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Bathtub Replacement for Your Bathroom in Los Angeles, CA
Out with the cracked or rusted tub, in with a new alcove, drop-in, or freestanding tub, with the wall and drain done right.
- Cast iron removal handled
- Alcove, drop-in, or freestanding
- Waterproofed tile surround
- Line-item written estimate
CSLB Lic. [#000000] | Bonded & Insured | Written Workmanship Warranty
Book a Free In-Home Visit
We measure the alcove, look for leaks around the old tub, and bring material samples. The visit’s free.
Form fields: Full name, Email, Phone, Project address, Scope (Bathtub replacement, Full bathroom remodel, Walk-in shower or tub-to-shower, Walk-in tub, Vanity installation, Accessible bathroom), Preferred date, Tell us about your bathroom. Submit button: Book My Free Visit (red #E12228).
Real Tub, Not a Liner
We replace the tub itself and fix what's behind it, not cover it up. Book a slot.
Cast Iron? We Haul It
Heavy old tubs get broken out and carried away by our crew. See how it works.
A New Bathtub, Installed Right in Your LA Home
Serving: Los Angeles, Mar Vista, Palms, Silver Lake, Eagle Rock, Sherman Oaks, and Redondo Beach.
Bathtub replacement in Los Angeles means pulling the old tub, fixing whatever’s hiding behind it, and setting a new one that drains and seals properly. We handle the whole job in your bathroom, from demo to the last bead of caulk.
A liner or a spray refinish covers the old tub; it doesn’t fix a rotted subfloor or a failing drain. If your tub only needs a refinish, we’ll say so.
Many LA bathrooms have a 60-inch alcove, so a standard tub drops right in. Older Craftsman and Spanish homes often hold cast iron tubs that weigh several hundred pounds and come out in pieces.
- Old tub removed and hauled
- Subfloor checked under the tub
- New drain and overflow
- Waterproofed wall surround
- Anti-scald valve installed
- Final caulk and water test
Certified Service
CSLB Lic. [#000000]
Other Bathroom Work We Do Across LA
A new tub often leads to a new shower valve, a new vanity, or a full remodel. Each page below covers the work and who it’s right for.
Not sure where to start?
[YOUR PHONE]
Bathroom Remodeling in Los Angeles
The full bathroom: layout, shower or tub, vanity, tile, and permits under one contract.
SEE THE SERVICE →
Shower Remodeling & Walk-In Showers
Tile or low-threshold walk-in showers with benches, niches, and a waterproofed pan.
SEE THE SERVICE →
Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Swap a tub you never use for a walk-in shower with a low or zero entry.
SEE THE SERVICE →
Walk-In Tub Installation
A door-entry tub for soaking safely, with hot water and power planned in.
SEE THE SERVICE →
Bathroom Vanity Installation
Single, double, or floating vanities, with the top, sink, and plumbing connected.
SEE THE SERVICE →
Accessible & Aging-in-Place Bathrooms
Grab bars on blocking, zero-entry showers, and clearances for walkers and wheelchairs.
SEE THE SERVICE →
Choosing a Bathtub Replacement Contractor in LA
Ask how they’ll get the old tub out. Cast iron often has to be broken in place, and a crew that plans for it protects your floors, doorways, and hallway.
Ask whether the bid includes the wall. A tub-only price often leaves out the tile surround, waterproofing, and drain, then adds them once the old tub’s out. Every line below gets priced in your contract up front.
- Old tub breakout and haul-away
- New tub supplied and set
- Drain and overflow assembly
- Cement board and membrane
- Grab bar blocking in the wall
- Floor-mount tub filler
- Subfloor repair under the tub
- Mortar bed or leveling base
- Tub and shower valve with trim
- Tile surround or wall panels
- Framed deck for drop-in tubs
- LADBS permit and final sign-off
What Working With Us Looks Like
One point of contact
Your project manager answers the phone, walks the site, and owns the schedule. You never chase a plumber or tile setter for an answer about your own bathroom.
Written scope, written changes
Everything in the contract is a line item. Any change gets priced and signed before a crew touches it, so nothing shows up on a final invoice as a surprise.
A clean site, every evening
Floor protection along the path, dust barriers at the door, and cleanup at the end of each day. We tell you in advance which days the bathroom is out of use.
