How to split a cast iron bathtub at home. Secrets of dismantling a cast-iron bath without which it is better not to start work. About dismantling methods

Typically, a cast iron bathtub is the most durable item in every apartment. But sometimes during the repair process it is also required to replace it. Some try to endure it entirely, although it is a very difficult matter, due to its enormous weight. Very often in our apartments there are such narrow passages that it is simply impossible to take out the bath because of its bulkiness. And after a little thought, you decide to break the bath and take it out piece by piece. Here the question arises: how to break a cast-iron bath? This article will tell you the answer.

Dismantle the cast iron bath begin with removing the fastening elements.

List of materials and tools:

Bulgarian;
sledgehammer;
bags for construction waste;
an old blanket or other soft cloth (put under the bathroom);
burlap or other durable fabric (cover the bathtub to reduce the force of impact of flying debris);
tight clothing, closed shoes, a hat, construction gloves, a protective mask (to protect the body from flying fragments);
soundproof headphones (optional).

Technological process

Scheme of the structure of the bathroom on legs and brick

First you need to disconnect the old bathtub from the fastening elements with which the bathtub was attached, and dismantle the drain. If it is not possible to disconnect the drain, it is cut off with a grinder. You should also remove all objects that may interfere with dismantling the bath (both under and above the bath), and remove the mixer. To dismantle the bathtub, the edge of which is embedded in the wall, you need to dismantle the legs of the bathtub (starting with the distant ones) and, after that, pushing it from above, "drop" it to the floor. Before dismantling an old cast-iron bathtub in this way, it is required to put some soft material under it with a thick layer to soften the impact of the bathtub on the floor.

Breaking a cast-iron bathtub will not be easy. This job requires a strong man and a sledgehammer. Before proceeding with the scrapping, it is necessary to clear the space around the bathtub, lay a soft cloth on the floor (to protect the floor), and put the bathtub itself on its side so that it has free access from both sides. Breaking a cast-iron bath is a rather dangerous job: there is a high risk of injury from flying fragments of the bath. To protect yourself from these debris, you should wear heavy clothing, shoes, a hat, construction gloves, and a face shield. Soundproof headphones can be worn to protect your ears from loud enough noise.

To minimize the risk of injury from fragments of the bathtub, remove household members from the room.

How to break a cast-iron bath without extra effort? The weakest point of the bath is near the drain hole. To break it through, a series of blows should be applied to the bottom near the drain hole from the inside.

Before making repairs in the bathroom, you need to prepare the room. Dismantling a cast iron bath is the main issue that needs to be resolved. However, this process is quite laborious, therefore, the removal of a plumbing product involves the implementation of several stages of work. In addition, the removal of the cast iron bath is also an urgent problem in the process of repairing a bathroom.

Renovating a bathroom is not an easy task, because before you get a beautiful and updated bathroom, you have to work hard. First you need to answer the question of how to remove and where to put the old cast-iron bath.

Preparing a bathroom for renovation

It is necessary to fulfill the basic conditions for preparing the room for the upcoming repair:

removal of all bathroom accessories;
disconnection of communications;
removal of furniture;
dismantling the old cast-iron bathtub and washbasin;
cleaning the room from debris and objects that may interfere with the work of specialists.

Dismantling of obsolete plumbing

How to break a cast iron bath quickly and without wasting time? This question worries everyone who has ever thought about a major overhaul of a bathroom. Old cast iron bathtubs can be removed in several ways. The first of which is the free removal and removal of old cast-iron bathtubs.

Tip: There are a considerable number of special services that are ready to dismantle and take out a cast-iron bath in a matter of hours. Moreover, they are ready to provide such a service absolutely free of charge, but on the condition that they take the old plumbing with them. This is not surprising, because today the reception of cast-iron baths for scrap metal is in great demand. Therefore, you can safely use the services of such organizations, for which you will not have to pay a dime.

However, not every settlement has such initiative groups that are ready to carry out not only dismantling, but also the removal of a heavy cast-iron bath.

