What We Find When We Tear Out an Old Tub

Every shower we install starts with a full tear-out. In about 1 in 4 older tubs and showers, what's behind the wall isn't good.

Old tub with walls torn open, showing dark staining on the studs and insulation — Walls open on an older tub. Note the dark staining on the studs and insulation at the right.

What we find

Mold behind the walls. This is the most common find. It comes from years of water getting past old caulk and grout.
Rotted subfloor. A soft spot in front of the tub is usually the first sign.
Damaged joists under the tub, from slow leaks at the drain or overflow.
Old or leaking plumbing at the valve or drain.

Signs you might have it now

A floor that feels soft or bouncy near the tub.
Caulk that keeps turning black or pulling away.
Loose or cracked tiles, or grout that keeps crumbling.
A musty smell that cleaning doesn't fix.
Stains on the ceiling below the bathroom.

Old fiberglass tub with worn, water-damaged trim at the base — Worn or swollen trim at the base of a tub is worth a closer look.

How we handle it

We check before we start. The free in-home visit includes a moisture and damage check. We'll tell you what we see and what it could mean.
We show you what we find. If the walls reveal damage once they're open, we stop and walk you through it.
Nothing gets fixed without your OK. Any repair happens with your approval, during the same install.
Then the new shower goes in over a sound, dry structure.

Tub surround removed to the studs — Every job starts with the walls open, so we can see what we are building on.

Vintage tub with walls removed — Every job starts with the walls open, so we can see what we are building on.

A repair can turn a one-day install into two or three days. We'd rather add a day than seal damage behind a new wall.

Why this matters when you compare quotes

A liner installed over your existing tub is quicker and cheaper because nothing comes out, and that also means nobody looks. If there's damage, it stays. Ask every company you talk to whether they remove the old tub and walls. Our 9 questions to ask any installer covers this and more.

Worried about yours?

Text a photo of your tub, the caulk line and the floor in front of it to 570-216-8231. We'll tell you if anything looks off. Or book a free in-home visit and we'll check it in person.