Cultured marble vs Cast iron vs Americast

I'm looking at buying a new traditional non-jetted tub for a bathroom remodel... I'm replacing a 40+ year old cast iron tub. What's the pros and cons of: cultured marble vs cast iron vs americast? This question is in regard to: cost, surface durability, easy of care, and comfort. To me, it always seems worth spending the extra dollars today to avoid a major disapointment in 5 or so years. Thanks for any advice.

tub

It would not be cultured marble in most cases, but if it were, they usually have sharp corners where surfaces meet and are uncomfortable when used as a tub. Acrylic and fiberglass tubs are the easiest to transport and install, but the surface longevity is fairly short.

For what it's worth, we just installed an Americast tub in our guest bath and it seems fairly durable. It has a much better "feel" to it than a plain steel tub and it's also relatively light and easy to handle. Cast iron is probably the best, but they're HEAVY and are difficult to maneuver into place for a three wall installation.

-Steve



Designers Marble in Woodinville