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.

What are the options?

There are 2 main ways to carry out work:

dismantling while maintaining integrity:
font enamel (when the bathtub is planned to be used further for its intended purpose, for example, after restoration)
destruction.

The first option is simpler from the point of view of dismantling itself, but it causes big problems when removing the product. After all, such a font weighs on average about 100 kg.

This method is worth using if you decide to restore the coating or do something with your own hands from the case itself.

You can breathe new life into an old cast iron bathtub. Craftsmen have come up with many options for its alternative use: flower beds, ponds, garden furniture and much more.

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.

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.

How to dismantle it correctly with your own hands?

Below, we have provided detailed instructions for carrying out the work with all the nuances.

Remove the old siphon

The first step is to disconnect the siphon. As a rule, in old houses these siphons are made of cast iron, and under the influence of moisture and time, all connections sinter and corrode, so it is unlikely to be possible without special compounds that corrode rust. You can use, for example, WD-40 - popularly known as "Vedashka". You need to spray the connections and leave them in this state for 1 hour.

Then, using a wrench, you need to unscrew the nut, thereby disconnecting the siphon.

The diameter of the nut is most often very large, so for this work you will need a gas wrench.

If the nut does not give in and the “century-old layer” of rust is not corroded by any means, all that remains is to cut off part of the pipe with a grinder. Or not? There is one interesting life hack

insert the chisel into the hammer drill chuck (this is a special blade-shaped attachment);
switch it to the “impact without drilling” mode;
Press the chisel against the end of the nut and press the start button.

Most likely the nut will give way. Do this procedure several times until you can unscrew it with a key or by hand.

Release the sides

Often tiles in the USSR were laid from the side of the bathroom, or even a corner was made from it along the entire perimeter of the wall. In this case, pulling out the bathtub is simply not possible; first you need to knock off the tiles from the sides. For this, an already familiar hammer drill with a chisel is suitable, in impact mode without drilling.

Just go over the edges one by one. If you don’t have a hammer drill, it doesn’t matter. A hammer and chisel can also handle this, but the work will take much longer.

If it is built into the wall of a room?

It also happens that the font is built into the wall, for example, as in the photo. In this case, you will need to remove the legs from the side of this wall. If you can’t unscrew them with a key, or they are firmly embedded in the floor, you can cut them off with a grinder.

Then place wooden boards or a sheet of plywood

so as not to split the floor. All that remains is to press hard on the side of the bathtub; you may need the help of a second person, and it will fall down, falling onto the boards. If you can’t push through, you can try using a hammer drill to knock down the part of the wall on which the font rests.

Is it worth cutting off the legs?

Sometimes the legs are dull and deeply embedded in the floor. In such cases, all that remains is to cut them off with a grinder

. Take a metal disc and carefully file the back legs first, and then the front ones. This is important because if the order is different, there is a chance that the font will fall on you. It is better to file the legs at the base (floor). In this case, you will have additional handles that are convenient for transportation. Of course, you should first check whether they are firmly attached to the font.

How to take it out of the apartment?

Once you have released the bowl, place it in an upright position - firmly grasp the upper legs. Then tilt it slightly to make it easier for your partner to grab the lower ones.

The doorway in the bathroom is usually quite narrow

. Therefore, it will not be possible to simply endure it. You must first place the front legs behind the doorway. Then move the font diagonally and only then insert the rear legs.

How do they carry it out if the legs are completely cut off? In this case, it will be easier to place the bowl on its long side on its side and gradually move it along the floor, pointing it diagonally into the doorway. After you have taken it out of the bathroom, you can grab one person by the front end, the other by the back (as if you were carrying a stretcher), this will make it easier to pull it out. Further removal is a matter of technology. What to do if there is no partner?

Is it possible to split or break it with a sledgehammer at home?

If you work alone and there is no one to help remove the whole building, a rational solution would be to remove it in parts. To do this you need to break the font. What is the best way to do this?

The fastest, but noisiest and messiest solution would be to use a sledgehammer:

cover the font with a damp sheet or other large piece of cloth. This will help avoid dust and scattering of fragments.
Then hit the side of the tub hard with a sledgehammer.
If the cast iron does not crack, you can use some kind of wedge, for example, a crowbar. And hit him already. The font will definitely split.
You can cut cast iron into pieces of almost any size.

The main disadvantage of this method is that it will take a long time to clean the space from small fragments and dust. And the noise, of course, will be very loud, because the shape of the bath vaguely resembles a bell.

Is it really possible to break without noise?

Many people often ask this question, because not all neighbors are sympathetic to repairs. Of course, you won’t be able to get rid of the sound completely, but you can make the work a little less loud:

make several cuts on the body with a grinder;
insert a piece of ground scrap into them;
hit the crowbar with a sledgehammer.

The tub should crack.

Is it better to cut it with a grinder and break it?

There is another way to divide the font. It was cut with a grinder. Here, of course, you will have to suffer longer than with a sledgehammer. But there will be much less dust and fragments:

While working, pieces of enamel and scale will fly around, be sure to wear safety glasses and a respirator.

install a metal disc on the angle grinder (grinder) (it is better to use 230 mm models, with them the process will go much faster);
start cutting in the middle, sequentially moving from the sides of the bathtub to the bottom;
when the matter comes to an end, you are already going to go to the bottom and close 2 cutting lines from the front and rear sides - ALWAYS place wooden blocks under the bathtub
, otherwise the halves will come together and bite the disk.
When the cut closes, the work can be considered complete. If the halves do not open, just press lightly on the bottom
and it will immediately break.

During operation, the disc must be allowed to cool, so take a break every 1-2 minutes. The procedure can be carried out until the size of the parts satisfies you. What else can you saw and how to cut? It’s difficult to find an alternative to an angle grinder; you can, of course, make cuts along the sides using a hacksaw, but you won’t be able to cut further.

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.

Selecting a location

The first step is to choose a place where the font will stand. If you decide to install it instead of the old one, you first need to dismantle you can even make a little money from this .
In other cases, the choice is made depending on its type, shape and size. There are 3 main types:

For free-standing models, the main condition is the convenience of connecting communications; if in the first case, the pipes can be laid along the wall and will not be visible, then, most likely, they will have to be recessed into the floor.

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

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

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.

How to properly destroy a cast iron bathtub

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

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.

Removing the bathtub

Dismantling and removal of the bathtub can be ordered from a special organization. A team of 4-5 people will independently perform all the necessary work. The plumbing fixtures will be packed directly in the premises, then taken out of the apartment, lowered from the floor (if necessary) and loaded onto a vehicle.

How high the cost of dismantling the bathtub will be depends on the complexity of the work performed. In the most common cases, it will be 1,500 rubles. When it is necessary to keep the cladding intact, costs can increase by 20-50%.

If you approach the dismantling of the bathtub taking into account the features described above, you can avoid mistakes that will lead to damage to the plumbing and bathroom furnishings. Accuracy and unhurriedness are the main requirements for performing work.