And yet you should not despair, because there are still many ways that allow you to dismantle and remove the old cast-iron bathtub. For example, you can use the paid services of craftsmen who perform all the plumbing removal work, and from any material. As a rule, such enterprises have their own standard prices for services. And after your consent to dismantle the equipment, the repair team will arrive at the appointed time and remove the plumbing, in addition, they will be able to take out the cast-iron bath, but also for a certain monetary reward.

But if you are going to make repairs in your bathroom without the involvement of specialists, you will need to dismantle the cast-iron bath with your own hands. In reality, this process is not as complicated as it seems at first glance.

Self-removal of plumbing

This procedure will not cause complications if the old cast-iron bathtub was put on supports, without any fasteners, decorative screen or brickwork, and, of course, if the dimensions of the doorway allow you to take out the plumbing without first sawing or breaking.

Tip: After dismantling, you can take the old cast-iron bath to the scrap metal collection points, or simply leave it near the garbage bins. Believe me, the next morning there will be no plumbing.

But if the product is installed in a steel frame or lined with brickwork, the dismantling process becomes somewhat more complicated. In this case, you will have to:

Shut off the water and disconnect the bath drain from the sewer system;
Then it is necessary to remove the mixer and all water distributors, because they will interfere with the process of removing the plumbing;
When the process is not hindered by these nuances, you will need to arm yourself with a chisel and a sledgehammer. With the help of these tools, you will need to remove the tiles and baseboards that cover the joints of the bathtub with the walls;
The next stage involves the direct dismantling of plumbing. Using the lever, remove the obsolete equipment. If the equipment does not succumb to "provocation" it will be possible to completely cut the entire structure using angle grinders with a metal attachment. If the frame is made of bricks or blocks, use a sledgehammer;
When you finally finish off the frame, you will need to take out all the construction waste from the premises. Then only the old plumbing itself should remain in the room. If you understand that, due to the large size, the product cannot be completely pulled out of the bathroom, you will have to break the plumbing equipment into several parts.

How to properly destroy a cast iron bath

How to split a cast iron bathtub? Many videos answer the question of how to break a cast-iron bathtub, so you shouldn't have any difficulties.

Important! Please note that this procedure will be accompanied by a serious rumble, so you should not start repairs at night looking.

First, you need to put the old equipment on its side so that there is free access to it from both sides. Since during the process, pieces of cast iron will fly off from the product, which can injure the face and hands, be sure to wear safety glasses, a hat and heavy gloves. It is desirable that the fans are also not indoors.
The most vulnerable part of any bath is the part of the bottom next to the drain hole. It is on him that it is necessary to inflict strong blows with a sledgehammer. When striking from the outside of the plumbing, cover the hole with a rag so that splinters of cast iron do not fall into you. These manipulations should be performed until a large crack appears along the entire bottom.
Then the bath must be turned upside down and the blows directed at the walls of the plumbing. After disassembling the equipment into pieces, invite your fans to help remove the remains of the bath from the room.

Getting rid of unnecessary baths

So, where to turn in a cast-iron bath? Cast iron products are, of course, durable, but not forever. Therefore, sooner or later, everyone asks the question: where to turn in an old cast-iron bathtub? Dismantling plumbing equipment is a very difficult process, but not final, because it becomes necessary to take out the old cast-iron bath.

But the fact that the disposal of an old cast-iron bathtub can bring not only troubles, but also a certain monetary reward is encouraging. Because the reception of cast iron scrap is carried out in almost all cities. If you have your own transport and in the process of dismantling you had to break the plumbing into pieces, you can organize self-pickup of cast-iron bathtubs, having previously determined the place of receiving scrap metal.

But if you do not have your own transport and it is problematic for you to hand over an old bathtub weighing 150 kg, you can easily negotiate with special teams that will take out the equipment on their own, they certainly know where to put the cast-iron bathtub.

You just need to find advertisements for your place of residence and contact an organization where you can turn in a cast-iron bath.

Conclusion

As you can see, the process of removing old plumbing can be solved relatively easily, but if you also own a cast iron product, you need to immediately decide on the address of the company where you can turn in the cast iron bath and get money for it. Of course, if the plumbing equipment is not so easy to dismantle and remove from the bathroom, you will have to sweat for some time, but the result is certainly worth it.

