White Cast Iron Bathtub

Learning how to install a bathtub can be fun and easy with the right tools and the time to get it done. In this short but informative lesson we will explain how a professional plumber installs a standard 5 foot long bathtub into a residential home.

Please note that this guide will be explaining how to install the bathtub only , not the shower body or the water supply.

Once you have gather the tools and the material above the you can read the steps below and be on your way to installing your bathtub.

The Tools:

~Standard Hammer

~Flat Head Screwdriver

~9/16 open end wrench

~Channel lock pliers

The Material:

~Steel or Cast Iron Tub

~Trip Lever ( Plastic or Brass )

~5″ foot long 2×4

~10 roofing nails

~8 10d penny nails

Shower Body Trim On Moen

Step One:

The first step will be to get a runner board nailed to the back of the wall were the backside of the tub will be leaning against the wall. Although most tubs measure around 15″inches or so you will want to take a measurement anyhow. So what you will want to measure is the distance from the floor to the back side lip of the tub that looks like a mini shelf. This mini shelf as we are calling it will rest on the 2×4 piece of wood that you will be nailing to the wall.

Step Two:

Now that you have your measurement from the floor to the tub you will now want to mark the wall or the 2×4 studs to the measurement that you have.( depending if you are on a rough or not ) Once you mark the wall you will want to place your 2×4 on the marks and using a level nail the 2×4 to the wall which will create a place for that backside of the tub to sit against once we slide it into place.

Basic Moen Shower Head

Step Three:

Now that your 2×4 is nailed to the wall you will want to grab your trip lever assembly and start to attach it to the tub. If you are not sure how to connect a trip lever to a bathtub, then you might go and check that out first and come back to this part.

Step Four:

Now that your trip lever is on the tub and your backing board is nailed to the wall you will want to slide your tub into the spot and make sure that the back edge of the tub is sitting flush against the board you nailed to the wall. Once you have the tub flush and pushed against all the walls take your roofing nails and tack the bathtub edge into place by nailing one nail into each 2×4 and caching the tub lip to hold it into place.

Step Five:

Once you have you trip lever on, your tub in place and nailed to the wall you may now go ahead and start rounging in your new shower body, or if you will be using the old shower body then you will want to start installing your tile or tub surround, Remember not to forget to hook up your trip lever drain to the p-trap.