Five Parts of a Bathtub Replacement
A new tub is only as good as the wall, drain, and valve around it. Here’s what each part of the job covers, and where older LA bathrooms tend to surprise people.
Old Tub Out
Steel, acrylic, and fiberglass tubs usually come out whole. Cast iron often gets broken in place under a tarp, because a one-piece tub won't fit through most doorways. We protect the floor and haul every piece.
New Tub Set
An alcove tub goes onto a mortar or foam bed so the bottom doesn't flex, then fastens to a ledger on the studs. A tub that moves under your weight cracks its own caulk line.
Drain & Overflow
The drain and overflow is the pipe assembly behind the tub's end wall. We replace it with every tub and check the trap below for corrosion, which old galvanized lines often show.
Valve & Spout
With the wall open, it's the right time to replace the valve. A new tub and shower valve must be pressure-balancing or thermostatic, so the water won't turn scalding when someone flushes. We move the spout to fit the new tub.
Wall & Waterproofing
The tile surround sits on cement board with a waterproofing membrane behind it, lapped over the tub's flange. Skip the membrane and the wall rots behind tile that still looks fine.
Bathtub Types That Fit LA Bathrooms
Your room picks the type before your taste does. An alcove tub needs three walls; a freestanding tub needs open floor and a drain in the right spot.
Alcove
Three walls, one finished front, and usually a shower above. The 60-inch alcove tub is the common LA size and the simplest swap.
Drop-In
A rimmed tub set into a framed deck of tile or stone. Drop-ins give you a ledge to sit on and room for a wider tub, but the deck adds framing and tile.
Freestanding
A tub on its own, often with a floor-mounted filler. Freestanding tubs suit larger primary baths in Hancock Park or Pasadena, and they often need the drain moved.
Clawfoot
A cast iron or acrylic tub on four feet. Clawfoots fit 1920s Spanish and Craftsman homes, and the exposed supply lines become part of the look.
Deep Soaking
A deeper tub in the same 60-inch alcove. Soakers hold more water, so we check your water heater before you order one.
Acrylic, Fiberglass, Steel, and Cast Iron Tubs
Pick the material for how long you’ll stay and how you bathe. Weight, heat retention, and chip resistance vary more between tubs than most people expect.
Material
Best for
Watch out for
Weight
Acrylic
Most alcove swaps and soakers
Scratches from abrasive cleaners
Light
Fiberglass
Rentals and quick turnovers
Flexes, cracks, and dulls sooner
Lightest
Enameled steel
A hard surface on a budget
Chips can rust at the edge
Moderate
Cast iron
Period homes and long soaks
Floor check; hard to carry upstairs
Very heavy
Stone resin
Modern freestanding tubs
Few alcove sizes available
Heavy
Acrylic liner
A molded shell glued over your old tub. It goes in fast, but it hides the old tub instead of fixing it, and water trapped between the layers can go unnoticed.
Refinishing
The old tub gets sanded and sprayed with a new coating. It suits a sound cast iron tub with worn enamel, though the coating wears faster than factory enamel.
Full replacement
The old tub comes out, the wall and drain get checked, and a new tub goes in. Choose it when the tub’s cracked, leaking, or the wrong size.
Tub-to-shower
If nobody in the house takes baths, skip the tub. See Tub-to-Shower Conversion for a walk-in shower built in the same space.
Replacing a Tub in Your LA Home Type
What comes out of the wall depends on when your house was built. Here’s what we usually find around the old tub, by era.
1920s–30s
Spanish & Craftsman
Cast iron tubs set in mortar and tiled into the wall are standard. Removal means breaking the tub and some wall tile, and the galvanized drain behind it usually gets replaced too.
1940s–60s
Post-War Tract
The 60-inch alcove on a slab makes the swap simple. Colored tile often wraps the tub, so plan on a new surround, because matching 1950s pink or mint tile is rarely possible.
1950s–70s
Mid-Century Post-and-Beam
Bigger baths and open plans suit a drop-in or freestanding tub. On raised floors, we check the beam span before a heavy cast iron or stone resin tub goes in.
Any era
Hillside Homes
Carrying a tub down stairs or along a narrow side yard takes planning. We measure every turn in advance and schedule extra hands for demo day and delivery.
Any era
Condos & HOA Buildings
Your HOA may ask for work hours, insurance, and a plan for the shared drain stack. Fiberglass tub-shower units from the 1970s–2000s often get cut apart to leave by the elevator.
