Anyone ever replace a bathtub?

[V]

I am thinking about replacing the bathtub in my bathroom. It is 42+ years old and a pale yellow color. It is cast iron and 30"wide x60"long x15" high. So at least it is a standard size. HOWEVER, I dont not intend to re-tile the bathroom. Could I remove just the bottom row of surround tiles and get the tub out that way? That way i could just get white tiles to match the tub and only need to do one course. From my rough measurments, I could fit the tub out of the bathroom without much difficulty, so that also means a replacement would fit back in to the bathroom.

Then I also need to decide what material a new tub would be made out of.
I do NOT like kohler due to the fact we had a sink by them that is now rusting through with very limited use. I would like to stay with a cast iron or similar type material. I dont want an acrylic or fiberglass POS. The old current one now is rock solid, but the color just kills it.

Also, refinishing or re"glazing" it isnt really an option due to the fact alot of comments refer to the fact the coatings dont last long in tubs. Also, I thought about a drop in liner but i dont want to worry about possible water getting between the old tub and liner plus its still 500+ bucks.

Any opinions advice or recommendations?

BTW, the bathroom tiles are a beige-ish color(maybe a pink hue) and cover the surround tub to ceiling and the other walls up to 4ft high. Current toilet and sink are also the lovely-ugly yellow color, but those will be replaced easily with white items.

[grazi]

You can generally remove the tub but you will definetly have to take up a couple courses of tile including the bullnose that wraps arund the edge. The only problem is that how your describing the tile, theyre not available anymore so if you crack a tile or a bullnose, your beat. Without seeing the layout you probably wont have enough room to slide the tub out, youll probably have to lift one end up and almost stand it up to get it out of the enclosure. In that case, you will have to take up probably 2 feet of tile. Another thing, cast iron tubs are like 300 lbs. THeyre not easy to manuever at all.......Look into Americast tubs. They look like cast iron but are light.

[Savage_Messiah]

Originally Posted by V

I am thinking about replacing the bathtub in my bathroom.

[grazi]

Oh yea, dont reglaze tub, They suck. Stupid question, for the amount of work your doing, WHy dont you just buy 4 sheets of wonderboard and 70 sq. ft. of tile and just gut and tile it.

[V]

I know any tiles I remove will most likely break, and I wouldn't plan on trying to save them. I figure one row or so of generic white tiles is fine with me.

I would have enough room to slide the tub out. Between it now and the opposite wall, there is 40" of unobstructed room the full 60" length of the tub. Once out, I'd have a few friends help in order to lift it on end and out of the bathroom.

maybe i'll post some pics... lol

[V]

Because I HATE to tile, its annoying. lol

[grazi]

Oh, if you have enough room to slide it out, your golden, most guts I do of bathrooms , the toilet or something else is usually pretty tight where you couldnt slide it. Alot of times, if its a full gut we bust it up with a sledge.

[Savage_Messiah]

Gotta keep the tub somewhere though for the next set of denali wheels you want to murder out

[grazi]

The other thing. Behind the tile will be sheetrock, not cement board so if you plan on only cutting up 4 inches to remove the first tile, it may be a hassle cutting out the old rock if its still solid and cutting a piece of cement board to fit that, Remember it has to be perfect smoothor its foing to look like balls when you retile it. You may be better off taking off at least 2 courses so you can kinda float the cement board and tile if you know what I mean.

[V]

Yea, and i do know its not regular sheetrock behind it though. When i did the kitchen on the other side of the wall, I looked into the wall and noticed the original plaster and lathe was removed and it has special bathroom type wall material, but right now i cant exactly remember what was printed on it. lol

Originally Posted by Savage_Messiah

Gotta keep the tub somewhere though for the next set of denali wheels you want to murder out

There's 3 other bathrooms to clean my wheels in, I'm good.

[V]

Here's the area next to the tub... Obviously I'd also take the door off the hinges if I did this.

[grazi]

See those bottom pieces of bullnose that your going to have to remove. Have fun with that. Look at United States Ceramic Tile for possible color match. Theres a tile place down by Union that may be able to match the tile, too. I forgot the name of the place right now,though..Recycle the tub too youll get a couple bucks.

[grazi]

http://www.worldoftile.us/ Here it is

[V]

Originally Posted by grazi

http://www.worldoftile.us/ Here it is

thanks.

At this point though, almost seems a better idea to just leave the tub though. This is in an apartment I'm currently renting but its owned by my parents. I don't plan on spending more than 2 years here so even if i paint the walls, chenge toilet and vanity, any future tennats should be able to deal with the tub. lol

[grazi]

Ill redo the whole bathroom if i can have your car

[zraffz]

Spray paint tub white... problem solved