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sarmad_qadri

NYC prewar bathroom renovation - keep the tub?

Sarmad Qadri
2 years ago

I am doing a gut renovation of a prewar apartment in UWS, and I need to decide whether to keep the original tub. I love it, but the plumber and super are recommending I replace it because the drain is rotting.
I want to know if I should heed their advice, or if there's a way to update the plumbing/drain while keeping the tub?
Apparently I'll need an exposed full 2” triple lever tub waste for a double wall (apron) bathtub. Has anyone kept their tub but updated their plumbing? Where did you get the plumbing from?
Hoping the Houzz community can help!

Featured Answer
  • PRO
    StarCraft Custom Builders
    2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    May the gods of unneeded renovations divert the fleas of a thousand camel to infest your armpits.

    Give the bathroom a really good cleaning, reseal all the grout, and otherwise leave the d**n thing alone. It's just fine the way it is.

    Take the large amount of money I just saved you and divide into two equal piles. Send one pile to me.

    Comments (16)

    • Jennifer Shull
      2 years ago
      last modified: 2 years ago

      Have u done the renovation? if so how did it go?

      If no How expensive is it to replace the tub and plumbing vs just replacing the plumbing?

      I would keep the tub if u I could and just replace the plumbing.


      I would not replace a tub or plumbing myself I would have a plumber and whoever works on tubs and showes replace the plumbing and tub.

    • roarah
      2 years ago
      last modified: 2 years ago

      we had access to my 1920 corner tub drain from a closet and were able to replace the drain! White‘s plumbing in West Haven ct was such a help with the parts.


      I have similar cross rosetts too!


    • cpartist
      2 years ago

      Here's hoping you can keep that whole bathroom. It's gorgeous.

    • Lyndee Lee
      2 years ago

      I was abe to get some unusual vintage plumbing parts from DEA bath in California

    • chinacatpeekin
      2 years ago

      I also hope you can keep that gorgeous tub. I wish I had one like it.

    • Karen
      2 years ago

      You may think me crazy, but I say keep the tub if you can and keep all but the toilet and shower bars above the tub. Seems like a new coat of paint and new or cleaned grout will go a long way. So many of the items in this bath are just gorgeous and need some TLC.

    • lynne3450
      2 years ago

      Please post photos as your renovation comes along. What a gem of a property! Congrats!

    • PRO
      PIATRAONLINE
      2 years ago

      You should definitely keep the bathtub. To beautify the space, you can add color accents with natural stone. Can t wait to see the final result. <3

    • J J
      2 years ago

      That is a DREAM bathtub in a dream bathroom! If an apartment doesnt have a tub, I wont even consider it. But that there is the kind if bathroom a renter like me would make a lot of concessions for. (I live in NYC). Sounds like you were able to salvage it, thank god. Please dont ever change that bathroom!

    • Jeff Meeks
      2 years ago

      keep it all

    • Anna Devane
      2 years ago

      Beautiful bathroom Keep what you can

    • Sam Pottash
      last year

      Hi, I love this. What do you use to attach a shower head to your curtain rod? I live in a similar prewar setup and we have a window that won't accept our suction cup shower head holder in the winter cold.

    • ci_lantro
      last year

      Sam, it looks like that 'curtain rod' is actually a water pipe doing dual duty. Note the two sets of faucet handles on the wall. I'm assuming one set controls the tub filler and the other set controls the shower head.


    • PRO
      Peek Photography
      last year

      im thinking of gutting my prewar bathroom and like you want to keep the tub. can you post after photos?

    • cpartist
      last year

      Peek Photography, start a new thread and post your bathroom with why you want to gut it.

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