A cast iron bathtub, according to professional repairmen, is the most durable accessory. Nevertheless, there comes a time when it needs to be replaced. Many owners of old bathtubs try to delay this moment as long as possible, covering the product with new layers of enamel for this. Some approach this issue radically. This category prefers to completely remove the old bathtub from the house, and not install a new one in its place. It can be dismantled with or without preservation. Having tried to make this accessory whole, beginners are faced with difficulties and wonder whether it is possible to break a cast-iron bath. Or will you have to endure it whole? In this case, you have to hire a team or call someone for help.

How to break a cast iron bathtub in a bathroom? This question becomes very relevant for those who have decided not to use the old accessory anywhere else. It will not be difficult to cope with this task. You will find information on how to quickly break a cast iron bath in this article.

About dismantling methods

There are two ways to replace an old bathtub:

With preservation. The bathtub is neatly disconnected from the rest of the communication in the house and taken out. In the future, you can use it. Judging by the reviews, this method is difficult and time consuming.
Without saving. In this case, you can either break the cast-iron bath or cut it with an angle grinder. The pieces of the bath are then removed. Due to the fact that the product now weighs much less, one person can cope with this work. According to experienced craftsmen, if it is necessary to dismantle the bathtub, they mainly resort to this method. The disadvantage of this method is that the procedure is accompanied by a very large noise.

What is the peculiarity of the method?

According to reviews, we can conclude that the procedure for breaking a bathtub with a sledgehammer is the most proven dismantling method in practice. Nevertheless, it requires considerable physical effort. Not everyone can break a bathtub into several parts. The work must be performed by a physically fit person. In addition, the procedure itself should be performed during the day. Otherwise, a scandal with neighbors is inevitable.

Preparation

Before proceeding with dismantling, you need to prepare the room in which the work will be carried out. It is advisable that there is nothing superfluous in the bathroom, namely various cabinets and nightstands. In order not to damage the toilet, if the bathroom is combined, it is better to remove it from the room as well. The floor should be covered with a rubber mat. Otherwise, the cast iron product laid on the tiled surface will slide.

Instruments

Since the bathtub will first of all need to be disconnected from the pipes, the master needs to acquire the following:

Adjustable and conventional wrenches.
Screwdrivers.
Pliers.
A hacksaw for metal and a grinder.
Scrap.
With a sledgehammer.

In view of the fact that rough physical work will be carried out, the master should worry about the means of protection. Special gloves and goggles must be prepared.

Where do you start?

Before you break the cast-iron bath, you must first disconnect it from all communications. The first step is to disconnect the overflow. According to experts, cast iron pipes were installed in many old houses. Therefore, after many years they become very rusty, covered with scale, and the master may have difficulties with dismantling the cast-iron plumbing. The situation is better if the communications are represented by metal-plastic components. In this case, they are simply unscrewed. It is enough for the master to prepare only the pliers. It is not uncommon for the overflow grate to stick strongly.

Before breaking the cast-iron bath, you need to dismantle this element. Many craftsmen clamp it with pliers and scroll it counterclockwise. If it is not possible to dismantle the overflow in this way, it is cut off with a grinder. Judging by the reviews, often fasteners have a heavily rusted thread, which can only be dealt with after cutting it. First, several cuts are made on the grate, and then the overflow is knocked down with a chisel. Then the crosspiece is knocked out under the grill. As a result, the siphon should hang freely, connected to the rest of the sewer system. To remove it, the master needs to get rid of the coupling. Some newbies are wondering if a cast-iron bath can be smashed with a sledgehammer. According to experts, it is quite possible to do this. It is only necessary to adhere to a clear sequence of actions.

About the weak point of the bath

For anyone who has never done anything like this before and does not know how to break a cast-iron bath with a sledgehammer, experts recommend finding its most vulnerable place in this sanitary ware. Judging by numerous reviews, it is located in the bottom, namely near the drain hole. It is there that you should hit with a sledgehammer.

