How to Take Off Shower Surround Kits

Turn off the water to the bathroom at the shut-off valve leading to the room.

Spread a tarp over the bathroom floor near where you will remove the shower surround. Plan on stacking or placing the pieces of the surround on the tarp as you remove them. This will keep some of the acrylic or fiberglass dust contained and make for easier removal.

Put on a dust mask and pair of work gloves. Shower surround kits may be made of acrylic resins, fiberglass or cultured marble. All of these products produce a lot of dust when being cut and removed. Fiberglass may also splinter into small, sharp pieces that could cut your hands as you work. Take precautions before you begin.

Remove the screws holding the shower drain in place and lift out the grid. Remove the screws holding the valve faceplate in place and lift the valve handle and escutcheon plate off the shower wall. Unscrew the showerhead and remove it.

Slice into the caulk around the perimeter of the shower surround with a utility knife to loosen the edges of the surround. If there is caulk between the separate shower panels, cut through this as well.

Cut the surround into smaller, more manageable pieces with a reciprocating saw. Set the saw to the depth of the surround and cut each panel into two or three pieces.

Insert the end of a pry bar behind each of the panels and exert pressure to pull the panels off of the walls. If your surround has been nailed to the studs, you may need to cut through or remove some of the drywall at the top of the surround to expose the nails and allow you pull the panels free.