines. But getting to it means opening the wall, and getting the depth right so the trim plate sits flush is where most people run into trouble. If you're comfortable sweating copper or working with PEX, you can handle this. If that sounds unfamiliar, this one's worth the $300-$800 in labor.

The tile is not what keeps the water out of your walls. Tile and grout are porous. The real barrier is behind the tile, and if that layer fails, you're looking at mold, rot, and a full tear-out that costs 10x what doing it right would have cost. We see botched waterproofing jobs constantly, and it's almost always because someone skipped steps or used the wrong materials.