By Bruno Venichand, J. Perry & Sons — Florida CGC1540699
Freestanding tub installation cost in South Florida starts at $2,000–$3,500 when the drain is already in the right place and the faucet mounts on the wall. Most homes are not set up that way. Replacing a built-in deck or alcove tub with a freestanding tub, moving the drain in the slab and running a floor-mounted filler typically runs $7,500–$14,000 before the tub itself. We handle the slab work, plumbing coordination and tile as part of J. Perry & Sons bathroom renovation projects.
Freestanding tub installation cost by scope
| Scope | What it includes | Installed range |
|---|---|---|
| Set tub over existing drain, wall-mount filler | Leveling, drain connection, silicone | $2,000–$3,500 |
| Remove built-in deck tub and its platform | Demo, haul, cap supplies | $1,250–$2,250 |
| Move tub drain in the slab | Saw-cut, trench, new drain and trap, patch | $2,250–$4,000 |
| Floor-mounted tub filler with supply lines in the slab | Trench, PEX in sleeve, rough box, patch | $1,750–$3,250 |
| New floor tile where the old tub stood | Standard porcelain / large-format | $14–$18 / $25–$34 per sq ft |
| Wall repair and tile behind old tub location | Board, waterproof at splash zone, tile | $2,500–$4,500 |
| Typical conversion: built-in tub to freestanding | All of the above in one bathroom | $7,500–$14,000 |
| Tub (owner-supplied) | Acrylic / stone resin / cast iron | $1,500–$6,000+ |
| Floor-mount filler (owner-supplied) | Fixture only | $700–$2,500 |
Plumbing work is permitted, and in a master bath remodel the tub is one line in a larger budget. Our bathroom renovation cost guide shows where it fits.
Why the floor is most of the work
A freestanding tub sits in the open, so everything under and around it is visible: the floor tile, the drain location, the filler and the space on every side. Three things decide the cost.
Drain position. A freestanding tub drains through the bottom at one end or the center. The existing drain from a built-in tub is almost never in the right spot, so the slab is saw-cut and trenched to the new location. On a slab-on-grade house this is routine. In a condo or a second floor, the drain runs through a structural slab or a framed floor, and the building's rules and engineer come into it.
Filler supply. A wall-mounted filler is the simplest: lines stay in the wall. A floor-mounted filler needs hot and cold lines under the slab or through the floor, set to exact height before the floor is tiled. Once the tile is down, there is no adjusting it.
Floor tile. The area under a removed built-in tub has no tile. If the matching floor tile is still available, we patch. Usually it is not, and the bathroom floor gets new tile, which is why many tub swaps grow into floor projects.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or send us your project. Send a photo of the bathroom with the tub in view and we'll give you a same-day range.
Call (561) 556-7509 or send us your project with photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.
Choosing a tub that fits the room and the structure
Size and clearance. Allow at least 4–6" between the tub and any wall so it can be cleaned behind, and more on the filler side. A 67" tub in a 72" space looks squeezed.
Weight. Acrylic tubs are light. Stone resin and cast iron weigh several hundred pounds empty, and well over that when filled with water and a person. On a ground-floor slab this is not a concern. On a framed upper floor or in a condo, we ask the association for its structural requirements before ordering a heavy tub.
Overflow and drain kit. Freestanding tubs ship with a specific drain and overflow assembly. We need the spec sheet before the drain is moved, because the rough-in dimension is set by the tub, not by us.
Access. Some tubs have a removable panel or a drain accessible from below. On a slab you get neither, so the drain connection is made carefully and tested before the tub is set.
How we install a freestanding tub
- Layout from the tub spec. We mark the tub footprint, drain center and filler center on the floor from the manufacturer's drawing.
- Demo. The old tub, its platform and the tile around it come out. The supplies are capped.
- Slab work. Saw-cut, trench, set the new drain with the correct slope to the existing line, and run filler supplies in a sleeve. Rough plumbing inspection.
- Patch and level. The trench is filled with concrete and the floor is leveled for tile.
- Waterproofing. We waterproof the floor around the tub area, because water ends up on the floor more often than with an alcove tub.
- Tile. Floor tile laid so the tub sits on full tiles, not slivers.
- Set and connect. The tub is leveled, the drain connected and the filler installed. We fill and drain it to test before the final silicone bead.
South Florida details
Cast-iron drain lines in homes from the 1970s and 1980s are often corroded where we connect. We inspect the existing line once the trench is open and price any repair before covering it. Slab moisture is a factor under tile, not under the tub. Condo buildings often require the association's approval for any slab penetration and limit noisy work to set hours. Plumbing work in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade cities requires a permit; we pull it and schedule inspections. Timeline for a tub swap alone is typically 5–8 working days plus the permit; inside a full master bath it adds about a week.
Bathroom remodeling by city
- Bathroom renovation in Parkland
- Bathroom renovation in Boca Raton
- Bathroom renovation in Wellington
- Bathroom renovation in Fort Lauderdale
- Bathroom renovation in Coral Gables
- Bathroom renovation in Palm Beach Gardens
Related guides: Shower glass enclosure cost · Curbless shower on a Florida slab · Cost to tile a bathroom
Prefer to send photos or plans? Send us your project
Freestanding tub installation — FAQ
How much does it cost to install a freestanding tub? $2,000–$3,500 when the drain and filler are already in place. Converting a built-in tub, with slab and plumbing work and new tile, runs $7,500–$14,000 plus the tub.
Do I need to move the drain for a freestanding tub? Almost always. Built-in tubs drain at one end against the wall; a freestanding tub drains at its own location, which is set by the tub's spec sheet.
Wall-mounted or floor-mounted tub filler? Wall-mounted costs less if there is a wall close enough. A floor-mounted filler suits a tub in the middle of the room but needs supply lines in the slab, set before tile.
Can a condo floor hold a cast-iron tub? Often yes, but ask the association first. Many buildings set rules for heavy fixtures and slab penetrations, and we follow them.
How do I get an exact price? Call (561) 556-7509 or send photos and rough dimensions through our project form. A written estimate is typically ready within 24–48 hours after a site review and scope confirmation.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or send us your project. Licensed Florida general contractor CGC1540699. Serving Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.
Call (561) 556-7509 or send us your project with photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.