Oh- Bill V has a beautiful tiled invisible access panel... I am sure he will show up and post it... Doesn't look terribly difficult, but I wonder if your guy would even be capable.

There are myriad solutions to this.

The access panels can be put in an adjacent closet or can come through an adjacent wall. Or if on the first floor, they can be on the bathroom floor with access from the basement below.

You can do a wood wainscot with removable panels.

You can do a fully tiled apron, with a removable tile panel. Often times the "grout line" between the tiled access panel and the permanent field tile will be filled with color-matched caulk instead of grout. If access is needed, score the caulk with a utility knife and pop the panel off. The panels can be held in place with magnets, velcro, or some other mechanical means.

I'm not a big fan of the caulked option, I'd rather do a removable tiled panel that has a lip to it, the lip can be tiled, a rope design, a piece of tile as the trim, etc. But that's my personal preference. As a builder and a tiler, I look at easy access for future or periodic maintenance. It's not that the caulked panel is difficult, I just prefer totally accessibly and non-destructive options. A tool-less panel that can be popped in or out at will.

If you want your front apron to be just plain field tile though, then the caulked panel is your best bet.

You can tile the apron, but have a wood "cubby" built in to the apron. Think a small niche. The cubby can be used to hold rolled up towels, or small notions, what ever. The niche can be popped out to access the tub's mechanicals.

We've had a few threads about this, but I did a search and came up empty.

Don't let your builder's lack of skill or imagination restrict your design.

jolynna, can you post a picture or two of where your tub is going?

Here are pics of putting one access panel together. it starts right in the middle of the page:

Here is a link that might be useful: My Gallery's

Thanks for all of the responses. I am so glad to have your experience as a resource. I didn't know that having tile all around and over my tub would be a problem until yesterday.

We are meeting with the builder Monday and I to discuss what to do so I am very glad to hear there are resolutions. I've attached a picture of my bathroom floor plan. I can take a picture of what has been done so far if that would help.

Here is a link that might be useful:

The tub installation directions should have a schematic on how large the access panel needs to be, as well as a couple of locations where it can go in relation to the tub's motor and plumbing. Depends, as most manufacturers have different requirements these days.

Most manufacturers have pdf files on their websites, you can find the requirements there.

There is a chance that you could hide the panel on the vanity/tub wall and access to the tub's mechanicals from under/inside the vanity. If anything goes wrong, just hire a skinny plumber who practices yoga.

Some jetted tubs need makeup air in addition to the access panel. And of course there's always the option to have access panel be the air panel too; a louvered panel, or a decorative metal grate.

You're only limited by the imagination and ability of your builder.

Oops.

Mongo

Hi Mongo,

My tub is in and plumbed and framed. The faucet is on the middle front side of the tub which is the wrong side for the tub to be turned around so the mechanics can be accessed through the vanity. The builder did ask if it was ok to put the faucet there but I didn't know it would make a difference so I told him it would be fine. :(

From what I'm seeing your tub motor will be at the end next to the vanity. You can actually cut the access through the side of the vanity, and then you don't even need an access panel thru the tile. If you WANT one for the plumbing, it can be made thru the tile at the end of the tub

Problem is SOLVED. The builder put 2 panels coming up through the basement.

THANK YOU ALL so much.

I'd also like to thank Mongo again for the help he gave me on floors. Because of his bathroom pics I did decide to go with brazilian cherry in my kitchen, adjoining family & dining room, foyer and powder room. I loved your bathroom, Mongo.

This is all sooooo hard. When our house is done, I will be sure to post pictures on the various forums so everyone can see the results.

Glad the idea of access through the basement ceiling worked out for you.

And don't forget my warnings...the brazilian cherry (or any other dark hardwood) will show EVERYTHING. It's beautiful, but it can't keep a secret.

That said, we had several couples over last weekend and the floor is still causing jaws to drop, and it's a 14 or 15 year-old installation.

Thanks for the kind words about the bathroom too.

Best of luck with the remainder of your project.

Gosh, Mongo, I thought we were the only people who made all our visitors tour our master bathroom. :-)

Hah! Weedy, we have brazilian cherry throughout the house, so there's no need for a specific bathroom tour to see the flooring.

However...

I'd say the weirdest tour guide moment? Both of my kids play sports, we hosted a season-ending party and BBQ with about 45 athletes and their parents and siblings. Close to 200 people in all.

One couple was remodeling, and my wife mentioned we had a walk-in shower and how much she loved it. The chit-chat lead to my wife taking them into our bathroom. Things steamrolled and I think over the course of the day about 60 adults asked for a tour of our master suite. THAT was a bit weird for me, seeing as we had only a passing acquaintance with some of these couples.

Other kids always want to show their parents my kids bedrooms. I know that EVERY girl on my daughter's team brought her respective parents through my daughter's bedroom to see my daughter's built-in "mousehole bed".

My son's bedroom with its built-ins gets traffic as well, though the boys are much more low-key than the girls seem to be with their parents.

Our master bath was about $5500 in materials, fixtures included, and the materials for my daughter and son's bedrooms was about $1300 for my daughters room and about $800 for my son's room. With their respective built-ins, neither of my kids need any free-standing bedroom furniture; beds, dressers, etc.

I suppose it a nice reflection on a DIY person like me that people have nice things to say about my work...but the sight-seeing trips through the house can get crazy at times.