How to Demolish a Tub Surround

Updating your bathroom adds value to your home as well as being aesthetically pleasing for you. You can save money by doing it yourself. Dismantling the existing tub surround, while not difficult, does take some planning on your part. Prepare to have your bathtub and shower out of commission for a few days while you are dismantling and replacing this area. Look at all existing features on the tub surround to determine how they were affixed to the wall and what type of tool will be needed to remove them. This process can be a bit messy and stir up a lot of dust, so make sure you have proper ventilation for the job, either by opening a window, having access to a fan or simply leaving the door open and allowing enough air flow.

• 1

  Remove all faucets and hardware on the existing tub surround, including soap dishes, towel racks, shower heads and so forth. These fixtures can be attached with either nails or screws. Carefully remove the hardware with the appropriate tool and set the fixtures aside if you intend to reuse them with the new surround. Remove any casing around windows, if there are any.

• 2

  Cut through the dry wall about 2 inches above the top of the existing tub surround using a keyhole saw. A reciprocating saw can make this process go more quickly, but do not use one if you are working with lathe and plaster walls. The vibrations from the saw can cause damage. When you reach a stud, tilt the tip of the saw blade up so that you will not cut through the stud. You can also remove the saw and move it over about 2 inches further and continue to saw through the wall board. You can go back after finishing with the wallboard saw and cut out these sections by hand.

• 3

  Pull out any screws of nails that are used to connect the tub surround to the wall studs.

• 4

  Pull the surround away from the wall.

• 5

  Cut the tub surround with a utility knife or shears This divides the surround into smaller sections and should make it easier to remove. Pull the sections of the surround away from the wall for disposal.

• 6

  Dispose of the pieces. This is considered construction waste, and it will have to be disposed of properly, not just thrown in with your trash pickup.