I'm remodeling my bathroom and need to decide on a steel or cast iron bath tub. I know steel is cheaper but I'm not sure of the pros or cons of each other than cost. Like to hear some thoughts and opinions.

Neither.

When I moved into my new-to-me home, I thought that the bathtub was enameled steel or iron. Absolutely NO flex, unlike the fiberglass tubs in apartments.

Eventually I discovered that the tub material wasn’t ferromagnetic. It must be fiberglass, or some composite material.

Whatever it is, it’s as solid as cast iron – probably set in concrete. I consider it to be perfect. It’ll never rust.

Cast iron will protect you in a tornado, where a fiberglass will not

Do you intend to dissolve any meth dealers in it?

^^^^^I like to keep my options open

much better to have and don't need than to need and don't have

I have been told that the fiberglass tubs do not hold the heat very well and that the cast iron are better in that regard. Fiberglass is much lighter and your chance of ending up in Kansas should a tornado strike are much improved.

When I remodeled the bath years ago, I put in Cast Iron as it was DEEP. Make sure you only clean it with non-abrasive cleaners and a nylon scrub pad. Otherwise you risk scratching the porcelain.

I did a kitchen remodel about 15 years ago. At the time, Kohler offered a cast steel sink: lighter to install and cheaper than cast iron. I bit on it. It turns out that you can break the coating by dropping something on it and then rust starts. And continues. And looks like hell. I replaced it with cast iron and never looked back.

Given what a PITA tub replacement is, there's NO WAY I would put in a steel tub. OTOH, your house, your money.

^^^ Isn't the same thing liable to happen with a cast iron sink? It's still a vulnerable enamel coating. Is there something I'm missing?

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Do you intend to dissolve any meth dealers in it?

Not at the moment but you never know what the future holds

I will say if you drop a big ass, soapy/slippery crock pot insert on a cast iron, enameled sink it will chip the porcelain sink, but not break the crock pot. Who knew?

Not speaking from experience or anything.

We remodeled our master bath and went with a fiberglass tub based on our contractor’s recommendation. His primary point was that cast iron tubs are a huge heat sink so it’s difficult to get a warm bath and, if you do, it doesn’t stay that way for long. For as often as anyone actually takes baths in it I’m not sure functionality was a legitimate concern, but here we are.

We have a built-in enameled cast iron and a claw foot enameled cast iron. They've both been great. No complaints. The built-in was actually cheaper than the fiberglass one. Can't explain that one.