Hello:
I am renovating my house, and I am not sure which way to go for the new bathtub. I realize that cast iron lasts longer, but there are a couple of arguments for composite/fiberglass:
1. The weight:
Our house (2 floors, brick, attached on both sides, 20 feet wide) is a bit unusual architecturally, in that the bathroom on the second floor is in the center of the house. Behind the bathroom wall is the back of the bedroom closet, and the stairway is across a small hallway on the other side. (Usually, a bathtub is found right where the joists enter the wall, for strength.) As a result of my setup, there is a decent sag that has developed over the 90 years since the house was built, and I want to be a little conservative about how much mass I put up there.
2. Installation:
My stairs are narrow and turn at the top; I don’t wanna drag the darn thing up there!
My question then, is: Is there any reason that I should not put a composite tub in? Are they a good investment of my money and labor? Will they last?
Also: I would like a slightly deeper tub (a special order from the missus). Any suggestions for products/brand names/places to look? I don’t want to spend a fortune on a designer tub, however.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Alex
aka El Pelon
-Groucho Marx
Replies
You might want to check out Americast tubs by American Standard. They're a whole lot lighter than cast iron, but less likely to scratch than plastic.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
This subject is covered on a regular basis. Use the advanced search function and typ in acrylic tub. Here's a thread to get you going: http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=58927.1
Happy reading.
Thank you both for your suggestions. I saw the Americast at HD, and it looked good. I will research more on the subject- thanks for the link.El PelonOutside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
-Groucho Marx
Cast acrylic is a whole giant step above fiberglass in performance and finish over time. If you do decide to go with other than cast iron, I would stay clear of the fiberglass versions.
The High Desert Group LLC