The drain unscrews from the assembly below the tub. Normally the drain and overflow are all one assembly. If you have access to the back/underside of the tub it's a lot easier, because you can control both the drain basket from the top and the nut that captures the threads on the basket from below. However, you can try to replace the basket just using access from above. Easiest way is with a tool called a "basket wrench": An inexpensive basket wrench costs maybe $5 to $10 at a hardware store. You can see how this would lock on to the cross pieces in the basket and allow you to rotate the basket counterclockwise to unthread it. Or you can use the standard DIY method which is to insert two sturdy screwdrivers into the basket, one at the 9 o'clock position and one in the 3 o'clock position, and cross the screwdrivers and use that leverage to rotate the basket. Once the basket is removed, clean the tub surface and install a new basket using a bead of plumbers putty. I will say that the proper way, and the best way, is to have access from below. It's best to set the basket into the putty and then secure it by rotating the nut from below instead of rotating the basket from above.

I'm curious as well..we want jacuzzi or whirlpool tub in and want to place shower beside it...but now are curious if we can because of any required clearances...is there info anywhere that discusses the basic area needed in a bath remodel to allow for a typical install, whether it be a corner tub or a regular tub? This would in turn tell us about the tub deck we should allow. Thanks...and thanks for this thread!

Since you have 3 bathrooms that sound quite large, I would leave a tub in one of them and then do exactly what you want in the other 2 bathrooms. Whoever designed your house sure did love the long vanities! I'm stunned by those measurements. It could look a little odd to have counters that long with just one sink, so I would consider adding tall storage cabinets (if you could use more storage) alongside a shorter length countertop/vanity. As for one or two sinks, I'm building our new main bath with just one, because I like to have counter space to spread out on. That's fine for the way we live - my husband and I never need to be in the bathroom getting ready at the same time. Nor did my kids ever have a problem sharing a single sink in our previous house. But some people would refuse to buy a house that had just one sink in the master bath. I don't think there's any one right answer for this.

There are other protective measures to use besides water,if that is the reason for filling. Did they spray foam down before they set the tub? The water would be used to weigh the tub down until the foam sets up. We weighted ours down with kegs of nails, and just to be on the safe side, left them there over night, but foam sets up quickly. Look to see if yours was foamed, and if that's the case, im willing to bet that is the reason for the water, to act as a weight. I wouldn't want the water to set for that length of time,but maybe there is a solution you can add to prevent any staining/ringing.Call your plumber and get their take on it.Maybe it's a standard practice in your area that works, but i've never heard of using water for tub protection.