Step 4 · Remove the Wall Surround
With the plumbing disconnected, you must now remove the wall material covering the tub's mounting flange. For tile walls, this means demolition. Use a hammer or small sledgehammer to break up the tiles. Start a few inches above the tub and work your way up. It's often easiest to remove at least 6-8 inches of tile and the backer board (drywall or cement board) behind it, all the way down to the wall studs. A pry bar will help remove larger chunks of tile and backer board. A reciprocating saw with a demolition blade can be used to make clean cuts through the drywall/backer board above the demolition area.