Bathtub Replacement Permits in Los Angeles
A tub swap usually needs an LADBS plumbing permit, especially when the valve or drain gets replaced. Moving the tub to a new spot adds scope. We confirm what your job needs before we quote it.
Adds to the permit scope
- Moving the drain for a freestanding tub
- Relocating the tub or the valve
- Adding a circuit for a heated or jetted tub
- Reframing the floor or a wall
- Replacing galvanized supply lines
Code items on every tub swap
- Pressure-balancing or thermostatic valve
- Fixture upgrades in pre-1994 homes
- Water-resistant backer behind tile
- Lead-safe practices in pre-1978 homes
- GFCI on new bathroom outlets
New valves must be anti-scald
When we replace the valve, the new one has to be pressure-balancing or thermostatic. It holds your water temperature steady when someone flushes a toilet or runs a sink elsewhere in the house.
Pre-1994 homes swap old fixtures
California Civil Code 1101.1 requires noncompliant fixtures to be replaced during permitted alterations in older homes, including showerheads over 2.5 gpm and toilets over 1.6 gpf. We price those swaps in.
Old tile and paint may hold lead
Glazed tile and painted walls around a pre-1978 tub can contain lead. The EPA’s RRP rule requires lead-safe practices when we disturb them, so we contain the room and clean it before you walk back in.
Why Homeowners Pick Us Over the Cheapest Bid
A low bathtub bid in Los Angeles often prices the tub and skips the wall, drain, and valve. We price all of it on day one, so opening the wall doesn’t reset your budget.
- Tub, drain, valve, and wall listed line by line
- One project manager answers your calls start to finish
- Nothing gets ordered until you approve the tub
- Floor protection and daily cleanup, so you can stay home
- Payments tied to milestones, never to a calendar
- A written workmanship warranty you can hold us to
- Crews who work on our jobs only, not day labor
Licensed & Insured
CSLB Lic. [#000000]
Free On-Site Estimates
Measured, not guessed
Written Warranty
On our workmanship
Local LA Crews
No day labor on site
How a Bathtub Replacement Runs, Day by Day
Most tub swaps run in six steps over about [1–2] weeks. Your bathroom’s out of use from demo until the caulk cures.
Phase 01
Measure & choose
We measure the alcove and doorways, check for leaks, and help you pick a tub and material. Special-order tubs take about [1–3] weeks to arrive.
Phase 02
Protect & demo
Floors and doorways get covered, then the old tub and lower wall tile come out. Cast iron gets broken in place and hauled off. [1] day.
Phase 03
Repairs & rough-in
We fix rot in the subfloor or studs, replace the drain and valve, and pass the rough plumbing inspection. [1–2] days.
Phase 04
Set the tub
The new tub goes onto a leveling bed, gets fastened to the studs, and connects to the drain and overflow. [1] day.
Phase 05
Wall & waterproofing
Cement board, membrane, and tile or panels go up around the tub. Grout needs cure time before use. [2–4] days.
Phase 06
Trim & water test
We install the spout and handle, caulk the joints, fill the tub, and check every connection for leaks. Final inspection signs off the permit.
Find Out What's Behind Your Old Tub
One visit tells you whether the tub needs replacing or refinishing, what size fits, and what the wall behind it needs. It’s free, and we won’t push a same-day price.
- Measured and checked for water damage on site
- Material samples brought to you
- No obligation and no pushy follow-up calls
or send the form and we’ll call you back.
Book a Free In-Home Visit
We measure the alcove, look for leaks around the old tub, and bring material samples. The visit’s free.
Form fields: Full name, Email, Phone, Project address, Scope (Bathtub replacement, Full bathroom remodel, Walk-in shower or tub-to-shower, Walk-in tub, Vanity installation, Accessible bathroom), Preferred date, Tell us about your bathroom. Submit button: Book My Free Visit (red #E12228).
Bathtub Replacement Across Los Angeles County
We replace tubs from Sherman Oaks to Redondo Beach, in Craftsman bungalows, slab ranches, and HOA condos alike. Not sure we cover your street? Call [YOUR PHONE].
