Madison Bath Works helps homeowners plan a bathtub replacement in Madison and compare providers suited to the scope. A replacement should define the tub material, how the tub is supported, the surround, the valve, the waste connection and the adjacent repairs — not simply state that a new tub will occupy the old opening.
What happens on the first visit?
The first visit should identify the existing tub material, measure the alcove and the route the old tub must leave by, check the floor and surrounding wall for movement or staining, and confirm the condition of the waste and supply connections. The provider should explain what remains untouched outside the tub area.
Refinishing and replacement solve different problems
Refinishing can suit a structurally sound tub with surface damage, and a cast-iron tub in good condition is often worth keeping. It is a poor choice where enamel has broken through and the metal beneath has begun to corrode, where the tub flexes underfoot, or where the surround is being removed anyway and the labor to lift the tub is already being spent.
How the tub is supported matters more than the tub
An acrylic or fiberglass tub has little rigidity of its own and relies on continuous support beneath the base. A tub levelled on shims at the corners feels solid on the day and flexes under load within a year, and that movement is a common reason sealant at the wall joint keeps failing. A proposal should state how the tub is bedded or cradled.
What tends to be found behind an older tub
In housing built before about 1980, removing a tub commonly exposes tile set into a mortar bed, an older trap arrangement that cannot be reused, and occasionally supply piping that has narrowed internally with age. Soft flooring at the waste end is the single most frequent finding. These are routine conditions rather than faults, and they should appear in a proposal as priced allowances rather than later as change orders.
What should the written scope identify?
- Protection, demolition and disposal
- Plumbing, electrical and ventilation work
- Substrate preparation and concealed-condition treatment
- Waterproofing or water-management system
- Fixtures, finishes, allowances and exclusions
- Permits and inspection responsibility
- On-site schedule and material lead times
- Cleanup, closeout and change-order procedure
Related planning guides
Frequently asked questions
How much does bathtub replacement cost?
A focused planning range of roughly $5,000–$14,000 is a reasonable starting reference. A like-for-like acrylic swap retaining the existing surround sits at the lower end; removing a cast-iron tub, repairing flooring and installing a new tiled surround sits considerably higher.
Should the old tub be refinished instead?
Refinishing suits a sound tub with cosmetic wear and typically buys several years. It is not suitable where the surface has broken through to corroding metal, where the tub moves underfoot, or where surrounding tile is being removed regardless.
Can a cast-iron tub be removed from an older bathroom?
Yes. A cast-iron tub is heavy enough that it frequently will not clear an original doorway and is broken up in place under containment. It is noisy and dusty for a short period and is routine work in older Dane County housing.
Why does sealant at the tub keep failing?
Usually because the tub itself is moving. Where a tub was levelled on shims rather than supported continuously beneath the base, normal use flexes it and no sealant will survive that. The remedy is correct support, not a different sealant.
Does Madison Bath Works perform the work?
No. It provides planning information and connects homeowners with independent providers whose details must be verified before hiring.
