Wayne County has the oldest housing stock in Metro Detroit, and that shapes which walk-in tub actually works here. A 1920s bungalow in Detroit, Dearborn or Hamtramck typically has a 5-by-7-foot bathroom with a deep, narrow alcove — nothing like the primary suites you'll find in a newer subdivision. Most national walk-in tub sellers show up with one size and try to make it fit. We measure first and tell you honestly whether it will.
The Ella's Bubbles inward-swing stainless steel door line is the one we install most often in Wayne County, for a simple reason: it has the smallest footprint of any Ella door style, and it seals under water pressure rather than relying on a gasket that has to be maintained. In a tight, original 1920s-40s bathroom in Detroit, Highland Park, River Rouge-adjacent Melvindale, or the older sections of Dearborn and Wyandotte, that smaller footprint is frequently the difference between a tub that fits and one that doesn't.
Getting the old tub out is its own project in this county. Cast iron is the norm in pre-1960 Wayne County housing, and a full cast iron tub can run 300-400 pounds. We cut it down in place rather than trying to carry it out whole — which matters in the older two-story homes across Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Woods, Harper Woods and River Rouge, where the tub is often up a narrow original staircase with a tight turn at the top.
Most of our Wayne County walk-in tub calls come from people who still want to soak — arthritis, circulation issues, or just years of preferring a bath — but can no longer safely lift a leg over a 15-to-17-inch tub wall. If that's not you, a full walk-in shower conversion (from $6,995) or a bathtub cutout (from $1,550) is usually the better value. We'll tell you which one actually fits your situation before you spend anything.
We measure your alcove width and doorway clearance before recommending a model — Ella's Bubbles makes 28+ models from 26 to 36 inches wide, plus custom-size options, so we fit the tub to your bathroom rather than the other way around.
Yes — cast iron is common in older Metro Detroit homes and we cut it down in place rather than trying to carry it out whole. It takes longer than fiberglass or steel, and we account for that in the quote.
Yes, financing is available with approved credit for Wayne County homeowners, across all three services — cutouts, full conversions and walk-in tubs.
Most walk-in tub installs take one to two days, depending on the model and whether any plumbing needs adjusting. We'll confirm the timeline for your specific tub when we quote it.
Yes — we install and serve all of Wayne County, MI, not just the cities named in our advertising. If you're unsure whether your specific address is covered, call (586) 791-4800 and ask.
Call (586) 791-4800 or send a photo — most quotes take about five minutes.
