Bath replacement means two jobs: removing the old bath and installing the new one with a trap, an overflow and a watertight joint at the wall. Installing a new bath costs from €80, removing the old bath from €30. We give the exact price after assessing the situation and agree it before the work starts.
Replacing a bath looks simple, but most leaks through to the neighbours start right at the trap and the joint between the bath and the wall. That is why these spots are the most important part of the job.
Removing an old bath costs from €30. An acrylic or steel bath is disconnected from the trap and lifted out. A cast iron bath is a different story: it is heavy, often needs several people to carry or has to be broken up before it is taken out, and in an apartment building without a lift that is a separate job.
If the bath is built in or tiles have been laid over it, the edges have to be freed first. After that the bottom of the wall usually needs repair, and that is not plumbing work.
Taking the bath away and disposal are not included in the removal. Old cast iron baths are often collected free of charge by scrap metal collectors who advertise online, so it is worth arranging the removal before the work starts.
Shutting off the water and removal
The apartment valves are closed, the mixer hose is removed, the trap is disconnected and the old bath is carried out.
Preparing the space
The floor and the drain opening are cleaned, the pipe is checked for damage and the position of the new bath is measured.
Frame or feet
The bath feet or frame are fitted and the bath is adjusted so that the water runs to the waste and the bath does not move.
Trap and overflow
The new trap with its overflow is connected to the drain and checked with a full bath for leaks.
Joint and panel
The joint between the bath and the wall is sealed and, if agreed, a panel is fitted with access to the trap.
For a bath replacement, closing the apartment valves is usually enough. If a valve does not close, the water has to be shut off at the riser, and the house manager arranges that.
In many small bathrooms a shower goes in place of the bath. That is a different job: a shower cabin or shower area needs a tray or floor drain with the right fall to the drain. For this see the shower cabin installation page, price from €80.
If you are replacing all the bathroom fittings and pipes, it is easier to plan them together: bathroom plumbing from €200. If you are also replacing the toilet at the same time, see toilet installation. All jobs are on the plumbing services page.
| Job | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bath installation | from €80 | acrylic or steel bath with trap and connections |
| Old bath removal | from €30 | excluding taking away and disposal |
| Bath replacement in total | from €110 | removal and installation in one visit |
The price depends on the bath type (cast iron and whirlpool baths take more work), feet or frame, replacing the trap and overflow, moving the mixer tap and sealing the joint with the tiles. For removal it matters whether the bath is cast iron, whether it is built in and whether it has to be carried down from an upper floor.
The price does not include the bath itself, the trap, feet or frame, fitting the panel, tiling or taking the old bath away. If the mixer tap drips, it can be fixed at the same time: faucet repair from €25.
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bath installation | from €80 | labour; bath, trap and feet extra |
| Old bath removal | from €30 | excluding taking away and disposal |
An old cast-iron bath is most often replaced with an acrylic or steel one. An acrylic bath is light and warm, but it needs a sturdy frame, otherwise it flexes and the seal along the wall cracks. A steel bath is cheaper and more rigid, but louder; it stands on feet, and sound-deadening material can be applied underneath.
The new bath has to fit where the old one was. In Soviet-era bathrooms the alcove is often exactly the length of the old bath, and a new standard-size bath can be a few centimetres longer or shorter. Measure the alcove at the walls, not the old bath, and check that the wall-mounted mixer tap will stay at the right height.
The joint between the bath and the wall is sealed once the bath has been filled, so it can settle: bath sealing. If you are thinking of a shower instead of the bath, see bath or shower.
For any bath, the feet are adjusted so the water runs towards the outlet and the bath does not move. The panel under the bath gets an access hatch at the trap, because the trap is one of the most common leak points.
Bath installation starts from €80, but for more complex baths we agree the price after an inspection, because it depends on the frame, the outlet position and the connections. If a shower will take the place of the bath, see bath to shower conversion.
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