Who specified the tub and ordered it? Whoever that is (you, GC, or designer) is on the hook to pay to have it replaced, including construction costs associated. Sounds like you need an alcove tub with a flange to be used as a tub/shower combo. Yes, it *can* be removed. Anything can always be removed. The question is who is going to pay for it.

I ordered the tub and clearly there was a miscommunication. I am not looking to the designer to pay. We are on an island and am not going to rip out the tub. I will go the rolled up towels route before I do that.

Agreed, anything can be changed, it just takes time and money. The question is whose time and money?

How often do you plan on showering here. The cheap and ugly fix is to place a shower curtain on the inside and outside and drape it inside the tub. That would keep most of the sides dry. Or do an old fashioned oval shower bar hanging from the ceiling like the ones they used to use around claw foot tubs.

New England Estate · More Info

Craftsman Bathroom · More Info

Scottyranch,

Look, building a dream cottage is expensive. Just remodeling 1 bathroom is expensive. Think about your overall goal here, and think about it in terms of percentages and how long you want to enjoy your dream cottage (without rolled up towels, mold, mildew, water seepage, rotting your walls, rotting your structure, etc, and more bad things). It won't be your dream cottage for long. On a couple of remodels, I've made mistakes also. Think big picture. So let's say your dream cottage costs $100. How much is the bathroom? Let's say this bathroom is 20%, so $20. How much would it be to rip out that wrong tub now, replace it with the right one, and then move on to complete the project. Is it $5, $3, $2? Think of it as a percentage.

I was hoping for a simple elegant solution.

I am not completely sure where your problem is. Is it at the back wall between the penny tiles and the tub or on the right wall where there is a hole or both? Are you planning to make it a tub/shower combo? If so, is your shower head going to be on the right wall?

It is the wrong tub but reviewers are over simplifying things to say this is easily fixed by just buying an alcove tub to replace the drop in tub. An alcove tub’s drain would be near the faucet while this drop in tub’s drain would be in the center. So you’d have to rip up the concrete floor, redo the plumbing, pour concrete again, build a third wall to create an alcove, buy a new tub. So not an easy fix. Better to limit showers in this space and wipe it dry after every use. A drag but way less expensive than the alternative

Maybe not the best, but could you tile the edges of the tub on the back and the right side?

We have thought about it but the tile would have to be on an angle to be of any benefits and the corners and ends would be problematic. Someone also suggested a cove tile but not sure if that would work. The shower head is on the right hand side. The walls are fully waterproofed.

Maybe make the back wall and the right wall thick so there is no gap between the tub and the wall then add a trim where the joint is. This would mean that you need to re-tile the back wall.

I think you're onto something with this. An alcove tub would have a slip that makes the water flow down into the tub, thus avoiding pooling. Moving the walls forward and adding a ceramic chair rail where it's forced to flow down, might be the most elegant fix for this drop in tub. Two walls would have to be brought forward and one, retiled. Still way cheaper than ripping floors, plumbing, tub and tile out.

Hmm this sounds better than my pool noodle option….