How do you remove a bathtub?

Well if it’s a steel or acrylic tub, it should be relatively light (around 100 pounds), so that 2 people could lift it out.

And what if it’s cast-iron? Well, according to some internet sites we looked up (yes, that is how we find home renovation information sometimes) the suggested techniques are 1) get 5 Olympic weightlifters to pull it out of the house, or 2) use a sledgehammer to smash it into smaller, more manageable pieces. The key is to cover the tub with a fabric as many sites referred to the cast iron & enamel pieces as “hundreds of tiny knives flying at you.” Always wear goggles, dust mask, long sleeved shirts and pants. Remember the “hundreds of tiny knives” that could be flying toward you and protect your skin accordingly.

We inherited a sledgehammer from the previous owners, so I thought I’d give it a shot. I’ve heard there’s actually a technique to smashing a cast iron tub…swing at the most brittle parts first - such as the corners. If the tub is enclosed on three sides, do not swing at those sides, or else the whole house will shake.

I swung a few times, only enamel came off. After a few more tries, I got a quick hole in one side. Several minutes later, I had a setback. The sledgehammer broke off at the head, leaving me with a wooden stick. I then try the reciprocating saw, which was like using a jackhammer. In the end I decided to get another sledgehammer…maybe tomorrow. So after all that effort, this is what I have to show for it.

bath tub smashed