DIY & Home Improvement

… and I still have the original claw-foot bathtub. I was told years ago that the tubs were indeed installed before the walls that enclose the bathroom were put up.

My neighbour had his removed many years ago, and it had to be sawed in half lengthwise (with a power saw that cuts through metal) in order to fit through the doorway.

I would suggest calling a place that refinishes these tubs for resale, and tell them that if they can remove it, they can have it free of charge. In some cases, removing the framework around the doorway provides sufficient room to remove the tub, and replacing the framework is not a big deal or huge expense.

The other alternative is to have the bathroom doorway cut wider – which can then be reconstructed back to its original size after the tub is gone and your new shower is installed.

All of the houses in my neighbourhood had the original tubs, and many have since been removed and replaced. So there must be ways of doing it. The pros probably have all kinds of tricks-of-the-trade, and know the most efficient ways to handle the task.