I am a homeowner remodeling a bathroom. I am looking at new bath tubs and need some advice. Cast iron at 300+ lbs and $250 versus steel at $90 and considerably lighter. Any insight would be helpful. I am leaning towards the steel just for ease of installation/hookup.
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Replies
Dave,
There is something in between the two weights. Take a look at the American Standard Americast tub. It is a steel tub with a thick coating. Has the feel and sound of cast iron without the back pain!
Do a search here for Americast. I seem to remember some Breaktime readers saying some harsh things about it.
I wouldn't use anything lighter than Americast.
Have used their tubs several times....no problems....happy customers.
A good choice when it has to go up the stairs.
Have dolly'd them up working with my Dad.....in his late 60's at the time....me on top pulling the dolly and him below nudging it over the step and steering.
Not nearly as hard as you'd think.
Guessing most DIY husband/wife teams could drag one up stairs.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Perception is the mother of quality.
The steel units ring like a tinny bell. The Cast Iron units are very dead to sound and make a low low ring. Some spray the back side of the steel with sound deadening material but it still sounds cheap.
If it doesn't matter to you then go with the steel but realize everytime you take a shower or bath you'll hear the difference.
I'd suspect there is a difference in the thickness of the porcelain as well but I'm just guessing.
Dave,
Installed about five Americast tubs in the last year, including one in my house. Easy to install because of weight (did most of them by myself). What I do to help with the hollow or thin sound of the tub is to lay a base of sand or dry mix mortar down first before installation. Gives it a nice base to rest on. If you do this and its on a wood subfloor make sure to put down a layer of felt paper to prevent moister problems.
I have installed steel tubs on a big blob of mortar and it does help "solid" things up a good bit. You mentioned a bed of sand. Could you tell me more? Just sand? need some sort of dam? Sounds easier than mixing mortar
For the sand base you need to first build a sandbox to lock it in as in a lot of acrylic tubs.
My choice would be a cpl of 2x's around the floor of the base of the tub tacked in and pour some structolite to pour in. Throw a thin cheap ($1.00) poly tarp over it so if you ever wanna pull the tub out there won't be an issue.
Be solidly firm : )
Namaste
a"As long as you have certain desires about how it ought to be you can't see how it is." http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I used the sand trick for my tub. All I did was put some tar paper down and poured the sand right on top. I used plain old mixing sand which comes out of the bag slightly damp. That helped it stay in place.
Now you guys are putting sand boxes under bath tubs? Why don't you just give in an get yourself a real tub? Keith
Why is Americast not a REAL tub? Because it doesn't cost $400.? Because it doesn't weight 400 lbs.? Last time I checked it held water just fine and my wife likes it a hell of a lot better then the circa 1950's powder blue tub I replaced it with.
i did a steel tub... have'n spotted some cast off self stick rubberized roofing material i cut it up and stuck as much as i could all over the underside of the tub... set the tub and sprayed a can of non expanding foam everywhere i could under the tub..(me use'n someone elses trash again)... seems to sound & feel pretty solid... i got the idea from stainless sinks they all seem to have a sound deadener stuck to or sprayed on em... all looks like tar to me...
pony
i started out with nothing... and have most of it left
I was commenting on sand boxes for steel tubs. I favor Americast tubs. I have two in my home. Keith
Gotcha. My bad.
Dave
If you use the steel (not cast) tub you get off with less cost and weight.
What I did to compensate for the "tinny feel" is to stuff the underside with insulation. I used fiberglass batts. I also put them into large green garbage bags to ensure they do not absorbe any moisture. This is easy to do after the tub is in place in the sides but to do under I put the fiberglass down on the floor before placement of the tub.
This worked very well and some people that have seen then will aggue with me that they are cast not steel.
Regards;
Ken.
Dave,
I have installed A/S Americast tubs and they proven to be a good choice. They are a composite material which offers great sound and thermal insulation- better than cast iron and steel. They are limited only in sizes and color choices.
Edited 3/8/2003 12:08:43 PM ET by KWILBE
Dave,
In spite of the roar for Americast ( no not you rez...lol) which I installed two of in my last (spec)house and "did" like them, my votes for cast iron. The feel is totaly different than rubberized steel. Its really a matter of personal preferance.
Would be nice if you could try both somewhere before making a final discission.
In my new/old house that I'm renovating I'm using the acrylic (shame on me) in one bath but in my master bath I will most definatly use the cast iron (claw foot) because the feel is unmatched (to me)
Be the man of steel
Namaste
andy
"As long as you have certain desires about how it ought to be you can't see how it is."
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM