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Kohler Whirlpool - cast iron or acrylic?

12 years ago

I am wondering whether there is a real advantage to have a cast iron whirlpool (looking at Kohler's Tea for Two) rather than an acrylic one. In the past we had a regular cast iron tub - loved it. Then we moved - and installed an acrylic whirlpool bath (Kohler). Overall it is OK - but...the water gets cold very quickly, unless the heater is on and at times when you move in it the tub "makes funky noises" (the kind of noise you associated with plastic not steel flexing or bending). We are remodeling so now is the time to pull the trigger on the tub material.

Other than the obvious differences - cost, installation ease, and sheer weight - does anyone have any comments on the two materials that point to clear advantage of one over the other?

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Comments (3)

cat_mom
12 years ago
We didn't install whirlpool tubs when we reno'd our two main bathrooms, just regular soaking tubs. We opted to use cast iron (Toto 1525's, which apparently are not made/sold residentially any more?). Wanted the solidity of cast iron as well as the heat retaining quality it possesses. So far (a few months of use for the MB, and one month for the hall bath), we love them. The hardest part was getting them in place but well worth it IMHO.
chrisk327
12 years ago
not sure if I qualify to have an opinion yet on this....

I never had a whirlpool in acrylic or cast. I am working on putting my bathroom together now, and we will be having a 5.5' tea for two tub in it as a soaking tub, not whilpool.

I never really liked the idea of a plastic tub. I helped get the tub into the bathroom on the second floor, it took 4 guys and a lift and we brought it in before the wall was up in realitively new construction. It was a pain, it is super heavy. It is probably the biggest bathtub I've seen mainly from sheer depth. I do wonder if it is worth it, and if we will be happy.

it sounds like you're unhappy with the acrylic. if you can see the Tea for two, it might help make up your mind. You will have to ease your contractor into it, its definately on the fringe of the norm
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Hi, we recently installed the Tea for Two whirlpool bath in our kids' bathroom, and we use it as a shower as well. We love it. It's the 5.5' model, alcove installation, left hand drain. I was originally concerned that it would be too hard for them to get into -- they are not little kids -- (three girls, ages 17, 13 and 12 when it was installed last year) but so far they have no complaints about having to climb into the tub to shower. I love it too for the occassional bath, as our master bath has only a shower. Here is a picture of it. It has subway tile on the walls and the apron of the tub, and a minimal deck. Our contracter initially put in a more gigantic deck, and I made him tear it out because it overwhelmed our somewhat small bathroom. It has a marble shelf at one end and niches at both ends to hold the girls' many bottles of products. I'm so glad we built in that much storage. Instead of a shower curtain, we went with a partial frameless glass door, because I thought it would give you more of a feeling of openness when you took a bath. We bought it through Expo, back in Nov. 2006 (it was not installed til last spring though because construction took so long). The price at the time was more reasonable, although I notice they keep going up in price. I don't find the whirlpool too noisy at all. It's probably quieter than other whirlpool tubs, and also more gentle, which suprised us at first. I love how deep and roomy it is. Hope this helps. Here is a link that might be useful: The rest of Hmsweethm's kidsbath
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prairiemoon2 z6b MA
7 years ago
Considering whether to get acrylic or cast iron too. My problem is that I want to have a walk in shower on the 1st floor but feel it is important to have a bathtub in the house. I really really don't want acrylic, but getting a cast iron tub up to the 2nd floor….and perhaps needing to support the weight as well, seems like a LOT of work and probably expense. So if anyone has experience with either adding a cast iron tub to the second floor, or can tell me how a whirlpool cast iron tub has worked out for them, I'd appreciate it.

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