Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
bygonebungalow

How to get cast iron tub into alcove?

bygonebungalow
11 years ago

Anyone have ideas on how to get a 60" cast iron tub into a 61" alcove. We have a new Mendota Kohler tub sitting in our driveway and can't figure out how to install it into this alcove. I'm sure there's a technique. It weighs 331 lbs (ish). Unfortunately we can't use the crate it came in to carry it.

Also, any advice as to whether or not it needs metal plates under it's stubby little feet that will hold all the weight? It seems like 331 lbs plus water plus person would sink into 3/4" plywood. HELP! and thanks!

Comments (14)

  • snoonyb
    11 years ago

    Maybe you should also include the make and model, since you did not say if the tub is full apron, corner or non-apron.
    The apron also acts as a support.
    There are also 2x cleats that may be part of the installation which act as a weight transfer to the wall structure, depending, of course, upon the type of tub.

  • bygonebungalow
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    The tub is Kohler Mendota 550 left drain. It has a full apron and they say no weight should be on the apron. All the weight should be on the feet. No cleats.

    No mention of needing a ledger board.

  • renovator8
    11 years ago

    You can probably rent professional rigging supplies like cabinet/equipment dollies and roller kits or put the tub on a platform and use steel pipes as rollers (if you are very careful).

    Make sure the floor is structurally sound with blocking below the tub support feet. By now you have read Kohler's installation instructions so you know that they recommend a floor capacity of 56 psf and the installation of metal shims under the feet "as needed" (with a drawing of 2 metal shims under a foot) but since the tub has an integral front skirt you must be careful to not raise it too high.

    This cast iron model doesn't require a back lip support.

    Here is a link that might be useful: rigger's tool rental

  • bygonebungalow
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    I was wondering if there was a muscle man way of getting the tub in? Also, I am concerned about the flooring because the plumbing that is there comes up above the subfloor so our handyman had to cut a huge hole to accommodate those pipes and now the hole opening would be VERY close to where the feet go. To redo the plumbing is a whole can of worms. This is a 1929 house and we just accept that some things are what they are. HOWEVER... this flooring issue is something we revisited after measuring where the feet were on the tub. I think we're going to have the handyman recut the plywood to the pipes in, but then make the rest of the opening smaller. FYI in the original posted picture there was a piece of plywood covering the hole.

  • bygonebungalow
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    I was wondering if there was a muscle man way of getting the tub in? Also, I am concerned about the flooring because the plumbing that is there comes up above the subfloor so our handyman had to cut a huge hole to accommodate those pipes and now the hole opening would be VERY close to where the feet go. To redo the plumbing is a whole can of worms. This is a 1929 house and we just accept that some things are what they are. HOWEVER... this flooring issue is something we revisited after measuring where the feet were on the tub. I think we're going to have the handyman recut the plywood to the pipes in, but then make the rest of the opening smaller. FYI in the original posted picture there was a piece of plywood covering the hole.

    {{!gwi}}

  • renovator8
    11 years ago

    Let me guess: no plumber, no engineer, no permit, no workman's comp. and you don't want to rent equipment that will allow someone do move the tub safely. Make sure the people that carry it are closely related to you and have good health insurance because your homeowners insurance will probably not cover it.

    The plywood should not be the issue. The tub feet should rest on full strength joists or solid blocking between those joists. If the hoists do not meet the loading requirement you need to add new joists or sister the old ones. If you don't know how to do that you need to find someone who does. It's usually cheaper to do something right the first time.

    This is a good project for a DIY forum.

    Here is a link that might be useful: DIY forum

  • millworkman
    11 years ago

    What he is saying is if you do not do this right someone will get hurt, and it may be yourself when taking a bath and the entire bathroom ends up in the basement if you do not do it properly!

  • GreenDesigns
    11 years ago

    What size are the joists under that plywood and were any of them butchered to get the plumbing in. Getting the tub to the location may be the least of your issues here!

  • energy_rater_la
    11 years ago

    Make sure the floor is structurally sound with blocking below the tub support feet.
    and:
    The plywood should not be the issue. The tub feet should rest on full strength joists or solid blocking between those joists. If the joists do not meet the loading requirement you need to add new joists or sister the old ones. If you don't know how to do that you need to find someone who does. It's usually cheaper to do something right the first time.

    both from renovator8's post.

    thought it needed to be repeated.
    solid blocking. between. joists.

    is 61" with or without sheetrock?
    cutting it pretty close.

    best of luck.

  • snoonyb
    11 years ago

    In all my 35yrs. of carrying these tubs up to 2nd flr. locations and despite the mfg. recommendations, I have always installed wall cleats, and have yet had any call-backs to correct failed tub to wall finish grout.
    Carry the tub in on a refer dolly being careful not to damage the finish. Transfer it to one or two 4 wheel dollies. Set a piece of padding on the floor to protect the apron bottom edge, roll the tub into place.
    The hole needs to there to access the waste and overflow from beneath.

  • brickeyee
    11 years ago

    " use steel pipes as rollers "

    3/4 in PVC supply lines should work just fine as rollers.

  • bygonebungalow
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Thanks to all who chimed in. The tub is safely in. We used an upright furniture dolly and 3 strong men. It had to be leveled so we used metal shims as instructed by Kohler.

  • schoolhouse_gw
    11 years ago

    Did you put the tub in before finishing the walls? How did you solve the weight issue?

  • George Bock
    last year

    Holy crap. There is no weight issue to be concerned with.

    A gallon of water weighs 8 lbs. The tub holds50 gallons, or 400 lbs of water plus 350 lbs itself.

    That's 750 lbs, on four tub feet.

    So each foot carries 187 pounds.

    So what?

    Can your bathroom floor bear the weight of four grown men standing up where the tub will be? Oh my, what if each of them stands on one foot?

    This is basic arithmetic and common sense.