The process at a glance
- Phone conversation. We ask who will bathe, how they move, and what the bathroom looks like now. This is where we rule options in or out.
- Measurements and photos. The current tub or shower, the doorway, the hallway, and the path from the front door all get measured. See our measuring guide.
- Product choice. Size, door direction and features are settled, and you receive a written quote.
- Scheduling and paperwork. Delivery and install dates are set; any permit the job needs is handled by the installer.
- Installation day. Old fixture out, rough plumbing and electrical, new tub in, walls finished, test fill.
- Walk-through. You run the tub with the installer, learn the controls and the door seal, and get care instructions.
Before installation day
Confirming the fit
The single most important thing before ordering is confirming the tub will physically reach the bathroom. A walk-in tub cannot bend around a tight hallway corner the way a person can. We check every doorway and turn on the route, including the front steps. A narrow stair landing in a split-level or a tight turn at the top of a staircase is the kind of thing that decides which model is possible.
Checking what is behind the walls
Before the day, the installer will want to know where the water shutoffs are, whether the bathroom shares a wall with a basement or crawlspace where plumbing can be reached, and where the nearest electrical panel is. Jetted and heated tubs need electrical power, typically on a dedicated circuit with GFCI protection. If the panel is full or far away, that becomes part of the plan.
Permits
Whether a permit is needed depends on the scope of work and the city. For the City and County of Denver, the city's own pages say this:
- Denver's guidance for residential interior remodels says plumbing work that adds or relocates fixtures requires a construction permit.
- Denver's homeowner permit page lists replacing like-for-like plumbing fixtures such as faucets and sinks as work that does not need a permit.
- Residential plumbing trade permits in Denver are generally issued as quick permits through the city's online e-permits system, without plan review, when the work meets the city's conditions.
- Denver requires homeowners who do their own electrical, plumbing or mechanical work to pass an exam first.
A walk-in tub swap can involve plumbing changes and new electrical, so the details matter. Outside Denver, each city and county sets its own rules. Your installer handles permits where required, and you should ask any company you hire to confirm that in writing.
On installation day
In most Denver-area homes, a walk-in tub or roll-in shower is installed in one day. A typical day looks like this:
Morning: protect and remove
The crew lays floor protection along the route, shuts off the water, and removes the old tub or shower. Cast-iron tubs are often broken up in place to get them out safely.
Midday: rough-in
With the alcove open, the crew checks the subfloor, adjusts the drain and supply lines to fit the new tub, and connects power for pumps or heaters.
Afternoon: set and seal
The tub is leveled and set, connected, and the wall surround or panels go up. Joints are sealed.
End of day: test
The tub is filled and drained, the door seal is checked for leaks, jets and heater are run, and the area is cleaned.
When it can take longer: If water damage or a soft subfloor is discovered once the old tub is out, it has to be repaired before anything new goes in. That is uncommon but not rare in older homes. A good installer explains the problem, shows it to you, and agrees the fix with you before continuing.
Some sealants and caulks need time to cure before the tub is used. The installer will tell you exactly when the first bath is fine; follow that instruction even if the tub looks ready.
Getting your home ready
- Clear a path at least as wide as a doorway from the entry to the bathroom. Move rugs, small tables and anything fragile on walls along the route.
- Empty the bathroom: toiletries, towels, bath mats, the medicine cabinet shelves nearest the tub.
- In winter, shovel and de-ice the driveway, walk and steps. Front Range storms can arrive overnight, and the crew will be carrying a heavy tub.
- Know where your main water shutoff and electrical panel are, and make sure both are reachable.
- Plan for pets and for anyone who needs a bathroom during the day. If this is the only full bath, arrange a shower somewhere else for that evening.
- If you are in an HOA building, confirm contractor parking, elevator use and allowed work hours.
Professional install vs. drop-ship
Aging Safely Baths & More offers professional installation across the Denver metro, and supply-only shipping if you already have a licensed contractor you trust; the company ships to all 50 states and supply-only to Canada. If you go the drop-ship route, share the tub's spec sheet with your contractor before you order: rough-in dimensions, drain position, electrical requirements and door clearance. That avoids the most common mismatch, which is a tub that arrives and does not match the drain location.
After the install
At the walk-through, ask the installer to show you:
- How to open and close the door and check that it is sealed before filling
- How to run the fast drain, if your model has one, and how long a full drain takes
- How to start and stop jets and the heater, and any safety interlocks
- How to clean the jets and wipe the door seal, and which cleaners the manufacturer allows
- Where the warranty paperwork is and who to call with a question
The first few baths are a good time to adjust: water temperature, how far the bather reaches for the controls, whether a grab bar outside the tub would help. If something feels awkward, call. Post-install adjustments are much easier than living with a setup that does not quite work.
Sources
- City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development, “Residential Interior Remodel.” denvergov.org
- City and County of Denver, “Applying for Permits as a Homeowner.” denvergov.org
- City and County of Denver, “Plan Review, Permits, and Inspections.” denvergov.org
Last reviewed 2026-10-10.