Replacing a Cast Iron Bathtub
If you own older homes in the US, chances are you've had to wrestle with the predicament of what to do with an old cast iron bathtub at some point. While built to last, cast iron tubs don't always age gracefully, presenting homeowners with a quandary as far as what to do with them.
Before you decide to ditch the old tub, assess the situation. Depending on the type of tub and how it was constructed, cast iron tubs can weigh upwards of 200 pounds. Not only will it be a struggle to remove, but it's next to impossible to do it delicately, so if you remove the tub you likely won't be able to save any tile work around it.
Many older tubs can be refinished so that they look brand new; while not cheap if done by professionals (and this job is better left to the professionals as the DIY refinishing kits sold at home improvement stores almost never produce a good result), refinishing can save you all the headaches involved with replacing a cast iron bathtub.
If you're completely gutting a bathroom and going with a new modern remodel, you'll eventually be able to get the old tub out with some elbow grease, hard work, and friends with strong backs. You'll need to consider where you'll dispose of it at, as far as a local dump or landfill, as good luck getting it to fit into most trash cans.
Once you've got the old tub out, it's time to choose a new one. Tubs come in left-handed and right-handed models (to match where the fixtures go), so be sure to select the correct tub for your opening. Like other appliances and options, tubs come in a variety of costs and styles; don't cheap out when choosing your new tub, as the last thing you'll want to do is to have to repeat the replacement process.
Before you decide to ditch the old tub, assess the situation. Depending on the type of tub and how it was constructed, cast iron tubs can weigh upwards of 200 pounds. Not only will it be a struggle to remove, but it's next to impossible to do it delicately, so if you remove the tub you likely won't be able to save any tile work around it.
Many older tubs can be refinished so that they look brand new; while not cheap if done by professionals (and this job is better left to the professionals as the DIY refinishing kits sold at home improvement stores almost never produce a good result), refinishing can save you all the headaches involved with replacing a cast iron bathtub.
If you're completely gutting a bathroom and going with a new modern remodel, you'll eventually be able to get the old tub out with some elbow grease, hard work, and friends with strong backs. You'll need to consider where you'll dispose of it at, as far as a local dump or landfill, as good luck getting it to fit into most trash cans.
Once you've got the old tub out, it's time to choose a new one. Tubs come in left-handed and right-handed models (to match where the fixtures go), so be sure to select the correct tub for your opening. Like other appliances and options, tubs come in a variety of costs and styles; don't cheap out when choosing your new tub, as the last thing you'll want to do is to have to repeat the replacement process.
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