Can You Put a Bathtub Surround Around a Window?

Installing Yourself

• If you are planning to install the bathtub surround yourself by purchasing a pre-made surround from your local home improvement store, you must customize the surround to your specific bathroom walls and faucet configuration. With professionally-installed surrounds, the surround may be custom-made and fitted to the different features like a window above your bathtub.

Measuring and Trimming

• Like other objects, such as the bathtub’s faucet, you must measure the position and size of the window you plan to install the bathtub surround around before you start. Since you cannot undo your cuts on the bathtub’s surround, measure the placement and size of the window twice before cutting the surround’s material. You need to dry-fit the surround pieces in the wall around the bathtub to ensure that you do not need to cut the surround more so it fits properly around the window, and that all the panels sit at the same height.

Molding

• You cannot simply terminate the surround at the edge of the window and expect that no moisture will seep into the wall behind the surround. The point of installing a surround is to keep the walls around the bathtub waterproof, preventing water damaging and mold growth on and inside the walls. You must install molding at the edges of the surround, using the apron-trim pieces that came with the tub’s surround. The apron-trim may have its own adhesive strips on the backside, but you should also apply the same adhesive you use for the rest of the surround to the back of the trim, ensuring it does not come loose easily in the future.

Window Sill Material

• Even though you successfully install the bathtub’s surround around your bathroom window, the window sill may fall victim to moisture damage and mold growth if it is also not sealed against moisture. As people splash in the bathtub or take showers, water will come into contact with the window sill regularly. Being above the bathtub, the window can become a common source of condensation during cold weather. Materials like wood or drywall are susceptible to water damage, which you should replace with tile, vinyl or another water-resistant material.