Replacing a tub is never just the tub. The walls around it come down to the studs, the valve and drain are replaced, and new waterproofing and tile go up. We do it as a bathroom refresh, usually in about two weeks.
Part of our bathroom remodeling on the Peninsula.
Call (650) 507-4525 Get an Estimate
2026 prices
from $12,000
2 weeks
A sound hall bath where the toilet, tub and vanity stay where they are.
Not included: Moving the drain, toilet or vanity; Glass enclosure (shower curtain rod included).
from $16,000
2–3 weeks
A hall or guest bath where the layout, valve or drain moves.
Not included: Fixtures above allowance; Repairs to hidden rot, priced in writing before we fix it.
from $25,000
4–6 weeks
Primary suites: double vanity, large shower, often a freestanding tub.
Not included: Fixtures above allowance; Steam units and custom glass to the ceiling, priced separately.
A tub swapped in the same alcove with new tile walls is our Hall Bath Refresh. A freestanding tub, a moved drain or a tub in place of a shower is a full or primary bathroom remodel.
Line items and what moves the price: bathroom remodel cost in the Bay Area.
If the tub itself is sound and you only dislike the surface, refinishing is the cheaper answer. Our sister company does that, and we will tell you if that is all you need.
| Tub | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Enameled steel | Hall baths on a budget; stiff and durable | Chips can rust |
| Acrylic alcove or soaker | Most remodels; warm to the touch, many sizes | Needs a proper mortar or foam bed underneath |
| Cast iron | Longest life, holds heat | Very heavy; second floors need a framing check |
| Freestanding | Primary baths with floor space | Floor-mounted filler means plumbing through the floor |
A freestanding tub needs room around it to clean and to get in, and a filler that rises from the floor or comes off the wall. The drain and supply lines are set before the floor tile goes down, so the tub has to be chosen, and its drain position known, before demolition.
Almost never. The tub's flange sits behind the bottom row of tile and the waterproofing laps over it, so the wall tile has to come off at least to the first course, and usually to the studs.
If the tub is sound and the shape works, refinishing costs far less and takes a day. If it leaks, flexes, is the wrong size or you want a different tub, replace it.
Rarely. Cast-iron tubs weigh several hundred pounds; we break them up in place with the room sealed, which is faster and safer than carrying one out whole.
Most Peninsula hall baths have a standard 60-inch alcove, 30 or 32 inches deep. Deeper soaking tubs that fit the same alcove are common; anything longer means moving a wall.
Bathroom Remodeling by city: Palo Alto · Menlo Park · Atherton · Redwood City · Mountain View · Los Altos · Los Altos Hills · Woodside · Portola Valley
Tell us about the room. We visit the same week, measure, and send a written, itemized estimate within 48 hours.
We answer within 10 minutes, Mon–Sat 7 AM–7 PM.