How to Build Bathtub Paneling

Hold an apron trim piece against the corner where the tub meets the wall. Make a small pencil mark on the trim piece to indicate where the tub's top edge hits it. Cut the trim piece on the pencil mark with a hacksaw. Peel off the paper backing and press it firmly against the wall. Repeat this step with a trim piece in the corner where the top of the tub meets the wall.

Hold a 4-foot level over the first apron trim piece you installed and line up the two outer edges. Adjust the level until it is plumb. Draw a light pencil line down the level's outside edge. Repeat this step on the tub's other end.

Fit one of the two corner panels into one of the corners. Hold a level against the panel and adjust it so it sits plumb. If there is a gap between the panel's bottom edge and the top of the tub, open a scribing tool to the largest gap and trace the tool along the panel's bottom edge. Use a belt sander to sand the panel down to the scribe line.

Insert the provided adhesive into a caulk gun and cut off the tip with a utility knife. Apply a thick bead of adhesive along the panel's back side. Keep the adhesive at least 1 inch away from the foam tape strips. Peel the paper off the foam strips and press the corner panel into place against the wall. Install the second corner the same way you installed the first.

Lift the side panel that will not need plumbing holes cut out of it against the side wall without the plumbing. Use the reference line you drew in Step 2 to make the panel plumb. Install this panel the same way you installed the corner panels.

Measure the distance between the two corner panels and make a light pencil mark on the tub's top edge. Set the back panel on two sawhorses. Measure the panel's length and divide this measurement in half. Make a light pencil mark on the panel's bottom edge to indicate the center.

Lift the back panel against the wall. Line up the panel's center mark with the tub's center mark. Check that the panel fits tightly between the two corner panels. Install the back panel the same way you installed the previous panels, working from the bottom up.

Lay the side panel that will go on the wall with the plumbing on two sawhorses. On the wall, measure from the reference line (from Step 2) to the center of the spout. Transfer this measurement to the side panel. Then measure from the tub's top edge to the center of the spout and transfer this to the panel. Repeat the two measurements with the center of the faucet.

Use a 1-inch boring bit to make the spout opening's hole. Use a hole saw to make the hole for the faucet opening. The size of hole saw you need depends on your faucet plumbing, generally a 2- or 3-inch hole saw works.

Test fit the panel over the plumbing. All of the plumbing must fit through the two holes and the panel's outer edge must line up with the reference line. If it fits correctly, apply a bead of the provided adhesive around each hole in the panel and over the back side. Press the panel into place against the wall.

Apply a bead of the provided latex caulk along each corner where panel meets panel and each corner where panel meets tub. Smooth the caulk with your finger.