How to break a cast iron bathtub: expert advice

A cast iron bathtub, according to professionals who do professional renovation work, is the most durable accessory. However, there comes a time when it needs to be replaced. Many owners of old bathtubs try to delay this moment as long as possible by covering the product with new layers of enamel. Some take a radical approach to solving this issue. This category prefers to completely remove the old bathtub from the house rather than install a new one in its place. It can be dismantled with or without preservation. Having tried to remove this accessory intact, beginners encounter difficulties and wonder whether it is possible to break a cast-iron bathtub. Or will I have to take it out whole? In this case, you will have to hire a team or call someone for help.

How to break a cast iron bathtub in the bathroom? This question becomes very relevant for those who have decided not to use the old accessory anywhere else. Coping with this task will not be difficult. You will find information on how to quickly break a cast iron bathtub in this article.

About dismantling methods

There are two ways to replace an old bathtub:

With saving. The bathtub is carefully disconnected from the rest of the communications in the house and taken out. It can be used in the future. Judging by the reviews, this method is complex and time-consuming.
No saving. In this case, you can either break the cast iron bathtub or saw it using an angle grinder. The bath pieces are then taken out. Due to the fact that the product now weighs much less, one person can handle this work. According to experienced craftsmen, if it is necessary to dismantle the bathtub, they mainly resort to this method. The disadvantage of this method is that the procedure is accompanied by a very large roar.

How to dismantle a cast iron bathtub with your own hands

There are 2 methods of dismantling:

While maintaining integrity. Used when it is necessary to reuse the container. As a result, the bathtub is preserved along with the enamel coating or only its body. The method is labor-intensive, because Difficulties arise when removing plumbing fixtures from the apartment. The weight of the bath can reach 100 kg.
With destruction. The method is used in a situation where the bathtub is subject to disposal. Then it is smashed with a sledgehammer or sawed with a grinder.

Destruction of the bathtub.

Removing the siphon

Dismantling begins with the removal of plumbing fixtures. In older houses, the elements of the drainage system are made of cast iron. Under the influence of high humidity, parts stick to each other over time and become covered with a layer of rust. In this case, use chemicals that corrode the corroded metal, for example, WD-40 multi-purpose lubricant.

Dismantling is done as follows:

Apply the chemical composition to the joints of the parts and leave for an hour. Using an adjustable wrench, unscrew the nut, disconnecting the siphon.
If you cannot unscrew the washer, cut off part of the sewer line with a grinder. The latter can be replaced with a hammer drill with a chisel attachment. The instrument is switched to impact mode. The chisel is installed on the end of the nut, and the hammer drill is turned on. In this case, the connection is destroyed, the parts move away from each other, which allows the siphon to be dismantled. The steps are repeated until the nut is unscrewed with a wrench.

Release the sides

In old houses, tiles were laid close to the sides of the bathtub, additionally forming a tile border. In this case, you can free the bathtub by removing part of the lining. To do this you will need a hammer drill with a chisel. The tool is switched to impact mode and passed around the perimeter of the product. If you don’t have a hammer drill, use a hammer with a chisel, but manual processing will take more time.

Releasing the sides of the bathtub.

If the bathtub is built-in, you need to unscrew it with a key or cut off its legs from the wall. The floor is protected with wooden boards or plywood, and then laid on the sides. The bathtub will fail and fall onto the boards.

If it is not possible to free the edge using this method, use a hammer drill to knock down the part of the wall into which the plumbing rests. All that remains is to pull out the bathtub, turn it on its side and take it out of the room.

Do I need to cut off the legs?

The legs of the bathtub can be used during transportation. If they are built deep into the floor, they are cut down at the base with a grinder. Using a metal disc, cut off the rear elements first, then the front ones. When performing work in the reverse order, there is a risk that the plumbing fixtures will fall on a person and cause injury. Before lifting the bathtub, you need to check the reliability of the fastening of the elements.

What is special about the method?

