"Nobody" wrote in message
news:1PM1e.16376$AN1.11684@fed1read03...
(snip)
What is curious is that both bathtubs are sort of "hermetically sealed"
units. How on earth can you connect the plumbing (ie, the drain) with a
sealed bathtub, is it just dropped in and some how water tight sealed from
above?

Is this a typical situation for a bathtub installer and they can just get
a
couple of 'roid freaks to muscle it into place without trashing the
house? or is it really "redoing the entire bathroom"?

Short answer- the bathroom is basically built around the tub. Especially
true with the big 1-piece fiberglas units. They often have to pull a few
studs to get it in there. House is framed, tub/shower stall is dropped in
place, and then everything else happens. Plumbing is done from below/behind,
before walls are closed in. If you are on a slab, new tub needs to fit old
drain pipe unless you want to do concrete work, otherwise, figure on drywall
downstairs, and definitely figure on drywall or an access hatch on wall
behind the faucet. Don't forget to insulate behind/under new tub, especially
since it abuts an outside wall. Iron tubs get damn cold in winter, if next
to unheated space on the black side.

For 'old work' situations, some vendors offer tubs that (just barely) fit
through a 30" door, on end. (Assuming you don't have any tight corners in
the hall.) May have to pull the door casing off as well. Rotating it in the
room to get it oriented right will be the hard part.

But yeah, you are basically talking a total gut job on the bathroom, to
install it right. Once you have the old shower cut up and removed, you have
to redo surround with backer board anyway, and floor will also be trashed,
so you aren't really talking much more work to pull vanity. Compared to a
cast iron tub, vanities are cheap.

Hey, it's only money. Iron tubs are great- go for it.

aem sends...