[shablue55]

WE ARE RENOVATING OUR BATHROOM UPSTAIRS AND ARE WANTING TO PUT A NEW WHITE TUB IN PLACE OF THE EXISTING ONE. The bathroom will have toilet and vanity taken out. How far up from the tub do I have to cut the gyproc in order to remove the tub?

[oneexception]

Usually I remove the entire wall, tile & rock, completely when doing a bath renovation. Less to obstruct the new tub and lets you take a look inside the walls giving the opportunity to address any hidden problems that would otherwise go unseen. Were you planning on re-tiling? If not, just take out only what is necessary to get the old tub out and the new one in. Keep in mind, if you weren't planning on re-tiling now but were considering it for the future, its often easier, faster, and cheaper in the long run to do it all at once.

[massplumber2008]

Hi Shablu...

Cast iron or fiberglass/acrylic tub? Let me know as removal depends on tub type.

Asumming a cast iron tub you can either crack it out using a sledgehammer or you can lift the tub out in one piece as I do most of the time. Here, the real trick to cast iron tub removal is in pulling the tub FORWARD so that there is no studs in the way when you lift the tub out (end to end lift). Here, cut the drain pipe off the tub and then remove enough gyprock to pull the tub forward beyond any studs and then lift the tub end up to stand up and remove. I do this by myself most of the time, but will advise you to use two guys for safetys sake... ;)

If you move the tub forward so no studs get in the way then you can remove as little as 8" to 1 foot of gyprock all around the tub and can easily mate the new gyprock to it. Be sure to seal the seam using an alkali-resistant tape and thinset mortar.

If there is any evidence of wicking/moisture damage that remains past the 8" to 1 foot mark then you'll need to go higher.

Questions? Let me know, OK?

Mark

[ma0641]

Mark, you're telling me YOU lift a cast iron tub yourself? The last one I removed was 300#+. Had to beat it into 8 pieces. Damn you're strong! Brian

[massplumber2008]

Hey Brian...

I'm just at 250Lbs and bench press like a son of an itch, so that certainly helps, but I don't exactly "LIFT" the tub as much as I have learned to leverage them up and eventually stand them up and then twist them sideways so I can get a dolly underneath them and wheel them out of the house... ;)

By the way, you and just about every contractor I have met break these babies out using the sledgehammer... probably smartest! I worked with a guy when I was a kid that refused to do it and showed me the tricks and I have been using them ever since.

That being said, I turned 45 awhile ago and honestly, I don't see me doing too many more of these over the years... Not even with help!

:)

[ma0641]

WOW, I'm impressed. I'm 195, got you by 25 years and won't do another cast iron tub. I did install a claw foot a couple of years ago but that sat in a recess and 2 of us moved it in. Looked neat in the old tub enclosure area.

[hkstroud]

I'm just at 250Lbs and bench press like a son of an itch,
:)

Just call him SIR:

[ma0641]

Oh Yea!

[massplumber2008]

What... huh? :D

[ma0641]

You're bad! But I'll sub my tub jobs to you.

[shablue55]

It is just an ordinary steel tub and it doesn't look to be too heavy.

[massplumber2008]

Great for you! For a steel tub, just disconnect the drain, cut out the tile/cement board as high as needed and lift the tub out. As you said, not a heavy tub at all!

Good luck!

[shablue55]

Already done but found out the proboard has to come off as there was a leak under the toilet.

[shablue55]

Thank you already out but found some wet proboard so will have to replace all of that and then continue on.