Step 3 · Create Plumbing Access

This is the step most people slow down on. Take it one move at a time — there’s no rush, and you can rewind the clip as many times as you need.

Since we assumed there is no access panel, you must create one. Go to the wall directly behind the tub's faucet and drain assembly. Use a stud finder to locate the studs on either side of the plumbing valve and drain pipes. You want to cut an opening between the studs. Mark a rectangle roughly 16 inches wide by 24 inches tall. Use a drywall saw to carefully cut along the marked lines. Cut gently to avoid plunging the saw too deep and hitting pipes. Remove the piece of drywall to expose the tub valve, water supply lines, and the waste and overflow assembly.