Bathtub Replacement in Minnesota, Done in a Day or Two

A bathtub replacement is a focused job: we replace just the bathtub and its surround rather than gutting the whole bathroom, which keeps it a one-to-few-day project on a standard alcove once the new tub and materials are on-site. Most tubs in Twin Cities homes sit in a 30-by-60-inch alcove, and that's the size we swap most often. Here's what a replacement with us actually includes: - Pulling the old tub. We remove the cracked, stained, or dated tub and haul it out. - Checking the drain and subfloor. With the wall open we look at the drain and the framing around the old tub before anything new goes in. - Setting the new tub level. A tub that isn't set dead level holds standing water and stresses the drain seal, so we take the time here. - Building the surround back with Onyx. A custom solid-surface surround made to your alcove, no grout lines, in the color and finish you choose. Want a straight read on your tub? Call [(612) 445-4352](tel:+16124454352) and we'll come look before you commit to anything.

When you replace a bathtub, you've really got three directions, and the right one depends on how your household uses the room. We build all three, so we have no reason to push you toward one over another.

"The first question we ask is who uses the tub. If someone in the house still takes baths or you're down to one bathroom, keep a tub. If nobody's used it as a tub in years, a walk-in shower is usually the better spend."

Use this to narrow it down: - A standard replacement tub is the straight swap: a new tub where the old one was, same footprint, same plumbing. It's the simplest scope and the right call when the layout works and you just want a clean, new tub. - A soaking tub is deeper, for a longer, fuller bath. It can call for a different rough-in and sometimes a larger water heater, which we check during the assessment so it isn't a surprise. - A tub-to-shower conversion removes the tub entirely and builds a walk-in shower in the alcove, often with a low or zero threshold for easier entry. If that's the direction you're leaning, our [walk-in shower installation](/walk-in-shower-installation) page covers it in full, or convert the tub to a walk-in shower and skip the climb-over for good.

When a bathtub replacement is the wrong call

We'll be straight with you. If the floor flexes when you step near the tub, if there's discoloration spreading from the base, or if the plumbing behind the wall is failing, a tub swap alone is a patch over a bigger problem, and you're better served by a fuller [bathroom remodel](/services/bathrooms/) that addresses the subfloor and waterproofing too. And if nobody in the house has taken a bath in years and you're tired of stepping over a tub wall, don't replace the tub at all. Convert it to a shower. We'll tell you which category you're in at the consultation rather than after the old tub is in the dumpster. Ready when you are, [request a free in-home estimate](/get-a-quote/).

A bathtub replacement is a shorter job than a full remodel, but the sequence still matters, and in an older home it's the age of the house behind the wall that decides the timeline. Here's how a replacement actually goes on a standard alcove. Here's the sequence: 1. In-home assessment. We look at the existing tub and surround, check where the drain sits, and talk through a standard tub, a soaking tub, or a shower conversion before anything is quoted. 2. Pull the old tub and open the wall. This is when we check the drain and subfloor. In older Twin Cities homes we regularly find a corroded drain or a soft spot where the wall held moisture for years. If we find it, we show you before we go further. 3. Confirm the drain and rough-in. A replacement is straightforward when the drain lines up. If the plan calls for moving it, that's a scope change we price up front, not a surprise on the invoice. 4. Set the new tub and build the surround. We set the tub dead level, then build the walls back with a custom Onyx surround made to your alcove, no grout lines to scrub later. On a standard alcove with the drain where we need it, a straight tub swap is often a one-to-two-day job once materials are on-site. [Tell us what you're planning](/contact) and we'll come look.

Choosing who replaces your tub comes down to a few honest questions: Are they actually licensed in Minnesota? Do they self-perform the work or farm it out? And will they check what's behind the wall before they tear it open? TWS is licensed in Minnesota (BC773859), in business since 2001, and carries a 4.5-star rating across more than 1,000 Google reviews. The crew that gives you the estimate is the crew that does the work, no subcontractor handoff. We handle permits where the scope requires them and put pricing in writing before anything gets scheduled. A like-for-like tub and surround swap over existing walls often doesn't need a permit, while moving the drain or altering the plumbing configuration typically does, and we catch all of that during the assessment rather than after. We offer $0 down, 0% interest financing for 12 months on qualifying projects. Ready when you are, call [(612) 445-4352](tel:+16124454352).