Progress

After finding its most vulnerable point in the product, the following steps have to be performed:

The first step is to move the bath a little away from the wall. To complete this task, you will need a chisel and a hammer, with the help of which the plumbing product is removed from the cement mortar around the perimeter. The optimum distance of the bath to the wall is 100 to 150 mm.
Using an angle grinder equipped with cut-off wheels, several cuts should be made on the bath. The task of the master is to deprive the product of its strength. Places of cutting on the bath should be its folded edges on both sides. They are used as stiffeners. If the work is done correctly, then it will fold from strong blows to the bottom of the cast iron product.
Break the drain hole. You do not need to turn the bathtub over at this stage. The master only strikes very hard with a sledgehammer on the drain from the inside of the bathtub. Judging by the reviews, after these actions, the bath is divided into two separate halves. If this did not happen, then you will have to deal with its sides.
Turn the tub over and cover with old rags. Burlap is also fine. The blows are applied to the outer part of the cast iron product. As a result, the previously broken drain hole in the bathroom should turn out to be even more expanded. After a few blows, a long strip forms along the entire bottom of the bathtub.

Completion

At the very end, the cast-iron bath must be completely turned over. The bottom of the sanitary ware should point up. At this stage, the sides are processed with a sledgehammer. As a result, the bath is divided into several pieces, which will then be convenient to take out. In addition, the tub can be divided into smaller pieces. To do this, you will have to work with a grinder. The flame cutting method is considered to be quite effective.

For those who do not know how to break a cast iron bath, professionals recommend adhering to safety precautions. Most of this work is done by two people. Since a grinder and a sledgehammer are involved in the procedure, you can protect yourself from injury if all actions are coordinated.

Due to the fact that from strong blows of the sledgehammer, particles of chipped cast iron can get into the face, the sanitary ware should first be covered with burlap. This will also protect the bathroom itself. Dismantling speed and safety directly depend on the correct organization of work.

As a rule, carrying out repair work in the bathroom is inextricably linked with updating the plumbing equipment, in particular, replacing the bathtub with a newer model or shower box. One way or another, the old plumbing equipment will require dismantling. Usually this process does not cause any particular problems, but if a cast iron bathtub is installed in the room, you will face some difficulties.

Usually, replacing a bathroom with the installation of new equipment can be fraught with all sorts of problems. The sequence of actions in the event that you need to leave the old container intact will be such that you will have to remove the plumbing fixture from the place of its installation and with difficulties transport the container from the apartment to the street. This is a rather laborious process. Here it will be useful to attract several helpers.

Only two people can take out a cast-iron bath from the room.

When carrying out such work, it is necessary to adhere to a certain algorithm. The dismantling sequence has some features that make the technical process as easy as possible. You can optimize the dismantling of the cast iron bath as follows.

First of all, you should carefully check the quality of the brackets that fix the bath in its original position. If during dismantling one of the supports is knocked out, the possibility of injury is possible. Therefore, you should secure yourself in advance.

If during the installation of the structure you wedged the legs of the tank, make sure that all the elements are in place and securely hold the tank. Loose wedges can simply be knocked out with a hammer.

Previously, the bath was connected to the drainage system through a cast iron siphon. Due to the action of such a factor as corrosion, the articulation of the parts of the drainage system is compacted to such an extent that it becomes unrealistic to disassemble the piping while maintaining the integrity of the elements. In this case, separate the part by cutting it with an electric cut-off machine. When doing this, do not forget to observe safety precautions and use protective goggles. You will need to lie down to cut the flange connecting the drain piping.

Sometimes you can disconnect the bath from the cast-iron communications only by cutting the pipe with a grinder

Another common problem is that today, in most cases, the walls of the bathroom are tiled. This will create certain inconveniences in the event that it is planned to dismantle the old bathtub. The tiles should be removed together with a layer of hardened adhesive construction mixture around the perimeter of the product. This is necessary so that the old container can be pulled out. At the current stage, dismantling the bathroom can be considered fulfilled.

A method of replacing a cast iron product in which the container remains intact

When starting work on removing the tank, first of all, the plumbing fixture must be pushed forward. The most convenient way to do this is with a lever, which is advisable to use a crowbar or a pry bar. Provided that two people are involved in the work, it would be most correct to move the bathtub away from the wall by about half a meter, that is, so that one of them can easily fit in.

