Are Three Walls Required for a Surround Tub?

Three-wall Tub Surrounds

• The common tub surround has three walls--one on the longest side of the tub, and two on both short sides of the tub. Usually, one of the short sides of the tub butts up against one of the bathroom's main walls, and the other short side butts up against the opposite bathroom wall. However, in larger bathrooms, where the width of the room is wider than the length of the tub, this is not possible.

Odd-wall Tub Surrounds

• When the tub fits lengthwise across the width of the bathroom, with the longest side flush to the bathrooms shortest wall, the tree-wall tub surround is a perfect fit. The tub, in essence, just slides into place in the bathroom. When the bathroom is wider than the width of the tub (which is usually 60 inches), another wall must be built in the bathroom to become the third wall for the tub. Another option is to have the third tub wall butt up against the doorway, so the tub wall also creates an entrance to the bathroom.

Why Have Three Walls?

• Bathtubs have three walls to contain the water used during a bath. It is also a space-saving step, as placing a tub in the middle of the bathroom with no surrounding walls takes up too much room. The three-wall design also makes installation easier. The tub surround walls are simply glued to the three walls, forming a barrier to prevent water from splashing on the walls. These panels are fairly easy to install; using glue and pressure, they adhere to drywall.

Types of Tub Surrounds

• Some tub surrounds are made from acrylic, while others are made from fiberglass. Others are built by hand using tiles set into grout and mortar. This method is more labor intensive and expensive, but it is a custom solution and it lasts longer. Having three walls around the tub gives the owner the option to choose which type of tub surround they need. Obviously, having the fourth side of the tub open is a necessity, as it serves as the entrance to the tub. A shower curtain or glass door is often installed on the fourth wall if the tub also has a shower head.