Based on reviews, we can conclude that the procedure for breaking a bathtub using a sledgehammer is the most proven dismantling method in practice. However, it requires considerable physical effort. Not everyone can afford to destroy a bathtub into several parts. The work must be performed by a physically trained person. In addition, the procedure itself should be performed during the day. Otherwise, a scandal with neighbors is inevitable.

Options for recycling an old cast iron bathtub

The pressing question remains, where to put the bathtub next. There are several options for further action here. It all depends on the condition of the bath and whether a container is needed. We'll look at them all.

One option is to reuse an old bathtub. Next we will learn that you can use it to make a lot of useful things around the house. Moreover, if you managed to keep the structure in decent condition, then why not take it to the dacha?

The second option is to rent out the bathtub. In this case, it can simply be taken out for scrap, or exchanged for a new one with an additional payment. Agree, the option is quite profitable. After all, a new one will cost at least 6 thousand rubles. And this is the cheapest option. The average cost is 15–20 thousand.

Tools

Since the bathtub will first need to be disconnected from the pipes, the master will need to acquire the following:

Adjustable and regular wrenches.
Screwdrivers.
With pliers.
A hacksaw and a grinder.
With a crowbar.
With a sledgehammer.

Due to the fact that rough physical work will be carried out, the master should worry about protective equipment. It is necessary to prepare special gloves and safety glasses.

Removing a clawfoot bathtub

Many old bathtubs, especially Soviet-era cast iron bathtubs, were made with legs. Due to the high humidity in the bathroom, the legs turn sour over time and it becomes increasingly difficult to remove them from the bathtub. If the legs of the bathtub stubbornly refuse to unscrew, you have two options - either leave them in their original place and try to remove the bathtub with them, or saw them off with a grinder. In each individual case, you need to look at the situation to determine whether it is worth leaving them or whether it is better to cut them off.

Where should I start?

Before breaking a cast iron bathtub, it must first be disconnected from all communications. The first step is to disconnect the overflow. According to experts, cast iron pipes were installed in many old houses. Therefore, after many years, they become very rusty, covered with scale, and the master may have difficulties dismantling cast-iron plumbing fixtures. The situation is better if communications are represented by metal-plastic components. In this case, they simply unscrew. The master only needs to prepare the pliers. There are often cases when the overflow grate gets very stuck.

Before breaking a cast iron bathtub, you need to dismantle this element. Many craftsmen clamp it with pliers and turn it counterclockwise. If it is not possible to dismantle the overflow in this way, it is cut off with a grinder. Judging by the reviews, fasteners often have heavily rusted threads, which can only be dealt with after cutting them. First, several cuts are made on the grate, and then the overflow is knocked off with a chisel. Then the crosspiece under the grille is knocked out. As a result, the siphon should hang freely, connected to the rest of the sewer line. To remove it, the master needs to get rid of the coupling. Some beginners wonder if it is possible to break a cast iron bathtub with a sledgehammer. According to experts, this is quite possible to do. You just need to adhere to a clear sequence of actions.

Methods of removal from the apartment

When removing cast iron plumbing from the apartment, you will need the help of another person. If the entire bathtub needs to be removed, it is placed vertically. One person grabs the top legs and tilts the container slightly so that a partner can grab the bottom supports. Plumbing fixtures are carried diagonally through a narrow doorway. The front legs are brought out first, then the hind legs.

If the supports are cut off, the container is placed on its side and moved along the floor. After carrying it through the doorway, one person grabs the front end, the second - the back. If there is no assistant, the bath must first be destroyed.

Removing the bathtub from the apartment.

Chop or smash with a sledgehammer at home

Breaking with a sledgehammer is a quick way to prepare plumbing fixtures for removal.

The work is carried out as follows:

Cover the container with a damp cloth; you can use a sheet or tablecloth for this. The amount of debris and dust generated will be minimal.
They strike from the side. If the metal does not break, additionally use a crowbar or wedge, which is hit with a sledgehammer.
Remove construction waste.

