How Much Does a Bathtub Cutout Cost in Canada?

Why bathtub cutout cost is quote-based

Imperial Bathrooms supplies CleanCut products across Canada and connects homeowners with independent installers experienced with CleanCut products. Those installers run their own businesses, so they set their own prices.

A fair price also depends on the tub in front of them. Two bathrooms on the same street can need different CleanCut models, different cutting tools and different amounts of preparation. A quote based on your actual tub is the only figure you can rely on.

If you have been searching for a tub cutout cost in Canada and keep finding nothing firm, this is the reason. What this guide can give you is a clear picture of what a quote covers and how to make it accurate the first time.

What a complete installation quote normally includes

When an independent installer handles the job, the quote can include both parts of the work:

• The CleanCut product, in the model, size and colour (White or Beige) that fits your tub.
• The installation, which covers tracing the cutting template, cutting the opening in the tub wall, trimming the insert to follow your tub's profile, fitting the support structure and sealing everything with waterproof adhesive.

Because the product is part of the quote, you generally don't need to buy a DIY kit before contacting an installer. If anything else is needed, such as taking down glass sliding doors, ask for it to be listed in the quote.

What may affect your bathtub cutout cost

Every installer weighs a job a little differently, but these are the details that may affect a quote.

The model and size your tub needs

The CleanCut Step, Deep Step, Ultra-Low and Convertible suit different tub heights and wall widths, and the Step and Deep Step come in more than one size. The product that fits your tub is part of the price. The CleanCut sizing guide explains how each one is matched to a tub.

Tub material

CleanCut products are designed for acrylic, fibreglass, steel, porcelain-on-steel and cast-iron tubs. Cast iron is cut with a diamond-blade grinder and takes more work, which is why professional installation is recommended for it.

The condition of the tub and surround

An installer will look at the tub and at the walls and surround next to it. Their condition may affect how much preparation the job needs before any cutting starts.

Glass sliding doors

Sliding doors have to come off before the tub wall is cut. They are normally replaced with a shower rod and curtain, so ask whether removal is included.

Access to the bathroom

How easy it is to reach and work around the tub may also affect the job. A tight or awkward bathroom is worth mentioning when you send your request.

Tubs that need a closer look

Garden-style tubs vary widely and need a review of photos and measurements first. Jetted tubs are not recommended, and clawfoot tubs can't be modified at all. A tub with an existing liner can often be modified with a Double Cut, which means cutting through two layers, so mention the liner when you ask for a quote.

DIY kit or professional installation

There are two ways to get a CleanCut modification done, and the cost question works differently for each.

The DIY kit route

If you, or a contractor you hire yourself, will do the work, you buy a complete kit. Current kit prices are shown on each product page, and you can see every option on the CleanCut DIY kits page. Kits ship free across Canada.

Each Step, Deep Step and Ultra-Low kit includes the CleanCut unit, a two-part support structure, two tubes of waterproof adhesive, an adhesive angle extension, a cardboard cutting template and an installation guide. The Convertible adds its removable insert and a waterproof wrap.

This route suits people who are comfortable cutting and fitting a bathtub with a grinder, a reciprocating saw and a jigsaw. Watch the installation and measuring videos before you order.

The professional route

If you would rather not do the cutting yourself, an independent installer quotes the product and installation together. This is the recommended route for cast-iron tubs, and it means someone experienced with CleanCut products confirms the fit before work begins.

How to get an accurate quote

The more an installer knows up front, the closer the first quote will be to the final job. When you send a request, include:

• Photos of the whole tub, the side you step in from, and any sliding doors or surround.
• Measurements of the tub height and the width of the tub wall at the top rail. The sizing guide shows where to measure lower down for each model.
• Your postal code, so Imperial Bathrooms can check which independent installer serves your address.
• Anything unusual, such as a cast-iron tub, a curved front or a bathroom that is hard to reach.

Imperial Bathrooms reviews every request, and you'll receive a response within 2 business hours. Use the installation quote request form or call 1-855-707-9777.

Questions to ask an installer

Once you have a quote, a few questions help you understand it and avoid surprises.

1. Which CleanCut model and size does my tub need, and why?
2. Does the quote include both the product and the installation?
3. Is removing the sliding doors included, and will a rod and curtain go up afterwards?
4. Have you worked on a tub made of the same material as mine?
5. Is there anything about my tub or surround that could change the price once you see it in person?
6. How long will the work take on the day, and when can we use the tub again?
7. Do you offer a guarantee on your workmanship?

If you are still weighing the bigger picture of bathtub to shower conversion cost, it helps to compare scope first. A CleanCut modification keeps your existing tub, so the work is a cutout and insert rather than a tear-out. Our comparison of a bathtub cutout, walk-in tub and shower replacement sets out those differences.

Common questions