Bathtub Cutouts & Step-Through Inserts
Keep the tub you have. Lose the 15-inch wall you have to climb over. Done in a few hours, starting at $1,550.
Who This Is Actually For
A cutout is the right answer more often than the industry likes to admit. If the only real problem is getting over the wall — the tub itself is fine, the tile is fine, the plumbing is fine — then removing the entire bathroom to solve a stepping problem is overkill.
We suggest a cutout when:
- The budget is real. $1,550 versus $6,995 is a meaningful difference, and the safety improvement is most of the way there.
- It's a rental or a parent's house where you want the fastest safe fix.
- The bathroom is tiny — common in Hamtramck, Melvindale, Center Line, Hazel Park and Lincoln Park — and there's genuinely nowhere for a full shower to go.
- You want to keep the option of a bath with a removable insert panel.
- You're not ready to commit to a full conversion yet.
And we'll tell you when it isn't right: if the tub is already cracked, badly stained or leaking, you're better off putting the money toward a full conversion.
How a Cutout Goes
Free measure & quote
We look at the tub, measure the wall, and give you a fixed price. No obligation.
We protect the room
Floors and fixtures get covered before anything is cut.
The opening is cut
A low step-through section is cut out of the tub wall, then the edges are sealed and finished with a molded insert.
Same-day use
Most cutouts are finished in a few hours and you can use the tub that evening.
What's Included
- A low step-through opening cut into the tub wall, sized to you — not a fixed template
- A molded ABS insert bonded and sealed into the opening, color-matched white or biscuit
- Fully sealed and waterproofed edges
- Optional grab bar fitted at the opening
- Optional removable panel so the tub can still be filled for bathing
- All debris removed, bathroom cleaned
Works on any tub material
Cast iron, pressed steel, acrylic and fiberglass. Cast iron takes longer and needs the right blades — which matters in older Detroit, Redford, Royal Oak and Grosse Pointe homes where nearly every original tub is cast iron.
Get Your Free Quote
Tell us what you've got and we'll get you a real number. No sales visit required.
Common Questions
What is a bathtub cutout?
We cut a section out of the side wall of your existing bathtub and finish the opening with a molded insert, so instead of lifting your leg over a 15-inch wall you step through a low opening. The tub stays. The plumbing stays. The tile stays.
How much does a bathtub cutout cost?
From $1,550. It is by a wide margin the least expensive way to make a bathtub safe to get into, which is why we suggest it honestly to a lot of people who called us expecting to spend five figures.
Can I still take a bath afterward?
Not a full-depth one — the opening is below the water line. Some customers add a watertight insert panel that clips into the opening so the tub can still be filled, and removed again for step-through use. Ask us about it if bathing matters to you.
How long does it take?
A few hours. Most cutouts are done well before lunch and you can use the tub as a shower that same evening once the sealant has set.
Will it look like a hack job?
No. The opening gets a molded ABS insert bonded and sealed to the tub, color-matched to white or biscuit. It looks like it was made that way. A rough cut with no insert is what you get from someone with a jigsaw and no experience — that's not what this is.
Does it work on cast iron tubs?
Yes, and cast iron is very common in Detroit, Royal Oak, Ferndale, Redford and the Grosse Pointes. It takes longer to cut than steel or fiberglass and requires the right blades, but it's routine work for us.
Is a cutout a good idea in a rental property?
It's one of the best-value moves a landlord can make. Low cost, one visit, no permit-scale work, and it substantially widens the pool of tenants who can live in the unit.
Not Sure If a Cutout Is Enough?
Call us and describe the bathroom. We'll tell you straight whether a cutout solves it or whether you'd regret not doing the full conversion.