You need to take the bath out of the room on its side

After that, you should lay the container on one side. For this, it is necessary that one of the workers is between the wall and the side of the product. Now the product needs to be taken out of the bathroom. Here it is appropriate to use the bath supports as handrails. By grasping them, you can conveniently transport the cast iron container.

At the current stage, there are some rules to follow. If you neglect these recommendations, you will not be able to take out the plumbing fixture. You need to move the product into the doorway on the edge and, taking into account the turn, first remove the front legs. Further, gradually turning the container, take it out of the bathroom in such a way as to be able to hold the second pair of brackets.

Now it remains to take the product out of the house. Since the size of the front door leaf, as a rule, is at least 800 mm, there will be no particular difficulties with this. What to do with the old tank is up to you. Maybe you decide to take him to a country house, where the container can be used in at least a dozen different ways, allowing the old plumbing fixture to perform a useful function. In particular, an old cast-iron bathtub can serve as the basis for a decorative pond.

Dismantling a cast iron bath with a hammer

If the decision is made to hand over the cast-iron bath into junk, you can recommend using such a simple way to remove an old product from the bathroom, such as destroying the bathtub body with a sledgehammer. This is the easiest and most rational option for dismantling. In order to reduce the likelihood of injury, it is necessary to adhere to a certain sequence of actions. The work should be carried out in this order.

First you need to cut the sides of the bath in half with a grinder

First of all, it is necessary to cut off the connection of the bath to the sewer with a grinder and free the sides of the plumbing fixture from the layer of tile mortar and the remains of the cladding around the entire perimeter. The tank should be moved about 10-15 cm away from the wall.

To easily split the body of the bathtub into two parts with a sledgehammer, it is necessary to make cuts with a cutting machine on certain areas of the surface. Cuts must be made on the rounded part of the container strictly in the middle of the product on both sides.

The sides of the bath must be cut completely, since in this case they serve as a supporting element in the structure. Now, one good blow with a hammer on the bottom of the tank will be enough in order to divide it into two equal parts. In this case, the bath will fold down, as it were.

You can use a heavy hammer to break the remains of the bathtub into small fragments so that you can carry them out in bags alone.

The fulfillment of these conditions will be sufficient to facilitate the dismantling of the bath. Two workers can remove parts of the old product from the premises, although this can be done alone. To do this, it is advisable to split the parts into small fragments, collect them in strong bags and take the bath to the scrap metal collection site or to a landfill. In order to break parts of the bathroom body, you do not need to make cuts with a grinder. Cast iron is a brittle material, and the rest of the structure can be easily broken into small pieces with a sledgehammer.

Safety precautions when dismantling the bath

During work, traumatic situations may arise. This may be caused by an inconsistency in the actions of two people, non-observance of the rules for working with a cutting machine or a hammer. Most often, injuries occur in several typical cases. Let's consider them in more detail.

If the bath tubs are tiled, remove the container from the mounts and lower it onto the floor.

The likelihood of injury may arise due to uncoordinated actions of workers. It is very important to accurately coordinate each action. In the event that one of the assistants accidentally releases the bath, the second person will not be able to hold the product on his own and will be pushed into a cast-iron container. Most often, during the dismantling process, the hands suffer. The limb can be pressed against the wall or stretched between the body of the product and the frame of the doorway. At this point, you should be especially vigilant, as this is one of the common causes of injury.

Care must be taken when lifting the edge of the tank. The bathtub can slip on the slippery surface of the tile, and one person will not be able to hold it. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to lay a non-slip gasket under the side of the sanitary tank. It could be a rubber mat.

In the event that the edges of the product are firmly embedded in the wall, the dismantling procedure is somewhat complicated, and additional sources of injury may arise. It is quite problematic to beat off a layer of old tile and cement mortar from the sides of the plumbing device so that the product can be freely pulled out. In this case, the task can be facilitated by knocking out the supports of the structure one by one. After that, you need to apply force so that the container falls to the floor. Before detaching the struts of the structure, it is necessary to place a layer of shock-absorbing material under the bathtub on the floor in order to compensate for the impact force when the tank falls.

When working with tools such as an electric grinder and hammer, a mass of small pieces of scale, metal shavings or debris is inevitably scattered, which can cause serious injury if in contact with the skin or eyes.

