ᐅ Retrofitting a Bathtub – Any Experiences?

Hello everyone,

I’m hoping you can help me before I hire a plumber. It’s about an apartment where the bathroom currently has a shower with a shower tray. Now I would like to add a bathtub to the bathroom. Are there ways to do this without having to remove all the tiles?

A drain pipe and a water line for the faucet will be needed.

Or is it not as bad as I imagine, meaning the bathroom won’t be completely ruined or require a huge amount of extra work? What are your experiences?

Best regards

You only need to replace the tiles where the new pipes are being installed. And for the drainage pipe, you will probably have to break up the floor (if this is possible while maintaining the required slope).

Overall, it’s a manageable job, but it will still create a lot of mess and, of course, cost money.

There are also tubs where the faucet is integrated directly into the tub rim. In that case, you might not need to remove any tiles for the water supply. It depends on where the pipes run. The drain is located underneath the tub. If you're lucky, it won't be visible afterwards.

The thing is, there are no extra pipes installed for a bathtub, only for the shower. So I guess that means you inevitably have to add the pipes inside the wall to connect to a bathtub?

fluppi93 schrieb:

The issue is that no extra pipes have been installed for a bathtub—only for the shower. So, I guess that means you will have to add pipes inside the wall to connect to a bathtub?

You won’t be able to avoid that; wireless solutions for water/drainage don’t exist yet.
Why not share some photos or the bathroom floor plan?

fluppi93 schrieb:

The thing is, there are no extra pipes installed for a bathtub—only for the shower. So, does that mean you inevitably have to add the plumbing inside the wall to connect a bathtub?

Not necessarily. You could also pour water from the shower into the bathtub using a bucket and later scoop out the used water to take it to the drain 😉 .

Of course, walls and floors need to be opened up!!!!!!!!!!! What kind of question is that.