Love my new Acrylic Kohler Archer tub! We did our bathroom about 6 months ago, so it's had plenty of use to really compare it to our Cast Iron upstairs. I love long tubs with a good book. First thing I love that was noticeable right away: With my cast iron, I need to fill the tub before getting in, other wise my back absolutely freezes when I lie down and my skin hits the cast iron. With acrylic, it doesn't feel cold to the touch, the way cast iron does. Also, the Kohler archer has a special drain that allows you to get a really deep soak with a higher drain, which I love! No regrets with the acrylic, and no issues at all keeping it clean, either. Even with use daily, sometime multiple times.

We recently remodeled our bathroom and installed the Kohler Devonshire Acrylic Tub. I originally thought I wanted a cast iron tub but it was cost prohibitive when looking at deeper depths. I am more than pleased with the look and finish on our tub. Kohler recommends cleaning with only liquid dish soap such as Dawn which is what I have been using and it looks great. If your daughters are bathers as my daughter and I am it is well worth the extra dollars spent for a deeper tub and increase in water usage....I think it was a small price to pay for many years of great bubble baths....The only inconvenience with the deeper depth is cleaning the tub and stretching over the deeper sides. Sometimes I actually get in the tub to clean it, but still loving it.

hmmm - I checked the kohler site - the Maestro does say it can be installed in your application but the "vinyl tiling-in bead" - is what I'm not certain or familiar with... Is there a lip/glange on the tub? like the alcove type has or is the vinyl tiling in is what is keeping water from seeping back into the wall - If that is the only thing keeping it from getting back in - I'd prefer the alcove type w/flange - water sits on the edge of tubs I personally wouldn't want to rely on the vinyl. BTW - if you look at the specifications of tubs the Memoirs has nearly the same size basin as the Maestro Maestro basin 47" x21" 13" to overfill holds 55 gal Memoirs (alcove 5' model) 45x23 115/8 to overfill holds 52 gal In the 5'5" models you have tea for 2 or Kathryn both of which require nearly 2000lbs of floor support If you are a "Bather" DON'T get plastic - you will regret it - These tubs simply do not hold the heat. Here is a link that might be useful: kohler link

If you go cast iron, order the tub early so it can be placed in the bathroom when the house is being framed up. Have the GC build a plywood box, a strong one, to cover it. They are a real problem when people wait until the place is framed and you try to carry them up stairs. They are heavy. I absolutely prefer CI to acrylic. As previously pointed out you do have issues with the mass of the tub. If you maintain 70* in the house the tub will reach that 70 degrees and sit there until you fill it with hot water. The tub will then absorb whatever heat it needs to get up to the new equilibrium temp of around 105*, your max bath temp. It takes some energy to do this and you have to be prepared to replace that energy, or you end up taking a lot of short baths, which is REALLY annoying when you get a soaking tub. When I was in the business I used to run a 4' loop of hot water baseboard element below/behind the tub. It would turn the CI tub into a radiant heater and provide rely nice bathroom temps. In fact, it could get hot in the bathroom. You could do this if you are using a boiler for your space heating. Coupled with a radiant floor, you have a nice package. In our almost finished re-model I installed a Victoria Albert Asia model tub. It is a cast limestone product and I had one in my previous home as well. It has much the appearance of CI without the weight and mass. They are worth looking at. To feed the tub I use a tankless water heater. I have mine set up with the bath fill control that allows me to set the bath temp I want (104*) and the vol I need (35 gal) to fill the tub. I then turn on hot only and when the 35 gal of 104* water is delivered to the tub it shuts off the water and beeps to tell me my bath is ready. Very cool, imho! The other advantage to tankless in this application is that I can peak the tub for as long a soak as I want. Good luck with your new home.