Should You Remove the Garden Tub in Your Master Bathroom?

If your home in Allen, McKinney, Plano, Murphy or Wylie was built in the 1990s or 2000s, there is a good chance your master bathroom has a corner garden tub on a tiled deck, sitting next to a small shower with a framed glass door.

It is one of the most common layouts we remodel in Collin County, and one of the most satisfying to change.

Why so many homeowners remove the garden tub

• It rarely gets used. Large jetted tubs take a lot of hot water and a long time to fill.
• It takes up prime floor space that could be a much larger shower.
• The deck, jets and corners are hard to clean, and older jetted tub motors can fail.
• The shower next to it is usually small, with a single fixed shower head and a framed door that collects hard-water spots.
• The whole room looks dated: cultured marble, almond fixtures and small floor tile.

What replaces the garden tub

1. A larger walk-in shower (most popular)

The shower is extended into the old tub space. In this master bathroom remodel in Murphy, removing the garden tub and the old shower made room for a walk-in shower about 9 feet long, with a new curb, pan and drain, tile to the ceiling and the arched window kept as the focal point.

2. A freestanding tub plus a bigger shower

If you still enjoy a soak, replace the built-in tub and deck with a freestanding tub. It takes less floor space, so the shower can grow too.

3. A wet room

The shower and a freestanding tub share one glass-enclosed, fully waterproofed area. It looks like a spa and works well in medium-size master baths.

4. More storage

Some homeowners use part of the old tub area for a linen tower, a makeup vanity or a longer double vanity.

What the work involves

1. Demolition: remove the tub, deck, old shower walls, shower pan and glass.
2. Plumbing: cap the old tub supply and drain, move or add the shower drain and install a new shower valve.
3. Slab work: most Collin County homes are on a concrete slab, so moving a drain means opening the slab and patching it.
4. Shower pan and waterproofing: new curb, pan liner and sloped mud bed, then a full waterproofing system.
5. Tile, vanity and fixtures: wall and floor tile, the new vanity and top, faucets and lighting.
6. Glass: measured after tile and custom cut for the finished shower.

A full master bathroom remodel like this usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks. If permits are required for the plumbing work, we handle them. Read about bathroom permits in Collin County.

What affects the cost

• Drain relocation and how much slab has to be opened.
• Shower size, tile height and the tile you choose. See the best tile for shower walls and floors.
• Glass type: fixed panel, frameless door or sliding door.
• Whether you add a freestanding tub, and the filler that goes with it.
• The rest of the room: vanity, countertop, flooring, lighting and toilet.

We give every homeowner a written, itemized quote after an in-home visit. Read more about what drives bathroom remodel costs.

Will removing the garden tub hurt resale?

Usually not, as long as there is another tub in the house, typically in a hall or kids' bathroom. Buyers touring master baths tend to value a large, modern shower far more than a dated jetted tub. More on this in our guide to a walk-in shower vs. a bathtub.

Frequently asked questions

Can you remove a garden tub without remodeling the whole bathroom?

Yes, but the tile, flooring and walls around the tub usually need to change too, so most homeowners update the vanity and floors at the same time to make the room match.

How long does it take to replace a garden tub with a walk-in shower?

A full master bathroom remodel that replaces a garden tub with a walk-in shower usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks.

Do I need a permit to remove a garden tub in Collin County?

It depends on your city and the scope. Moving plumbing usually requires a permit. We confirm the requirements for your city and handle the permit when one is needed.

Is a jetted tub worth keeping?

Only if you use it regularly. Jetted tubs need cleaning and their pumps can fail with age. Many homeowners replace them with a simple freestanding soaking tub instead.

See what your bathroom could look like

We remodel master bathrooms in Allen, McKinney, Plano, Murphy, Wylie and across Collin County. Book a free in-home visit and we will measure your space, bring samples to your home and show you what the new layout could look like.