fishsticks72
New Member
So in another thread on the forum I came to the conclusion that the leak in my shower was coming from behind a fiberglass enclosure that my wife has always hated, so the time has come for us (the enclosure, not the wife) to part ways.
I did some cursory research and decided on a cast iron tub. I saw the specs, and realized my contractor would hate me right away for suggesting it, and he confirmed it for me. 316 lbs, and this bathroom is an exceptionally small space up a narrow staircase. He doesn't want to be responsible for getting it there, and feels that the lack of maneuverability will make it difficult for him to get it installed.
He recommended I go with an enameled steel instead. I've read a lot of stuff online and here, and the reviews are all over the place. This is a seasonal home, so cast iron is probably overkill. It gets two months of traffic, albeit with a lot of kids who are as gentle on things as a pack of gorillas.
I figured enameled steel would be the next best bet, but it seems the reviews aren't the greatest - chips easily, can rust and fail, and if it's not supported right the lifespan can be short. Americast seemed like it might be a good hybrid, but it has it's share of ugly reviews as well. I saw a lot of reviews that suggested the installation was crucial and mentioned foam and bedding, but I don't know if my contractor knows about any of this.
Assuming cast iron were out for you - what would be your second choice? We're talking standard tub here - 60x30. I'm half of mind to remove the tub and just go with a big shower stall, but it's the only tub in the house and I feel like taking it away would detract from the value somehow if we were to sell.
I did some cursory research and decided on a cast iron tub. I saw the specs, and realized my contractor would hate me right away for suggesting it, and he confirmed it for me. 316 lbs, and this bathroom is an exceptionally small space up a narrow staircase. He doesn't want to be responsible for getting it there, and feels that the lack of maneuverability will make it difficult for him to get it installed.
He recommended I go with an enameled steel instead. I've read a lot of stuff online and here, and the reviews are all over the place. This is a seasonal home, so cast iron is probably overkill. It gets two months of traffic, albeit with a lot of kids who are as gentle on things as a pack of gorillas.
I figured enameled steel would be the next best bet, but it seems the reviews aren't the greatest - chips easily, can rust and fail, and if it's not supported right the lifespan can be short. Americast seemed like it might be a good hybrid, but it has it's share of ugly reviews as well. I saw a lot of reviews that suggested the installation was crucial and mentioned foam and bedding, but I don't know if my contractor knows about any of this.
Assuming cast iron were out for you - what would be your second choice? We're talking standard tub here - 60x30. I'm half of mind to remove the tub and just go with a big shower stall, but it's the only tub in the house and I feel like taking it away would detract from the value somehow if we were to sell.