John/Charleston
Junior Member
I'm helping my daughter remodel her first home, a 1975 townhouse. The original tub/shower was 60x32 fiberglass and had cracked around the drain so it's history. We were planning on a cast iron tub with tile surround but of course budget is raising it's ugly head and we're now looking at an acrylic or vikrell tub and surround. From reading posts, I gather the acrylic is the more durable choice? Are there any options I'm missing other than Americast which seems about as expensive as CI and less popular? (and I guess would still need a tile surround?)
The tub alcove was originally framed out at 62" (I think an original framing error) so getting the tub in there will be fairly easy as I can fir out the end wall after the tub is in place. I don't think it will be enough room to get a full tub/shower unit in there though so we'll have to go with a multi piece unit. Any opinion on those? My daughter found one somewhere that had horizontal pieces that stack as opposed to the usual vertical seams... good idea?
I once installed one where the surround was all one piece. It was a bear to manage and we ended up removing studs to swing it around in the room but I like that the only seam was where the tub/surround mated. With the room 2" wider, I might be able to swing one of those in there... Does anyone know how much room width is needed for a one piece surround?
Thanks!
The tub alcove was originally framed out at 62" (I think an original framing error) so getting the tub in there will be fairly easy as I can fir out the end wall after the tub is in place. I don't think it will be enough room to get a full tub/shower unit in there though so we'll have to go with a multi piece unit. Any opinion on those? My daughter found one somewhere that had horizontal pieces that stack as opposed to the usual vertical seams... good idea?
I once installed one where the surround was all one piece. It was a bear to manage and we ended up removing studs to swing it around in the room but I like that the only seam was where the tub/surround mated. With the room 2" wider, I might be able to swing one of those in there... Does anyone know how much room width is needed for a one piece surround?
Thanks!