Question from Christine Stewart
We are building a new house. I am agonizing over the bathtub selection. My husband and I would really like a cast iron tub, but they are quite expensive. We have been looking into getting an old one and having it refinished, but I’m not sure if the chemicals used to refinish them would leach into the bath water. The best option for refinishing would be to have it refired with new porcelein, but I haven’t found a company near us (Dallas, Texas).
If we can’t buy a new cast iron tub, would a fiberglass tub be less toxic than a refinished cast iron tub? Do acrylic tubs leach?
Yikes! After all this stress, I need a bath. Of course, not one filled with chemicals . . .
Debra’s Answer
Oh…I don’t like any of your alternatives to the cast iron.
Re refinishing the tub, check out the complaints at Q&A: Bathtub Resurfacing (it also has info on some less toxic products to use).
Fiberglass would be better than acrylic.
I really want a tub in my house. My husband has promised to build one for me. We’re going to build a frame and tile it.
This has been my very concern with plastic based tubs and showers…….the concern with leaching and undetectable fumes. I would love to buy a walk in tub but I have not found any company who makes them using porcelain….Does anyone have any leads to companies that either do custom tubs & showers or who have decided to add porcelain walk in tubs to their product list?