Bathtub replacement in Dallas: alcove swaps, freestanding tubs and deep soakers
Out with the chipped fiberglass or rusted steel, in with a new tub set level on a sound floor, with the drain, overflow and surround done properly around it.
Updated October 2026. Service office: 2353 Bryan St, Dallas. Phones answered 24/7.
Tubs and trim we install in Dallas: Kohler, American Standard and Jacuzzi tubs, Signature Hardware freestanding models, Delta and Moen tub fillers.
Bathtub replacement in Dallas typically runs 555 to 1,290 dollars for most homeowners in market data, with an average near 922, before surround work. Blackland clay under Dallas homes often means the floor under the old tub needs 300 to 800 dollars of subfloor reinforcement, so we check that first.
What changes when a tub comes out
A tub swap sounds simple: disconnect the drain, pull the tub, set a new one. In an alcove the tub is locked in by the surround tile, so the bottom row of tile or the whole surround comes off with it.
Underneath, the floor gets checked. Old tubs leak slowly at the drain and overflow, and on a slab or an old wood subfloor that shows up as soft spots or a stained, uneven base. We fix it before the new tub goes down, because a tub that flexes cracks its own caulk line within months.
Then the drain and overflow are replaced, the tub is set level in mortar or on its feet, and the surround is rebuilt or repaired to meet the new flange.
Which kind of tub fits your bathroom?
| Alcove tub | Freestanding tub | |
|---|---|---|
| Space | Fits the standard 60 by 30 alcove | Needs open floor on at least two sides |
| Plumbing change | Usually none | New drain position and filler supply |
| Surround | Tile or panels on three walls | Finished floor and wall behind it |
| Cleaning | Nothing to clean behind | Floor around and behind the tub |
| Weight when full | Moderate | Often heavier; floor checked for load |
| Schedule | Two to four days | Longer if the drain moves |
Three tub replacements we do in Dallas
Alcove Tub Swap
The alcove tub is the standard 60-inch tub between three walls. We cut the surround tile back to the stud line, remove the old tub, replace the drain and overflow, and set the new tub in a mortar bed so the base never flexes. The bottom of the surround is rebuilt with new board and waterproofing lapped over the tub flange, then tiled to match or to meet a new surround. Old cast iron is broken up in place so it leaves through the door.
Planning range, tub removal and disposal: $150 to $300.
Freestanding Tub Installation
A freestanding tub sits in the open, so the drain and the filler have to land exactly where the tub goes. The drain is set to the tub's outlet position, and the filler is either floor-mounted, which means supply lines run under the floor, or wall-mounted over the tub. Freestanding tubs are heavy when full, so the floor is checked for load, and the finished floor is tiled right under the tub before it is set in place and leveled.
Planning range, bathtub replacement in Dallas: $555 to $1,290 for most homeowners (average $922); labor $100 to $2,000; standard tubs $200 to $1,000.
Deep Soaking Tub Upgrade
A soaking tub is deeper than standard, often 20 inches or more of water, and that changes three things: the water heater has to be large enough to fill it, the floor has to carry the extra weight, and the overflow sits higher. We check all three before ordering. In an alcove, a soaking model with the same 60 by 30 footprint can replace a standard tub without moving a wall. Many owners pair it with a hand shower on a slide bar.
Planning range, subfloor reinforcement before a tub replacement (Blackland clay): $300 to $800.
What decides the price of a tub replacement
Six items explain most of the difference between two tub quotes.
Planning range, bathtub replacement in Dallas: $555 to $1,290 for most homeowners (average $922); labor $100 to $2,000; standard tubs $200 to $1,000. Market data, not a quote.
Tub material
Acrylic and fiberglass are light; cast iron and stone need more labor.
Removal
Cast iron is broken up in place; tub removal and disposal is its own line.
Floor under the tub
Subfloor or slab repair is added when the old tub leaked.
Surround work
Patching the bottom rows costs less than a full new surround.
Tub style
Freestanding tubs need a new drain position and filler supply.
Supply lines
Galvanized lines behind the wall are replaced while it is open.
What Dallas floors do to bathtubs
Dallas homes sit on Blackland clay that swells and shrinks, and floors under old tubs are often soft or out of level by the time the tub comes out, which is why Dallas replacements frequently carry a subfloor line. Older houses here also tend to have galvanized supply lines behind the tub wall, which we replace while it is open. A like-for-like tub swap returns less at resale than a midrange remodel, so it is worth being clear about the goal.
How a bathtub replacement runs
- 1
Call and describe the tub
Size, material, what is wrong with it.
- 2
Walkthrough
Floor, walls and water heater checked.
- 3
Selection
Tub, drain, overflow and trim chosen.
- 4
Removal
Surround cut back, old tub out and hauled.
- 5
Floor and plumbing
Subfloor repaired, drain, overflow and valve set.
- 6
Set and surround
Tub set level, surround rebuilt and tiled.
- 7
Trim and walkthrough
Trim installed, tub filled and checked with you.
Signs a tub needs replacing, not refinishing
Cracks in the base
A crack you can feel means the tub has been flexing on a failing floor.
Floor gives underfoot
Softness in front of the tub points to rot or a void under it.
Rust through steel
Rust that bubbles through enamel cannot be refinished away.
Leaks at the drain
Water marks below or beside the tub usually start at the drain shoe.
Tub rocks or creaks
Movement means it was never set in mortar or the bed has broken up.
Caulk splits every season
A caulk line that keeps opening follows a tub that moves.
Wrong size for you
Too shallow to soak or too high to step into safely.
Tub replacement questions from Dallas homeowners
Something else? Call and ask, any hour.
Market data: about 555 to 1,290 dollars for most homeowners, average near 922, before surround work.
At least the bottom rows in an alcove; sometimes the whole surround.
Rarely through a standard door; it is broken up in place.
Two to four days for most alcove swaps, longer with a new surround.
Yes, with the drain moved and a new filler run.
We check capacity before ordering a deep tub.
If you never use the tub, see tub to shower conversions.
More Showers & Tubs work we do in Dallas
Tub to Shower Conversion
Acrylic Surround Conversion and more, in Dallas.
Learn moreWalk-In Shower Installation
Curbless and Zero-Threshold Entry and more, in Dallas.
Learn moreShower Leak Repair
Failed Shower Pan or Liner and more, in Dallas.
Learn moreFrom our guides
Tell us about the tub
Call and describe the tub you have, what is wrong with it and what you want instead. We will tell you what the swap involves and what to check before ordering.
2353 Bryan St, Dallas, TX 75201