Expert: speedball1 - 6/24/2004

Question
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I looked carefully at all the experts info and you may be the only one who can help.. I take care of my 80 yr old mother and she has trouble getting in and out of the tub. She mentioned that she would like to replace the original cast iron tub with a new stand up shower.

Over the years i have done all the work myself i think this time i would like to get a pro in here to take apart the tub and install the new shower,,I have no idea how much  this will cost or how long it may take. It is a very small bathroom, (6x8) the tub is the entire length of the wall and the only other thing is the sink and toilet.

When i remodeled years ago i had to leave the tub and build around it. the walls went over the small lip of the top of the tub. SO i know it would be a major job getting rid of it. I just have no idea what im looking at costwise,, thought maybe you could help.
Answer -
I can relate.  I took care of my 94 year old mother untill she passed away.  What I need to know from you is exactly what you're looking for.  A handicapped shower stall? Plain walk in shower stall? Would you want it to have a seat?  What is the top dollar you intend to spend on a shower stall?  How much room would you have to install it?   To be able to research a stall for you I have to know these things.  Since you're handy with tools why not do some of the labor yourself?  If I have to remove a old cast iron tub  I put on a pair of safty goggles and break that sucker up with a 20 pound sledge hammer.  It's a lot easier to take out 5 or 10 pound chunks then it is to bull a cast iron tub out of a bath room.  If you plan on calling in outside help save big bucks, do the scutt work and prep the job yourself.  Let me know exactly what you want and I'll get back to you ASAP.   regards,  Tom


-------------------------------------------------------------------------


well the space is limited but the shower stall can be a normal size shower.. it would have to replace the tub. Theres no need for special seating,, if one flipped out of the wall,, that would be great,, but i dont know much about them. I am hoping that i can get the job done for around a thousand. And for that much money,, i would love to have it done in a day. I have a bad back which prevents me from going nuts with a big sledgehammer,, The size of your normal bathtub is the size i have to work with,, simply look at a tub and thats the  dimensions i have. I am able to do trim work and light stuff like that,, but the heavy labor and lifting i could hurt myself. Plus i have no luck with plumbing,, I also want a new drain put in, but i think thats probably part of the shower kits. My mom just needs a plain shower stall she can walk in and out of.  

Answer
When i remodeled years ago i had to leave the tub and build around it. the walls went over the small lip of the top of the tub. SO i know it would be a major job getting rid of it. I just have no idea what im looking at costwise,, thought maybe you could help.

Not knowing the pay scale and without seeing the job lay out I can only give you a ball park figure.  At 50$ per hour figure at least 10 hours to remove the tub, position the trap and pipe the water and then install the shower stall.  That's 500$ in labor plus material plus whatever shower stall you decide on.  Don't forget you will have drywall and painting to do. Regards, Tom  Let me add to it.  they make shower stalls from 32" to 60".  They can price from 50$ (Home Depot) to 500$ (Kohler).  Type "cheap shower stalls" on your search bar and you can pick and choose.  Tom