Special precautions should be taken when breaking the body of a sanitary ware into small fragments. In this case, the enamel coating of the bath breaks off in large pieces, which, flying off, can cause serious injuries. During the work, it is necessary to protect from damage not only the organs of vision, but also all parts of the body. To do this, you can wear work pants made of dense material and a jacket or a thick shirt with long sleeves. Of course, in such clothes, you can become covered with profuse perspiration, but in any case, this is preferable to being injured.

Do not neglect eye and hand protection, because this will help to avoid accidental injuries.

Increased injuries during dismantling activities can be avoided by fulfilling the necessary safety requirements.

Getting rid of the bath

To free the room from the details of the plumbing structure, you will need the help of several strong men. It also requires transportation. Movers and cargo taxis can be quite expensive. Today, there are firms that carry out the export of bathtubs. You don't need to do anything yourself, just call the team, and the specialists will quickly and efficiently dismantle it. You do not have to pay for this - the company pays for its expenses and makes a profit from the sale of scrap metal. Also, the old bathtub can serve for a long time if the damaged layer of enamel coating is restored.

To get rid of an old bathtub, you can contact a company that recycles such plumbing.

How to break a cast iron This question becomes very relevant for those who have decided not to use the old accessory anywhere else. It will not be difficult to cope with this task. You will find information on how to quickly break a cast iron bath in this article.

About dismantling methods

There are two ways to replace an old bathtub:

With preservation. The bathtub is neatly disconnected from the rest of the communication in the house and taken out. In the future, you can use it. Judging by the reviews, this method is difficult and time consuming.
Without saving. In this case, you can either break the cast-iron bath or cut it with an angle grinder. The pieces of the bath are then removed. Due to the fact that the product now weighs much less, one person can cope with this work. According to experienced craftsmen, if it is necessary to carry out, they mainly resort to this method. The disadvantage of this method is that the procedure is accompanied by a very large noise.

What is the peculiarity of the method?

Preparation

Instruments

Since the bathtub will first of all need to be disconnected from the pipes, the master needs to acquire the following:

Adjustable and conventional wrenches.
Screwdrivers.
Pliers.
A hacksaw for metal and a grinder.
Scrap.
With a sledgehammer.

In view of the fact that rough physical work will be carried out, the master should worry about the means of protection. Special gloves and goggles must be prepared.

Where do you start?

Before breaking a cast-iron bath, you need an element. Many craftsmen clamp it with pliers and scroll it counterclockwise. If it is not possible to dismantle the overflow in this way, it is cut off with a grinder. Judging by the reviews, often fasteners have a heavily rusted thread, which can only be dealt with after cutting it. First, several cuts are made on the grate, and then the overflow is knocked down with a chisel. Then the crosspiece is knocked out under the grill. As a result, the siphon should hang freely, connected to the rest of the sewer system. To remove it, the master needs to get rid of the coupling. Some newbies are wondering if a cast-iron bath can be smashed with a sledgehammer. According to experts, it is quite possible to do this. It is only necessary to adhere to a clear sequence of actions.

About the weak point of the bath

Progress

After finding its most vulnerable point in the product, the following steps have to be performed:

The first step is to move the bath a little away from the wall. To complete this task, you will need a chisel and a hammer, with the help of which the plumbing product is removed from the cement mortar around the perimeter. The optimum distance of the bath to the wall is 100 to 150 mm.
Using an angle grinder equipped with cut-off wheels, several cuts should be made on the bath. The task of the master is to deprive the product of its strength. Places of cutting on the bath should be its folded edges on both sides. They are used as If the work is done correctly, then from strong blows to the bottom of the cast-iron product, it will fold.
Break the drain hole. You do not need to turn the bathtub over at this stage. The master only strikes very hard with a sledgehammer on the drain from the inside of the bathtub. Judging by the reviews, after these actions, the bath is divided into two separate halves. If this did not happen, then you will have to deal with its sides.
Turn the tub over and cover with old rags. Burlap is also fine. The blows are applied to the outer part of the cast iron product. As a result, the previously broken drain hole in the bathroom should turn out to be even more expanded. After a few blows, a long strip forms along the entire bottom of the bathtub.