This method of destruction has its drawbacks. Removing small fragments and dust takes a lot of time. Also, when hitting a sledgehammer, it will not be possible to avoid loud sounds.

Saw with a grinder and break

You can destroy the container without creating a lot of unnecessary noise using a grinder.

Cut the bathtub with a grinder.

Perform the following actions:

make cuts on the body with a metal disc;
insert metal wedges into the resulting slots;
hit with a sledgehammer until the bowl breaks.

It will not be possible to completely get rid of the noise, but this method makes the operation less noisy.

Cutting is also performed using another method:

Wear a mask and goggles to protect against dust and debris.
A metal disc is installed on the grinder. Use a nozzle with a diameter of 23 cm. This will speed up the sawing process.
Work begins from the middle, moving the disk from the sides to the bottom. When the cut reaches the center of the bottom, the nozzle is placed at the opposite edge. The cuts should form a single line. Wooden blocks are first placed under the bath so that the halves do not squeeze the disk.
If the parts do not separate from each other, press on the bottom. The cuts are made until pieces are obtained that can be easily pulled out alone.

Progress

Once the most vulnerable point in the product has been found, the following steps must be performed:

The first step is to move the bathtub a little away from the wall. To complete this task, you will need a chisel and a hammer, with the help of which the plumbing product is removed from the cement mortar around the perimeter. The optimal distance of the bathtub to the wall will be from 100 to 150 mm.
Using an angle grinder equipped with cutting wheels, make several cuts on the bathtub. The master’s task is to deprive the product of its strength. The cutting areas on the bathtub should be its curved edges on both sides. They are used as stiffeners. If the work is done correctly, then strong blows to the bottom of the cast iron product will cause it to collapse.
Break through the drain hole. There is no need to turn the bath over at this stage. The master only applies very strong blows with a sledgehammer to the drain from the inside of the bathtub. Judging by the reviews, after these steps the bath is divided into two separate halves. If this does not happen, then you will have to deal with its sides.
Turn the bathtub on its side and cover it with old rags. Burlap also works well. The blows are applied to the outer part of the cast iron product. As a result, the previously broken drain hole in the bathroom should become even wider. After several blows in the bathtub, a long strip forms along its entire bottom.

Preparing a bathroom for renovation

It is necessary to fulfill the basic conditions for preparing the room for the upcoming renovation:

removal of all bath accessories;
disconnection of communications;
removal of furniture;
dismantling the old cast iron bathtub and washbasin;
clearing the room of debris and objects that may interfere with the work of specialists.

Dismantling of outdated plumbing fixtures

Dismantling an old bathtub by cutting with a grinder
How to break a cast-iron bathtub quickly and without wasting time? This question worries everyone who has ever thought about a major bathroom renovation. Old cast iron bathtubs can be removed in several ways. The first of which is free removal and removal of old cast iron bathtubs.

Advice: There are a considerable number of special services that are ready to dismantle and remove a cast-iron bathtub in a matter of hours. Moreover, they are ready to provide such a service absolutely free of charge, but on the condition that they take the old plumbing equipment with them. This is not surprising, because today the use of cast iron bathtubs for scrap metal is in great demand. Therefore, you can safely use the services of such organizations, for which you will not have to pay a penny.

However, not every locality has such initiative groups that are ready to not only dismantle, but also remove a heavy cast-iron bathtub.

And yet you shouldn’t despair, because there are still many ways that allow you to dismantle and remove an old cast-iron bathtub. For example, you can use the paid services of craftsmen who perform all the work on removing plumbing fixtures, and from any material. As a rule, such enterprises have their own standard prices for services. And after your consent to dismantle the equipment, the repair team will arrive at the appointed time and remove the plumbing; in addition, they will be able to remove the cast-iron bathtub, but also for a certain monetary reward.

