DIY Question: Bathtub Selection - Opinions?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bootz-Industries-Bootz ... /100389020

Looking at this tub ^^ .. a 90 lb tub 30 but I leaning towards a different manufacturer ...

Looking for steel based tub not plastic. Any suggestions on a manufacture that will cost less than $350?

Habitat for Humanity run a store called the ReStore, might check them out.
Their stock can come from some unlikely places and the price will be outstanding.

McGiever wrote:Habitat for Humanity run a store called the ReStore, might check them out.
Their stock can come from some unlikely places and the price will be outstanding.

I bought some windows from them for my shed project. Not a supplier I would be interested in examining for this project though.

Depending on the style, Home Depot has them for under $200. I would assume Lowes would carry something similar in style and price.

The bootz tub looks like the same construction as the American Standard americast tub I normally use. Never had a problem with the americast. It has some of the same qualities as cast iron does. Just make sure you bed the tub in some mortar of plaster or something like that.

plumb-r wrote:The bootz tub looks like the same construction as the American Standard americast tub I normally use. Never had a problem with the americast. It has some of the same qualities as cast iron does. Just make sure you bed the tub in some mortar of plaster or something like that.

I called American Std today .. their lit says that americast is a patented material so I asked for the patent #. Holy cow, you'd swear I asked for their first born. Maybe they'll call me on monday w/the patent #.

There is no US patent for the past 15yrs issued to Amer. Std. so it maybe that a) they are licensing a patent b) using a patent thats old ~maybe from 1880 for all I know as they refused to give me a patent #...I complained that if their marketing lit notes a patent number then they should provide it if asked....

But I did not like the anti-skid crap that Amer. Std. puts on their tubs so their out of the running; Kohler does not make steel tubs - only acrylic or cast iron (ie ball buster)

I don't care for plastic tubs, but fiberglass is usually a good bet. I'm pretty sure American Standard came up with "Americast" ( Thick plastic?) while I was doing plumbing in the early 90's. Personally I shy away from steel as they rust if (when) they get chipped. Cast iron doesn't seem to chip as easily. I don't know about pricing now a days, but Kohler always made a good product.

Freddy wrote:I don't care for plastic tubs, but fiberglass is usually a good bet. I'm pretty sure American Standard came up with "Americast" ( Thick plastic?) while I was doing plumbing in the early 90's. Personally I shy away from steel as they rust if (when) they get chipped. Cast iron doesn't seem to chip as easily. I don't know about pricing now a days, but Kohler always made a good product.

I too like fiber. We just installed a 2 piece. The old blue cast dissapated alot heat and wasted hot water with 3 ladies in the house. That cast came out in pieces, weighed about a gazillion pounds.

Freddy wrote:I don't care for plastic tubs, but fiberglass is usually a good bet. I'm pretty sure American Standard came up with "Americast" ( Thick plastic?) while I was doing plumbing in the early 90's. Personally I shy away from steel as they rust if (when) they get chipped. Cast iron doesn't seem to chip as easily. I don't know about pricing now a days, but Kohler always made a good product.

I just cut up and removed one of those thick plastic ones. Cracked right across the middle and leaked badly.

I think the Habitat For Humanity store is worth a phone call. They sell donated material so they could have most anything. There is a local place near me that sells all kinds of discounted building materials. I have bought several fiberglass tubs and showers there over the years at good prices. Most had some sort of flaw that did not hurt function or longevity. Last year I bought an entire skid of 90 lb roll roofing there for $30. The color was not consistent but I used it under a new steel roof in lieu of 30lb felt. You might check for such an outlet in your area. The bathtub in this old house is cast iron. When I gutted the room I thought of replacing it with FG, then thought better of it. Why throwaway a perfectly fine cast iron tub and spend good money for new. So I reinstalled it with an enclosure and doors. If you have a cast iron tub that is chipped it can be restored where it sits. Not sure what that costs or if it could be DIY project.

top top wrote:So I reinstalled it with an enclosure and doors. If you have a cast iron tub that is chipped it can be restored where it sits. Not sure what that costs or if it could be DIY project.

I looked into refinishing our cast iron tub last spring. It is going to cost us around $300. That's pretty close to what a new tub would cost but then we'd have to deal with getting the old one out. That would cost a couple hundred, too. In the long run, it's less expensive to just refinish the one we have, less mess, too. Lisa

anthony7812 wrote:
I too like fiber. We just installed a 2 piece. The old blue cast dissapated alot heat and wasted hot water with 3 ladies in the house. That cast came out in pieces, weighed about a gazillion pounds.

A gazillion pounds is right ... have your insurance card ready for the hernia one is about to have .

plumb-r wrote:The bootz tub looks like the same construction as the American Standard americast tub I normally use. Never had a problem with the americast. It has some of the same qualities as cast iron does. Just make sure you bed the tub in some mortar of plaster or something like that.

I've heard great reviews from less expensive tubs as long as they are installed correctly.

skobydog wrote:

plumb-r wrote:The bootz tub looks like the same construction as the American Standard americast tub I normally use. Never had a problem with the americast. It has some of the same qualities as cast iron does. Just make sure you bed the tub in some mortar of plaster or something like that.

I've heard great reviews from less expensive tubs as long as they are installed correctly.

I paid $250 for my tub at home depot .... I gotta move some pipes and I expect to get that done tomorrow and install in a few days.

Got the floor ready for floor tiling process and needed to fully remove the old surround shower/tub fiberglass itching material.

After tub is in, then build the walls for the tub tiling which will take place first....still awaiting some Kerdi membrane that I had to order online (no store around me carried it --- I had to go to Taxacucettes (sp?) for my Densshield) ....

I still don't see no pix of all this DM???????????