Ask the plumber: Getting a big tub into a little space

Q. We have an old tub/shower unit with tile walls that we want to rip out. I want the new unit to be made of materials like fiberglass, complete with built-in walls. I know this will lead to a major remodeling job where I’ll end up changing all my plumbing fixtures. It’s a normal-sized bathroom, but it’s at the end of a long narrow hallway on the second floor. I’ll get a toilet and sink up there with no problem, but how can I get a big tub/shower unit into such a small area?

A. If you’re looking to get a big one-piece tub/shower unit into a small area, your odds are probably slim.

Large one-piece plumbing fixtures like that are usually put in place when a new home is under construction.

The good news is that, nowadays, multipiece tub and/or shower units are readily available and work out great for most remodeling jobs. Multipiece units are just as the name states, and when the sections are installed together, they make up one large completed plumbing fixture.

The first component is the shower base or the bathtub itself. The second piece is the back wall, which can be formed to different lengths to fit your exact tub or shower base. And the third and fourth components are the two side walls needed to finish the custom shower-stall or tub enclosure. Doors or shower curtains are added later.

No need to worry about ugly seams; many multipiece units are designed to incorporate the seams into the styling of the unit. The separate pieces are also fairly easy to carry, since strong lightweight materials like fiberglass, acrylic and Vikrell are popular material choices.

Vikrell is a fairly new composite material, and I’ve seen it used in tub/shower panels that simply lock together without any caulking.

Breaking down one large unit into four smaller pieces usually makes it possible to get a full-size tub and shower into remodeling areas that were off-limits to big one-piece units.

Bottom line: Look at your tub/shower size issue as if it were a puzzle, and once you get all the right pieces to fit, your problem should be solved.

Ÿ Master contractor and plumber Ed Del Grande is the author of “Ed Del Grande’s House Call” and hosts TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com.

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