I’m planning to re-work the tub surround at my mother-in-law’s place which involves removing an old cast iron apron style bath tub and re-tiling the walls. I have two questions:
1. Is it possible to break the cast tub into pieces to get it out (I don’t have a helper so I can’t lift it in one piece) and if yes, where do I start and what do I use?
2. The drywall behind the old tile is rotten so it has to come out. If I butt 1/2″ durock up to 1/2″ drywall (assuming it is sound ) near the corner beads what is the best way to finish the joint? I was thinking about mixing up some sheetrock 45 dry powder with some latex grout admixture and plastering like usual. Has anyone out there tried this or is this just a crazy idea?
Paul
Replies
Just did a BR renovation for a client. He had ugly tile and a cast iron tub actually embedded into the wall; the only way to remove it was to smash it, which you should do even if it's removable, to save your back. Disconnect the drain and overflow lines.
For breaking the tub, clear the room of everything breakable. I use a splitting maul (the wedge concentrates the force of impact; it works great for making the first break.) It takes about an hour, give or take. I start along the front ledge and just start swinging, hitting in the same place over and over until it cracks and breaks, then continue breaking the thing into managable pieces. The CI is about 5/16" thick and can take a pounding, but it will break.
Wear safety goggles. The porceline shatters and sprays about. I've seen a piece of CI shoot off and shatter a pedestal sink, so make sure you have room to work. I don't use a drop cloth, which may prevent some of the collateral damage. The times I've tried a dropcloth or tarp, it shreds from the hammerblows.
Strip the drywall to the studs, shim them for plumb and in-plane. Now's the time to add blocking for grab bars, etc.
Paul -
I've never had to break up a cast iron tub before but I would imagine that the shrapnel will end up fairly sharp - wear the heaviest pair of gloves you can find to protect yourself. And, as was suggested, good eye protection.
Shame to have to bust it up, though. Cast iron tubs are just so much nicer than fiberglas. (personal opinion mode in effect)
Dennis in Bellevue WA
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I demoed an old castiron tub last winter. We cut it up instead of smashing it. The house was 1911 and there were enough cracks in the adjacent plaster walls.
Between the grinder and the sawzall, it took about an hour and a half from first cut, to hauling the last piece, with moving straps, out to the dumpster.
Be prepared to replace the entire back wall, or at least the lower half. It would last alot longer that way.
Good Luck rg
Hre's another self-preservation tip: Wear ear protection! When you start pounding on that thing, your ears will hurt!
Try to free the tub and move it away from the walls. Maybe you can move it to a spot on the floor supported by a wall below to limit vibration damage to surrounding walls and ceilings. Put some padding under it. Once a crack starts, stay with it.
Run the Durock to a line just short of where the tile will go. Let the last tile overlap the Durock and drywall. Tilers use a special waterproof joint compound for Durock.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
removing the tub is back breaking, so smash it, its the only way
a 5# sledge is required, full safety gear, porcelin shards are very sharp
hearing protection is a MUST, that first hit with the sledge will really hurt your ears a lot!!, believe me it can REALLY hurt!!, and not just you but others in house too
first time i did it, i thought no way, but i regretted it for three days, its worse than a powder nailer
start at the outer rim with a good solid blow on the inside corner and hit it hard and flat, you'll be surprised how hard you'll have to hit it
once a crack has started the rest is relatively easy, just follow the crack and pound away
caulking is not a piece of trim
Paul
I've removed dozens upon dozens of cast iron tubs over the years.
I simply smash em' with a sledge hammer or/and a lump hammer.
A good tip that "bear" turned me onto is to throw a blanket or heavy drop cloth over the tub to keep the shraptnel under wraps so to speak. Also keeps the noise down.
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