[polarzak]

My wife is at it again and has decided that she does not like the green appliances in the main bathroom. This after 30 years. Now she wants white.

I have no issues doing it myself, toilet, washbasin, wash counter, and plumbing, however I have some trepidation about replacing the tub. Never did one of them before. I understand how to remove it, (I think) but for the installation of the new one there are some questions.

The old tub is the standard 30 inch wide and 60 long, 15 inch high. ..it is 40 years old but in good shape. (just the color is now wrong) She wants it replaced with a white one, same size, but rather than 15 in height, with 18 in high. I checked at the big box stores, and she found what she wants. My question is : are the over flow hole and drain hold standard? In other words, would the new tub be able to use the existing overflow and drain pipe? I just want to check this before I go looking and some 16 year old at the store tells me everything will be cool.
One other question...what would be better to replace it with porcelain on steel, or acrylic?
Thanks for your help. Any other tips are welcome.

 

[md2lgyk]

No, they are not standard. What you need depends on how deep the tub is. But any big box store sells overflow and drain assemblies of various sizes. They are adjustable, not expensive, and not difficult to install. I had to get a really long one because we have a soaker tub that's nearly 3 feet deep.

As for the tub itself, that's pretty much a matter of personal preference (or, rather, what momma wants). I've replaced a tub in two of my houses, and prefer acrylic just because they're lighter and easier to deal with. You just need to be careful what you clean them with.

 

[joecaption]

You do know to get that tub out the walls will need to be striped down to the studs, right?

 

[polarzak]

You do know to get that tub out the walls will need to be striped down to the studs, right?

No...that shouldn't be the case. I only need to take the tiles and drywall off to the studs, high enough to get past the lip, or about 4 inches above the tub, not the full walls. Once the new tub is in, I am just going to put in one of those acrylic tub enclosures. But thanks for the info.

 

[Blondesense]

No...that shouldn't be the case. I only need to take the tiles and drywall off to the studs, high enough to get past the lip, or about 4 inches above the tub, not the full walls. Once the new tub is in, I am just going to put in one of those acrylic tub enclosures. But thanks for the info.

Think (and measure) this carefully. If you plan on leaving most of the tile will the enclosure fit over the extra thickness the tile adds?
This also goes for the plumbing.

If you have those gorgeous green fixtures, keep in mind that it was very common during that era to have tubs only. Showers were often added years later to surrounds that were not built to withstand the constant water.
It might not be a bad idea to take it down to the studs anyway to make sure you're not trapping any mold or damage underneath.