Our Pickering home has a jetted tub we never use — what are our options for replacing it with something more practical?

A jetted tub you never use is one of the most common renovation opportunities we see in GTA homes — and replacing it opens up some genuinely exciting options depending on how you use your bathroom.

Jetted tubs fell out of favour for good reason: they're large, they consume enormous amounts of hot water, the jet mechanisms require maintenance, and most homeowners use them a handful of times before they become an expensive shelf. The good news is that the footprint a jetted tub occupies — typically 60x32 inches or larger — gives you meaningful space to work with.

Your Main Replacement Options

Converting to a walk-in shower is by far the most popular choice for Pickering homeowners in this situation, and for good reason. A jetted tub alcove typically gives you enough room for a generous 36x60 or even 36x72 custom tiled shower — significantly larger than the cramped 36x36 showers found in many GTA homes. You can add a linear drain, a curbless entry for accessibility, a rain head, body jets, and a custom glass enclosure. This conversion typically runs $8,000–$15,000 depending on tile selection, glass, and fixture quality. If this is your main bathroom and you have another tub elsewhere in the house (very common in Pickering homes with a separate main bath), this is almost always the right call.

Replacing with a freestanding soaker tub makes sense if you genuinely want a bathing option but just don't use the jets. A quality freestanding soaker — oval, slipper, or rectangular — costs $1,000–$4,000 for the tub itself, plus $500–$1,500 for plumbing. The visual impact is dramatic compared to a built-in jetted tub, and soakers are far simpler mechanically. The catch is that you'll need to verify your existing hot water heater capacity — a deep soaker tub holds 250–400 litres, and if your water heater is undersized (common in older Pickering homes), you may run cold before the tub fills.

A hybrid approach — a smaller freestanding tub plus an adjacent shower — works beautifully if the jetted tub alcove is large enough (typically 60 inches or wider). This is the signature layout in high-end master ensuites across Durham Region right now.

What the Renovation Actually Involves

Removing a jetted tub is more involved than a standard tub removal. The jet motor and plumbing lines need to be properly capped, and the electrical circuit powering the motor (jetted tubs require a dedicated 15-amp GFCI circuit) needs to be addressed by a licensed electrician — either repurposed for a heated floor or properly decommissioned. A building permit will be required if you're relocating the drain or supply lines; if you're keeping plumbing in the same location (common with a soaker tub swap), a permit may not be needed, but confirm with the City of Pickering Building Services before starting.

The subfloor around the old tub deserves careful inspection during demolition. Jetted tubs are notorious for slow leaks around the jet fittings and overflow drain — water damage to the subfloor is common and needs to be repaired before any new installation goes in.

GTA-Specific Considerations for Pickering

Pickering homes from the 1980s and 1990s — which make up a large portion of the housing stock in areas like Dunbarton, Rougemount, and Liverpool — often have the jetted tub in a master ensuite with a separate shower already present. If that's your situation, converting the jetted tub space to a larger shower or a freestanding soaker is straightforward and adds real resale value. Durham Region buyers consistently respond well to updated master ensuites with modern showers.

If you're considering a curbless shower conversion, keep in mind that the subfloor will need to be modified to accommodate the sloped drain — this is a structural change that requires a licensed plumber and likely a building permit.

Heated floors are worth adding during this renovation regardless of which direction you go. Since the floor is already being torn up, the incremental cost of adding an electric radiant mat is modest ($800–$1,500 for a typical ensuite), and it transforms the experience of stepping out of a shower or tub on a January morning in Pickering.

For a free match with a bathroom renovation contractor experienced in tub conversions across Pickering and Durham Region, Toronto Bath Remodeling can connect you through the Toronto Construction Network — browse professionals at torontoconstructionnetwork.com/directory?category=bathroom-renovations.