Looking for an easy upgrade to a bathtub? Replace a shower curtain with a sliding tub door with panels of tempered safety glass or mirror. You’ll find several styles with sleek tracks and frames made of polished brass, nickel, silver and white finishes, and you can coordinate the new door with fixtures and accessories. Many of them are designed for do-it-yourself installation and sold at home improvement and bath centers.
We admit that newbie DIYers may be intimidated when they open the packing carton and find a bag of mysterious hardware and components, but don’t let that stop you if you’re bent on doing it yourself. Most manufacturers provide detailed instructions and videos on their websites. For $350 you can buy a top quality 5-foot-wide bathtub door system and install it, saving 55%.
Before you begin, find an area near the bathroom where you can lay out all the pieces. Protect the tub surface with a dropcloth, or use a piece of the large cardboard the unit was packed in to lay on the bottom of the tub. Remove everything from the area surrounding the tub, including the old shower curtain and hardware, and clean and dry all the surfaces.
Unpack the unit and its components carefully and use the instructions as a guide to identify the parts and components. The installation steps involve measuring the door, cutting the top and horizontal tracks to fit, and then fastening them to the tub and sides of the wall. Mount the door panels in the tracks and adjust so they slide easily.
A carpenter will charge $772, which includes the door and its installation. Another option is to pay the “installed price” offered by a retailer that usually includes the door and its installation.
To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.
Pro Cost — DIY Cost — Pro time — DIY Time — DIY Savings — Percent Saved
$772 — $350 — 3.6 — 4.5 — $422 — 55%
