I need some feedback concerning acrylic bathtubs.

Lesa DeMaio
by Lesa DeMaio
I am looking into a clawfoot bathtub for my bathroom. They can be purchased in both acrylic and cast iron in the size I need. It would make my life much easier to purchase and install the acrylic tub, but I am concerned it may not be durable. Does anyone have any feedback on acrylic clawfoot tubs?
  3 answers
  • Cost. Ease of getting into the bathroom. The new acrylic clawfoot tub comes with a price tag that sometimes seem to match cast iron. Is this going in an old home you are restoring? or a new home? do not buy cheap acrylic tubs of any type because they seem to crack or become dingy with time and the cast iron or porcelain tubs will come clean again. I love porcelain/cast because it is easier to clean and if you have an older home is more authentic. I think it is a matter of what you what to spend and how hard it will be to carry a heavy cumbersome tub into place. Everyone will have opinions from their own experiences about which is better and I have had builder grade acrylic tubs and I do not like them and when I did my remodel which included ripping and gutting a full bath with a cast iron tub I saved the tub and even tho I battled the heavy thing with my husband cussing under his breath as we wrangled it in and out of a small doorway. I am happy my slightly aged but easily cleaned tub because messy teens who refuse to keep their bathroom clean makes my "job" easier when I do go in and clean. On the flip side, I will soon be ripping out my master bath walk in shower with an acrylic base because the previous owner never cleaned and it looks dingy from years of abuse and no amount of bleach or harsh chemicals will make it white again (it is a dingy dirty white). I am a freak about clean bathrooms and white and so as soon as the rest of the house is done from our total renovation I am ripping out that damn acrylic and putting in a stone shower with either a cast iron base if I can find one or tile/stone floor. I imagine that the higher end acrylic will be better and when I have walked through high end bathrooms you see how beautiful they look but I know from many renovations that you get what you pay for. So I would invest in the better tub whichever material you choose and do not try to save cost by buying the builder grade because you will be unhappy. Hope my rambling helped.
  • Lesa DeMaio Lesa DeMaio on Jan 03, 2014
    It did help! My home is an ugly, 1950's ranch on the outside, but you would think you were in a 1920's farmhouse on the inside. I am naturally drawn to old things, even if thy have some blemishes, so I think I am going to try a cast iron tub. I found one that will fit and looks to be in very good condition on Craigslist, so I am going to see it today. My teen boys and husband will not be too pleased that they have to carry it, but they will forgive me. Thanks very much!
  • Dee Dee on Oct 19, 2015
    I HATE HATE HATE my new acrylic tub. I loved and miss my old cast one, even though it was chipped. I should have refinished it. I like the way it held the heat of the water, and i liked that the old porcelain finish was easy to clean and tended to look cleaner than the acrylic. I have to use special cleaner on the acrylic and it seems to dull very easily, and my tub always seems to look dingy and dirtier than my old tub ever did.