Building/Plumbing Question - Bathroom Refit?

Well i can help, i'm a plumber, been doing it for years and bathroom remodeling in older homes is my specialty.

Those old cast iron tubs are always a pain in the butt!

There's multiple ways you can do this.

The first would be to get 3 or 4 guys together, wiggle and stand the tub up on one end, long ways and strap it to a dolly and wheel it out of the house and onto a truck. Obviously that way is extremely difficult due to the weight of the tub, considering most of those old tubs weigh about 400-600 pounds, if not more.

Second way would be to get and abrassive blade circular saw and start cutting the tub into pieces, this will take a long time but depending on how much you can lift, you can cut the tub in half or quarters or even smaller if needed. Again, this takes a really long time to do, plus as you mentioned, this creates one heck of a dust mess and the dust goes everywhere regardless of how good of a job you did to attempt to contain the dust, etc.

The third way, the way i most often use, is to get a few good drill bits, and drill holes down the center of the tub every few inches or so.....the closer in proximity that you drill the holes the easier it will be for you to break the tub in half though. ANyway, drill a bunch of holes in line with one another, then get yourself a 5 pound sledge hammer and start striking the tub where its been drilled. the tub will split pretty easily once you have the enamel broken off with a few hard strikes.....Also when you are both drilling and swing the sledge hammer make sure you wear eye protection at all times. those shards of enamel are like glass and can really hurt you, protect your eyes.

as you see, there's really not a super easy way to get that monster out of there, but just remember, they got that big guy in there some how, and in one piece.

If i were you i'd choose from the first option or the 3rd one.

good luck

In order to minimize the mess, the stress and the negatives associated with the tear down; hire a couple of 15 year-old neighbourhood kids. I think that once it is detached from it's resting place against the wall, you will find it will go down the stairs. The frame of the tub against the wall is actually up high and by angling it while moving it down the stairs; you will succeed. The kids do the lifting and moving while you direct from down the stairs. It is extremely rare that the tub is put in the house before the stairs and walls are completed. It had to get up there so it has to come down the same way. The fact that your tarzan days are over is no reason to look down on the job. The kids will really appreciate the $20 each you give them for their help and when you run into issues along the way that you need them back for muscle; they will be quick to help again. I do renos for a living and do 95% myself but always hire kids for muscle help with drywall etc. as I have never been tarzan-inclined. It is good for all.

Funny how the reno shows on TV don't cover the cost and hassle of the tear down as much as they cover the apparent "affordability" of the re-build. Taking out the old should factor 20% of the job budget as a minimum.

Good Luck!

You can break a cast iron bath up with a small sledge hammer. Start by hitting the edge in the centre. It will take a few blows, but once it goes it makes the rest easier. You need to wear gogles and gloves because the enamel will come off like sharp razor blades. I have broken up quite a few.

Done quite a few in my time. dont be put off by the thickess of the cast iron, some break like eggs, but some do require knocking 7 bells out of them to start a crack. Take precautions, where overalls, goggles, gloves, boots (bits can fly everywhere and the enamel is like glass). something on your head and ear defenders (the noise is deafening). If you cant face it concider having the bath resprayed and just change the sink and toilet.

Good luck.

Goggles on, ear defenders in, gloves on.... now you're ready. Get a big sledge hammer and belt it a right good 'un in the base near the plug hole, this should be the weakest spot to start and should start a crack going, then its easy just keep belting it hard and you'll finish up with half a dozen biggish , but handleable bits plus a load of smaller fragments. Take care carrying it out as the edges will be sharp and jagged & you dont want to go falling over with one in your hands or down the stairs.....Good luck

I totally agree with Sushin about the re-enamelling option. I've got a similar bath and am about to have it re-enamelled as the removal of it will be such a nightmare - plus, on looking at modern baths they are nowhere near as deep or decent quality, there is no way I am spending who knows how long removing a cast-iron bath to replace it with a plastic one!

I have smashed a tub with a sledge before, its not that difficult. If it is a big claw and ball foot tub it is probably not going to work but I am guessing that this tub is a little newer than that like the kind you attach to the walls and put up a surround. However, if it is a claw and ball foot tub don't smash it. Put it on ebay, people will pay good money for a tub like that.

I would guess the cast iron is not that thick so cutting or smashing may not be so much of a problem.

Do you have a younger family member who could assist in smashing it up.

I would cover with a thick old blanket and try to smash up, the blanket would help stop flying pieces of metal.

Wear safety goggles and gloves etc.

Been there, done that.

Had a job that did a bathroom refit. Took 3 of us to carry it out to the bedroom balcony where we then proceeded to throw it over the rail and onto the garden below. If the room is not too crowded, having a sturdy trolley would help the short journey to the balcony/window.

Good luck!

PS. Only a slight dent in the garden.

i have taken a few cast iron baths out in my time.

after the first time i went down stairs to see the kitchen strip light hanging from its cable.

you "just" need to hit it hard, i have found out that the best place to start hitting it is on the bottom hedge to the back of the bath. you need to just keep going.

i smash them up into about 10 pieces, and they are still heavy. good luck