Are you weighing the costs, timelines, and design choices for a bathtub replacement in Des Moines? CountBricks combines AI-powered estimating, real-time voice capture, and a vetted installer network to turn guesswork into guaranteed outcomes. Below, our residential construction team breaks down everything homeowners and contractors need to know— from demolition to the final bead of caulk—so your next tub swap is on budget and on schedule.
• Aging housing stock is reaching the 20- to 30-year mark where fixtures show wear
• Rising home values in Polk County make bathroom refreshes a high-ROI move
• New acrylic and solid-surface options offer lighter weight and faster installs
• Water-smart faucets and tubs reduce utility bills and qualify for local rebates
CountBricks AI pulls current material pricing from regional suppliers every ten minutes, then layers in labor rates from our verified installer marketplace. As of this month, the typical Des Moines project shakes out like this:
• Standard alcove acrylic tub: $1,450 – $2,000 installed
• Mid-range cast iron or composite tub: $2,300 – $3,100 installed
• Luxury freestanding soaking tub: $3,800 – $6,200 installed
Numbers include demolition, haul-away, new tub, rough plumbing, finish work, and standard permits. Use our free voice-guided estimate at CountBricks.com/services to get a line-item price in under five minutes.
1. Scope & Measure: Launch the CountBricks mobile app, walk around the bathroom, and speak dimensions out loud. Our AI converts speech to structured takeoffs.
2. Instant Estimate: Within seconds, you receive a sharable cost breakdown, including tasks, materials, and contingency allowances.
3. Choose Fixtures: Browse tubs inside the app or upload a preferred SKU. CountBricks updates pricing in real time.
4. Book Installer: Select from background-checked pros in the CountBricks network. Availability calendars sync automatically.
5. Demolition Day: Installer removes the old unit, caps plumbing, and hauls debris.
6. Rough-In & Set: New drain assembly, supply lines, and ledger boards are installed. Tub is leveled, shimmed, and secured.
7. Wall Finish & Trim: Surround panels or tile are installed, gaps are sealed, and hardware is mounted.
8. QA & Warranty: CountBricks conducts a remote video inspection, then uploads a warranty certificate to your project dashboard.
• Hidden Water Damage: Our inspection checklist flags soft subfloors before demo so repair costs aren’t a surprise.
• Permit Delays: CountBricks auto-generates the permit packet for City of Des Moines e-submittal in minutes.
• Schedule Overruns: Installers sign digital SLAs that tie milestone payments to on-time delivery.
• Budget Creep: Every change order is priced by AI, approved in one tap, and logged for full cost transparency.
• Acrylic remains the most cost-effective material and heats up quickly for comfortable soaks.
• Cast iron offers timeless aesthetics and noise dampening but requires structural verification due to weight.
• Solid-surface composites strike the perfect balance—easy to clean, resistant to scratches, and mid-weight.
• For surround walls, large-format panels install 60% faster than tile and minimize future grout maintenance.
Des Moines Realtors report that homes featuring fresh bathrooms sell 11 days faster on average. CountBricks projects show a 65% cost recoup on mid-grade replacements and up to 80% on luxury primary suites. When combined with low-flow fixtures, owners often shave $120–$150 off annual water costs.
How long does bathtub replacement take? Standard alcove swaps finish in two working days. Complex freestanding installs average three.
Can I keep my existing tile? If the flange height matches and the tile is undamaged, yes. CountBricks AI will flag seam-height conflicts in your estimate.
Do I need to be home? Only for the initial walk-through and final handover. Our live project tracker keeps you updated in real time.
Ready to see concrete numbers for your own bathtub replacement Des Moines project? Visit CountBricks.com/consultation to schedule a free, zero-pressure demo, or open the CountBricks app and start talking. In under five minutes you’ll have a contractor-ready scope, a downloadable quote document, and a clear path to a bathroom that boosts comfort and resale value.
When the Larson family bought their 1990s ranch, the master bath’s yellowed fiberglass tub was a deal-breaker. They tapped CountBricks after a neighbor shared an AI-generated estimate that matched final billing within 2%. Here’s how the project unfolded.
• Scope: Remove 60" fiberglass alcove unit, install acrylic deep-soak tub, replace surround with large-format panels
• Duration: 18 hours of on-site labor spread over two days
• Budget: $2,140 all-in (estimate variance: +$17)
1. Rapid Takeoff: The homeowner read dimensions aloud while filming on a smartphone. In 4 minutes, CountBricks produced a task list and material order.
2. Instant Scheduling: Three qualified installers in the network received push notifications. One accepted within 30 minutes, locking in a Friday start date.
3. Material Sync: Our AI cross-referenced panel SKUs against local supplier stock, adjusting delivery timing automatically.
4. Live Oversight: During install, the CountBricks dashboard displayed milestone photos, moisture-meter readings, and time-stamped notes.
• Zero change orders—hidden moisture damage was detected in pre-demo scans, so blocking was included up front
• Bathroom downtime cut from the typical four days to two, thanks to panel surrounds and parallel task scheduling
• Post-renovation appraisal bumped home value by $5,000, tripling project ROI
• Select fixtures rated for 15" or deeper soaking; Des Moines’ chilly winters make a warm tub a nightly retreat.
• Bundle faucet upgrades with the tub swap to avoid duplicate labor fees.
• Use CountBricks.com/portfolio to explore finish combinations and see real homeowner photo galleries.
Launch the CountBricks app, speak your dimensions, and watch as AI turns data into a build-ready plan. Whether you’re swapping a builder-grade tub or crafting a spa-like retreat, CountBricks keeps every measurement, dollar, and deadline in clear view.
