How to Cut a Fiberglass Tub
If you are doing a bathroom remodeling job, you will need to remove your old shower or bathtub before you can install a new one. Most tubs and showers are made out of fiberglass. Fiberglass is a very tough material, and a special saw blade for your jig saw will need to be purchased from your local home improvement store to cut down and remove your old fiberglass tub.
- Turn off the main water supply that runs to your bathtub before attempting to cut and remove it or any its fixtures.
- Turn on the water faucet and allow any remaining water that is still in your pipes to completely drain out, and then turn the faucet to the off position.
- Remove any fixtures and faucets, along with the drain cover and set aside. To remove these fixtures, you will need the appropriate screwdriver that each fixture requires depending on type of screw that is used.
- Remove the caulk that is around the edges of your tub with a metal scraper or putty knife. Be sure to remove as much of the caulk as possible so that your jigsaw blade does not become clogged or stuck on the remaining caulk.
- Put on your safety equipment such as safety goggles and respiratory mask for your own safety before operating your jigsaw.
- Attach a fiberglass jigsaw blade to your jigsaw and secure tightly.
- Saw your tub in half from the faucet openings to the opposite end; this will leave you with two long sections of your tub.
- Cut each long section into three smaller sections using your jigsaw with fiberglass blade attached.
- Remove each section one by one and discard of accordingly into your dumpster or designated trash or recycling container.
- Continue removing each piece one by one until all six pieces or your tub are removed.
- Install your new tub and reattach faucets if you are using the same ones that you just removed. If you purchased new faucets you should hook them up once the bathtub is in place.
- Caulk your new tub and shower surround and allow caulk to dry according to the manufacture's directions.