But if you are going to make repairs in your bathroom without involving specialists, you will need to dismantle the cast-iron bathtub yourself. In reality, this process is not as complicated as it seems at first glance.

Do-it-yourself plumbing removal

Dismantling old cast iron plumbing

This procedure will not cause complications if the old cast-iron bathtub was placed on supports, without any fasteners, decorative screen or brickwork, and, of course, if the dimensions of the doorway allow the plumbing to be removed without preliminary sawing or breaking.

Tip: After dismantling, you can hand over the old cast-iron bathtub to scrap metal collection points, or simply leave it near the trash cans. Believe me, the next morning there will definitely be no plumbing.

But if the product is installed in a steel frame or lined with brickwork, the dismantling process becomes somewhat more complicated. In this case you will have to:

Turn off the water and disconnect the bathtub drain from the sewer system;
Then you need to remove the mixer and all water distributors, because they will interfere with the process of removing the plumbing;
When the process is not hampered by these nuances, you will need to arm yourself with a chisel and sledgehammer. Using these tools, you will need to remove the tiles and baseboards that cover the joints of the bathtub with the walls;
The next stage involves the direct dismantling of the plumbing. Using the lever, remove the obsolete equipment. If the equipment does not yield to “provocation”, the entire structure will have to be completely cut using an angle grinder with a metal attachment. If the frame is made of brick or blocks, use a sledgehammer;
When you are finally done with the frame, you will need to remove all construction debris from the premises. Then only the old plumbing itself should remain in the room. If you understand that due to its large size it will not be possible to remove the entire product from the bathroom, you will have to break the plumbing equipment into several parts.

This is interesting: Restoring an old bathtub. Repair methods and feasibility of resuscitation

How to properly destroy a cast iron bathtub

Destruction of a bathroom using a crowbar or sledgehammer

How to split a cast iron bathtub? Many videos answer the question of how to break a cast iron bathtub, so you shouldn’t have any difficulties.

Important! Please note that this procedure will be accompanied by serious noise, so you should not start repairs overnight.

First you need to put the old equipment on its side so that it has easy access from both sides. Since pieces of cast iron will fly off the product during the process and can injure your face and hands, be sure to wear safety glasses, a hat, and thick gloves. It is advisable that there are no fans in the premises either.
The most vulnerable spot in any bathtub is the part of the bottom next to the drain hole. It is on him that it is necessary to strike hard blows with a sledgehammer. When striking from the outside of the plumbing, cover the hole with a rag to prevent shards of cast iron from hitting you. These manipulations should be performed until a large crack appears along the entire bottom.
Then the bathtub needs to be turned upside down and the blows should be directed at the walls of the plumbing. After cutting the equipment into pieces, invite your fans to help remove the remains of the bathtub from the room.

Getting rid of an unnecessary bath

We sell an old bathtub for scrap metal for a fee

So, where can you sell your cast iron bathtub? Cast iron products are, of course, durable, but not eternal. Therefore, sooner or later everyone asks the question: where to sell an old cast-iron bathtub? Dismantling plumbing equipment is a very difficult process, but not final, because it becomes necessary to remove the old cast-iron bathtub.

But the good news is that recycling an old cast-iron bathtub can bring not only trouble, but also a certain monetary reward. Because cast iron scrap is accepted in almost all cities. If you have your own transport and during the dismantling process you had to break the plumbing into pieces, you can organize self-pickup of cast-iron bathtubs, having previously decided on a place for scrap metal collection.

But if you do not have your own transport and handing over an old bathtub weighing 150 kg is problematic for you, you can easily negotiate with special teams who will remove the equipment themselves; they certainly know where to put the cast-iron bathtub.

You just need to find advertisements in your area of residence and contact an organization where you can rent out a cast-iron bathtub.

Some advice from experts

For those who do not know how to break a cast iron bathtub, professionals recommend following safety precautions. Mostly this work is performed by two people. Since the procedure involves a grinder and a sledgehammer, you can protect yourself from injuries if all actions are coordinated.