- Sherman Oaks
- Studio City
- Encino
- Tarzana
- Woodland Hills
- Van Nuys
- North Hollywood
- Burbank
- Glendale
- Pasadena
- Altadena
- South Pasadena
- Eagle Rock
- Highland Park
- Silver Lake
- Los Feliz
- Echo Park
- Hancock Park
- Mid-Wilshire
- West Hollywood
- Beverly Hills
- Brentwood
- Santa Monica
- Pacific Palisades
- Culver City
- Mar Vista
- Playa del Rey
- El Segundo
- Manhattan Beach
- Redondo Beach
- Torrance
- San Pedro
- Long Beach
Bathtub Replacement FAQs
Click a question to see the answer. The first one is open to start.
How long does it take to replace a bathtub?
Most tub swaps take about [3–5] working days on site, and the bathroom’s out of use for most of that time. Tile surrounds need cure time, so they add days compared with wall panels. Special-order tubs can add [1–3] weeks before we start.
Can you replace a bathtub without replacing the tile?
Sometimes, but rarely in older homes. The tub’s flange sits behind the bottom rows of tile, so we cut those out and patch them. Matching old colored tile is hard, which is why many LA homeowners replace the surround along with the tub.
Should I get a tub liner or a full replacement?
Replace the tub if it’s cracked, leaking, or sits on a soft floor. A liner covers the old tub and whatever’s wrong behind it. If your tub’s sound and only the finish is worn, refinishing is the smaller job, and we’ll tell you so.
How do you remove a cast iron bathtub?
We usually break it in place. A cast iron tub can weigh several hundred pounds, and most won’t fit through a bathroom door in one piece. We cover the floor, break the tub into sections under a tarp, carry them out, and haul every piece away.
What size bathtub do I need?
Most alcoves in LA homes take a standard 60-inch tub, about 30 to 32 inches from front to back. Measure wall to wall at the rim, since older walls are rarely square. We confirm the size on the visit before anything gets ordered.
Which bathtub material lasts longest?
Cast iron lasts longest and holds heat well, but it’s the heaviest and the hardest to install. Acrylic is lighter, warmer to the touch, and repairable. Enameled steel resists scratches but can rust where it chips. Fiberglass costs least and wears fastest.
Do I need a permit to replace a bathtub in Los Angeles?
Usually, yes. Replacing the drain, valve, or supply lines is plumbing work that typically needs an LADBS permit, and moving the tub adds scope. In pre-1994 homes, the permit also triggers California’s fixture-upgrade rule. We file the permit and book the inspections.
Can I replace my alcove tub with a freestanding tub?
Yes, if the room’s big enough. A freestanding tub needs open floor around it for cleaning, plus a drain moved to the new spot. On a slab, that means cutting concrete. Many 60-inch alcoves are too tight for a freestanding tub to look right.
Will you replace the drain and overflow?
Yes, with every tub. The old drain and overflow was fitted to the old tub, and its gaskets harden with age. We install a new assembly, check the trap below, and water-test it before the wall gets closed up.
What if there's water damage under my old tub?
You’ll see it before we fix it. We photograph the damage, explain the repair, and price it in a written change order you sign first. Soft subfloor near the drain end is the usual find, so we look for early signs on the first visit.
Other Remodels We Handle
Kitchen Remodeling
Cabinets, countertops, islands, and permits under one contract.
Home Additions & ADUs
Detached ADUs, garage conversions, and room additions from plans to permit.
Whole-Home Remodel
Every room on one schedule, one permit set, and one crew.
Planning Guides for LA Homeowners
BOOKING STARTS FOR [MONTH] AND [MONTH]
Get Your New Bathtub Planned in One Visit
A tub that’s set level and sealed behind the wall lasts for decades. Los Angeles Home Remodelers removes the old tub, fixes what’s behind it, and installs the new one. Book your free tub assessment or call [YOUR PHONE].
- Free tub assessments, Mon–Sat
- CSLB Lic. [#000000], bonded and insured
- Written workmanship warranty
Mon–Sat, 8am–6pm
Book a Free In-Home Visit
We measure the alcove, look for leaks around the old tub, and bring material samples. The visit’s free.
Form fields: Full name, Email, Phone, Project address, Scope (Bathtub replacement, Full bathroom remodel, Walk-in shower or tub-to-shower, Walk-in tub, Vanity installation, Accessible bathroom), Preferred date, Tell us about your bathroom. Submit button: Book My Free Visit (red #E12228).