Bathtub cutouts
The tub wall is the barrier. You do not have to replace the whole bathroom to remove it.
A section of the tub wall is cut out and a watertight step-through insert fitted in its place. Done in a day, in your existing bath, without touching the tile.
Is a cutout the right answer for your bathroom?
It is not right for everyone, and we would rather tell you that now. Three questions and you will know.
Question 1 of 3
Does anyone in the house still want a full bath?
A full bathroom conversion is weeks of work. This is an afternoon.
When someone can no longer lift a leg over a tub wall, the answer they usually get quoted is a walk-in shower: rip out the bath, retile, replumb, new floor, and a bathroom out of action for a week or more. For some households that is the right call, and it is a serious amount of money and disruption.
A cutout does the one thing that actually matters. The section of tub wall you have to step over is removed and replaced with a watertight insert with a low threshold, so you walk in rather than climb in. The tub stays, the tile stays, the plumbing stays, and the bathroom is usable the same day.
A fraction of a conversion
No new tub, no tiling, no plumbing alteration and no floor work. It is the single component that solves the problem.
Usually one day on site
Cut, fit, seal and cure. Most installations are done in a day and the bathroom is back in use quickly.
The tile is not touched
No dust through the house, no bathroom out of commission for a week, and nothing to reinstate afterwards.
The tub is still a tub
With a door insert the bath still holds water, so nobody in the household loses the option of a soak.
How much of the wall comes out.
That depends on who uses the bathroom and whether anyone still wants a full bath.
A section of the wall removed to leave a low step-in threshold, so you walk into the tub rather than lifting a leg over it.
A removable or hinged panel closes the opening, so the tub still holds water for anyone who wants a soak.
A wider opening for someone transferring from a wheelchair or using a bench, where the standard width is not enough.
The cutout removes the climb, and a grab bar gives something solid to hold during the step and the turn. Almost always done together.
Not every tub is a candidate, and we will tell you.
The conversion works on most acrylic, fibreglass and steel tubs, which is the large majority of Ontario bathrooms. Cast iron is a different matter, and some older tubs have wall construction or surrounds that make a clean watertight seal difficult.
We look at the tub material, the surround, the state of the existing seals and how the room is used before quoting. Where a cutout is not the right answer we will say so and price the alternative rather than fitting something that will leak in two years.
What usually goes with it
A cutout removes the climb. These remove the rest of the difficulty.
Grab bars
Fixed into structure beside the opening, for the step through and the turn. Almost every cutout is paired with at least one.
Shower chairs
Sitting to wash removes the balancing entirely, and a cutout makes getting to the chair possible in the first place.
Hand-held shower
A hand-held head on a slide rail, so someone seated can wash without standing or reaching overhead.
Non-slip finishes
Anti-slip treatment on the tub floor and a mat outside it. The two square feet where most bathroom falls happen.
Questions about bathtub cutouts
If yours is not here, call us on 905 451-7743. A person answers during business hours.
What is a bathtub cutout?
A section of the tub wall you would otherwise step over is cut away, and a watertight step-through insert is fitted in its place. The result is a low threshold you walk through instead of a wall you climb over, using the bath you already have.
How long does it take?
Most installations are completed in a day on site, including curing time for the seal. Compared with a full walk-in shower conversion, which takes a week or more and puts the bathroom out of use, it is a very different scale of job.
Will it leak?
Not when it is fitted correctly into a suitable tub. The insert is sealed into the cut edge with a watertight bond designed for the purpose. What matters is assessing the tub first, which is why we look at the material and the existing seals before quoting rather than after.
Can any bathtub be converted?
Most acrylic, fibreglass and steel tubs, which covers the large majority of homes. Cast iron is a different proposition, and some older tubs or surrounds make a clean seal difficult. We assess before quoting and will tell you honestly if yours is not a candidate.
Can other people still use the bath normally?
With a standard cutout the tub no longer holds a full bath, though it works perfectly well as a shower for everyone. If somebody in the household wants to keep the option of a soak, a cutout with a removable or hinged door insert does both.
Do I need to retile?
No. The work is confined to the tub itself, so tile, plumbing and flooring are untouched. That is the main reason it is so much less disruptive and less expensive than a conversion.
Should I get a cutout or a walk-in shower?
A cutout if the tub wall is the barrier and the bathroom otherwise works, which is most cases. A full conversion if the room needs rearranging anyway, if wheelchair access is required, or if you were planning to renovate regardless. We will tell you which applies rather than assuming.
Does ADP cover it?
No. Bathroom modifications are not an Assistive Devices Program category. The Ontario Seniors' Home Safety Tax Credit is usually the most useful route, and March of Dimes Canada HVMP, ODSP, WSIB, Veterans Affairs and IFHP fund bathroom work in some circumstances.
Is a cutout wheelchair accessible?
A standard one is not; it removes the climb for someone walking. A wide cutout gets closer, but genuine wheelchair or shower-chair access sometimes needs a full level-entry conversion. We will assess both and be honest about which your room can achieve.
What if I rent?
A cutout is a permanent alteration to the landlord's tub, so it needs their written agreement, and most landlords decline. A transfer bench or a bath lift achieves much of the same benefit with nothing cut, and both come out when you leave.
Does it affect the resale value of the house?
A converted tub is a consideration for a future buyer who wants a bath, which is worth knowing. A door insert version keeps the tub fully functional and largely removes that concern.
How much does it cost?
Substantially less than a bathroom conversion, and it varies with the tub, the width of the opening and whether a door insert is included. We give you a written price after the free assessment rather than a range that may not apply to your tub.
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Book a free bathroom assessment
We look at the tub, the surround and how the room is used, and tell you whether a cutout is the right answer. No charge, and we will say if it is not.