Help choosing bath tub material. (porcelain, fiberglass, or acrylic)
Nathan
4 years ago
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imstillchloecat
4 years agorrah
4 years agoRelated Discussions
kids/guest bathroom- tile tub surround or acrylic
Comments (8)Tile surrounds look so very nice. I really love the look. That said, I think I'm glad we have one-piecers in both bathrooms (one shower-tub combo and one shower only). These aren't new units, the house is 40 years old and they came with the house. One day we'll replace them, but there's no hurry. My daughter's rental has tile in both upstairs bathrooms, one tub-shower combo and one walk-in-and-have-a-stroll shower. We've used both on numerous occasion as she sometimes goes out of town on business and we babysit, or recently she had a new baby and I went to help out. The shower in particular needs all sorts of spot scrubbing to keep the tile and grout clean. My daughter is a bit of a clean freak (didn't get it from me!) and even she has trouble keeping up with shower maintenance. This really made my mind up for me for what we'll do one of these years - solid surface of some sort despite the fact that I love the look of tile....See Morecast iron or acrylic tub
Comments (30)OK, I know this thread is ancient but I just had to add my two cents worth for people who come along later as I did. The idea that cast iron retains heat longer than fiberglass or acrylic tub materials is simply a myth. Cast Iron, even with porcelain over it is a better CONDUCTOR of heat than any of the modern tub materials other than steel. Steel and cast iron will conduct heat at more or less the same rate with differences that would only matter in a lab. Cast Iron will transmit heat to the surrounding air and other materials faster than fiberglass or acrylic, which are both better insulators than cast iron. This is the exact opposite of retaining heat. Anybody who doubts this: Take a cast iron pan, fill it with hot water. Take a plastic pan of equal size and fill it with hot water of the same temperature. Put the pans side by side with a thermometer in them. Check them an hour later. I guarantee you the water in the cast iron pan has lost more heat and is colder because cast iron is much better able to radiate heat to the surrounding air than plastic. There is no way that any metal tub whether steel or cast iron is going to keep the water in it warmer than fiberglass or Acrylic will. Yes cast iron does radiate some of the heat from the water back to the bather above the water line, which some people like, but it does this because it's a better conductor of heat, not because it holds heat. The sole advantage of cast iron is, admittedly, much greater strength and if you want maximum strength steel is stronger still. I've demo'd multiple cast iron tubs into pieces with a sledge hammer. It shatters easily. Try that with steel....See MoreUpset - bath tub issue
Comments (10)Since it's on you, I'd go after Kohler again. Simply start anew. Get a written diagnosis from the second evaluator. Send it to Kohler and start a warranty claim. Pretend it's the first time you've called them. 1) Tub was purchased from _____ on ____. 2) Tub was installed on ____ by a licensed plumber in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. 3) Within days of the installation a squeaking noise was heard. 4) You had two people come out and diagnose it as a delamination. Include the written report from the second person. 5) State what you want: A new tub. I'd also contact the point-of-purchase. They sold you a bad tub. As a follow up to the initial phone call claim with them, include the written delamination assessment made by the second evaluator. Send them the same info noted above. Written letters and emails start the paper trail. Phone calls are great to "shake the tree", any time you talk to anyone note the day, time, person you spoke with, case/claim number if they assign you one, and take brief notes of the conversation. Kohler is usually pretty good about claims. Best thing I can offer is to be calm but firm in your conversations, be businesslike. And keep good notes. When I've dealt with things like this, I've kept my notes in a document file on my computer. If I talk to someone new, I'll email them the file while I'm on the phone with them. Depending on the situation I might password protect it or convert it into a pdf file before sending it so it can't be muddled with by the recipient. No, I've never done or had done a gel injection. I've never heard of it being done. Not saying it won't work. But I've never had a tub delaminate! As a bit of a last resort, talk to your GC. If Kohler is claiming the tub was installed incorrectly, that falls back on him and on his plumber. You might be able to get separate letters from the plumber and the GC saying that the tub was installed IAW the manufacturers instructions and that they agree with the evaluation that delamination as a result of a manufacturing defect are the cause of the squeak. Again, all that is based on the tub having been installed correctly. ie, it's not a drop-in tub that is being supported by the rim instead of by the base/feet for example. Again, good luck....See MoreAre Plastic/Fiberglass Bathtub Surrounds "Cheap" Looking?
Comments (41)Thanks HB! I went to the Kohler store last week and looked at the sample chips. I like the way it looks, kind of like porcelain. Anyway I ordered it. Crossing my fingers it will look good installed and DH will like it as well (he didn't get to see the sample). Mimipadv, it's funny but white tile is kind of outside my comfort zone! I generally prefer color. But we're going to do white tile, mix of square and subway, with an iridescent glass accent. We fell in love with Saturnia Gold granite, which is black with lots of mica and gold specks, so we wanted to have a simple backdrop that would show off the granite. Good luck with your project!...See More
dchall_san_antonio
4 years agohcbm
4 years ago
PROMark Bischak, Architect
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
just_janni
4 years agoNathan
4 years agojust_janni
4 years ago
PROAnglophilia
4 years ago
Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real
4 years agoNathan
4 years ago
ILoveRed
4 years agoNathan
4 years ago
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