Due to the fact that particles of broken cast iron can get into the face from strong blows of a sledgehammer, the plumbing product should first be covered with burlap. This will also protect the bathroom itself. The speed of dismantling and safety directly depend on the proper organization of work.

Tips and tricks

Both technologies for dismantling a bathroom by removal seem quite easy, but in each specific case some complications may arise. By and large, it all depends on the size and weight of the structure. Thus, small bathtubs 150 cm long usually do not cause problems, and they can be handled alone, which cannot be said about long containers of 170 cm, which weigh more than 100 kg.

During work, you must strictly follow safety precautions. If you work with an assistant, actions need to be coordinated, especially if the squaring of the room does not allow you to turn around.

Key safety points to pay special attention to:

Coordination of work with an assistant - clearly check and coordinate every step, especially when moving the bath. If a cast iron container falls, it can not only crush your feet, but also break (cast iron cannot withstand strong shock loads), and the fragments can cut you.
Very often your hands get hurt during the dismantling process, so work in thick construction gloves or mittens. When removing the bathtub from the room, make sure that your hands are not crushed by the jamb in the passage.
When working with a grinder or sledgehammer, remember that in the process they will throw out many small fragments that can injure your skin and eyes. Wear safety glasses and cover your face with a scarf.

If we are talking about dismantling an acrylic bathtub, such difficulties will not arise, since this material is quite light, and the structure can easily be lifted and carried out alone.

Where to put the old bathtub?

If you decide to make a major overhaul in your bathroom and change the bathtub itself, this does not mean that you need to get rid of your old cast-iron “friend” forever. If you apply a little imagination and skill to the work, an unsightly design can turn into a stylish piece of furniture or other useful thing. An old bathtub makes great chairs, sofas, tables and other furniture. The images below clearly demonstrate how you can add a “zest” to the interior with the help of furniture created on the basis of cast iron bathtubs.

But most of the options for using such structures can be implemented in the country. So, from the bathroom you get nice compact decorative ponds, they can also be used for their intended purpose, for example, to plunge into cool water on a hot summer day after fruitful work in the garden...

If you love working with plants or want to try your hand at landscape design, turn your bathtub into a luxurious, original flower garden. Fill it with fertile soil and plant flowering plants.

Another unusual and effective way to use an old bathtub is to turn it into a barbecue and cook delicious treats for a large company:

If you still decide to get rid of the bathtub once and for all, do not just throw it away in a landfill, but take it to a scrap metal collection point - you can use the proceeds to pay part of the amount for a new bathtub or shower.

Examples of creative uses of old bathtubs:

A method for replacing a cast iron product in which the container remains intact

When starting work on removing the tank, first of all, the plumbing fixture should be pulled forward. The most convenient way to do this is with a lever, which is advisable to use a crowbar or pry bar. Provided that two people are involved in the work, it would be best to move the bathtub away from the wall by about half a meter, that is, so far that one of them could easily fit there.

You need to take the bathtub out of the room on its side

Then you should lay the container on its side. To do this, it is necessary for one of the workers to be between the wall and the side of the product. Now the product needs to be taken out of the bathroom. Here it is appropriate to use the bathtub supports as handrails. By holding them, you can conveniently transport the cast iron container.

At the current stage, you should adhere to some rules. If you neglect these recommendations, you will not be able to remove the plumbing fixture. You need to move the product into the doorway on the edge and, taking into account the rotation, first remove the front legs. Next, gradually turning the container, take it outside the bathroom so that you can install the second pair of brackets.

Now all that remains is to remove the product from the home. Since the size of the front door leaf is usually at least 800 mm, this will not pose any particular difficulties. It's up to you to decide what to do with the old tank. Maybe you decide to take it to a country house, where the container can be used in at least a dozen different ways, allowing the old plumbing fixture to perform a useful function. In particular, an old cast-iron bathtub can serve as the basis for a decorative pond.