How are Walk in Tubs Delivered?

How your walk in tub gets delivered depends on who you purchase your walk in tub from and where their warehouse is located. Some manufacturers will ship your walk in bathtub from their plant to your local carrier and then set up a team of local experts to take the tub from the curb to your bathroom and complete installation and set-up for you. All of this will come at an added cost of course so be sure to find out what the added expense would be versus doing the set-up and installation yourself or hiring your own contractor to do it for you. Also be aware of the details of your warranty and make sure you are covered if you do decide to move the tub, set-up and install it yourself or with a hired professional. Some manufacturers’ warranties will only cover installation by their own contractors.

Most walk in tubs are made in the U.S. so delivery shouldn’t take more than a few weeks, however keep in mind that if you purchased your walk in bathtub from overseas it will take quite a bit longer to be delivered. Most manufacturers complete all water testing and quality control first and then have a common carrier pick up the crated tub, and ship it to your city.  Be sure to get a tracking number so that you can follow the delivery and arrange a delivery date and time if needed.  Typically a small to mid-sized residential truck with a lift gate delivers the walk in tub to your driveway, crated and strapped to a pallet. If you have easy access, some drivers will place the crate in your garage. Check with the delivery company to find out if they provide this service. The next step is to have your installer uncrate the tub and begin the installation process. Walk in bathtubs can weigh anywhere between 250 and 350 pounds in their crates and about 50 pounds less uncrated so it’s a good idea to uncrate the tub before moving it into your home. If you are not able to move the bathtub yourself, you should either find out if the delivery carrier will bring the tub into your bathroom for you, or if you have to hire a separate contractor to do this. It’s a good idea to ask all of these questions during the purchase of the tub so that you can be sure all necessary arrangements are made ahead of time.

Although most walk in tubs are thoroughly tested and checked prior to delivery, it is possible that they either missed something at the manufacturing plant or that there was damage caused to the walk in tub in transit. It’s a good idea to give your walk in bathtub a thorough inspection inside and out prior to letting the delivery truck driver leave your home. If you do indeed find any damage, you should not accept delivery, have the driver send the walk in tub back to the manufacturer and contact the company that you purchased the tub from immediately to make arrangements for a replacement tub.

In general, tub delivery should be a fairly simple and uncomplicated process. To avoid problems and misunderstandings, be sure to ask a lot of questions and make sure you clearly understand the delivery process prior to your purchase.