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May 11, 2005

Ideas for Moving a Heavy Tub Up Stairs?

As previously discussed, we were pleased as punch when we found a beautiful old ceramic tub out in Connecticut few months ago for $1,000. Our GC had promised us that he could get anything up the two flights if stairs to the master bathroom. Now the thing (which must weigh 600-700 pounds) has been sitting in the front hall of parlor floor for a couple of months and he is running out of ideas. We considered taking a page out of the ancient Egyptians' book (who would transport obelsisks by rolling them on logs), but it doesn't look like that's going to work. We've also started calling around to piano movers to see if they can do it. Does anyone else have any brilliant ideas?

Comments

My best advice is to get 2 really strong guys. I moved one of these tubs in and out of a bathroom in my house in Atlanta. The tub actually weighs about 350 to 450lbs.

If you want to resurface the tub, do it before you move it upstairs.

Posted by: Dennis at May 11, 2005 1:28 PM

It took 6 guys to get this one up the stoop!

Posted by: Brownstoner at May 11, 2005 1:55 PM

The slate for billiard tables are also ridiculously heavy.

Blatt Billiards in Manhattan (Broadway around 18th st?) has giant guys that have moved my billiard table up to third floor.

These giant guys do this all day, it's their job.

Perhaps they'd handle a tub as well...?

Posted by: dan at May 11, 2005 2:04 PM

Anyway they can use a pulley to hoist up and thru window?
or a dolly and ramp?

Posted by: Anonymous at May 11, 2005 2:06 PM

Brownstoner, do your stairs curve as they come on on the next floor? If so you have an extra headache. If its simple a matter of getting it up a straight stairway; cut and overlay 3/4" plywood over the stairs. Now you have a smooth surface that you'll be able to slide/drag the tub on. Tie a rope to the tub and have a couple of guys pull from the top. In this case friction is both your friend and foe. "Dragging' increases the overall amount of energy needed to raise the object, however, you could also place the tub on rollers,sliders or wheels to overcome friction(egyptians), but that leaves you open to a runaway tub. Nothing a good set of roll blocks cant overcome.(I just wouldn't want to be the one to place the blocks.)

Posted by: Anonymous at May 11, 2005 2:17 PM

Can you use some kind of crane or pulley to hoist it through a window?

Posted by: Anonymous at May 11, 2005 2:29 PM

I had the same problem in the East Village back in 1998. I hired 3 guys off the street, and we four got it halfway up, when they mutinied, and demanded double. An hour and $120 later, it was up to the 4th floor. Though ours was only 400 lbs or so.

Posted by: Alan at May 11, 2005 3:09 PM

Have you tried hiring a small troupe of monkeys? They are freakishly strong for their size.

Posted by: hmmmm at May 11, 2005 3:21 PM

Guess that explains why the original tub was never removed from the 4th floor of my house.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 11, 2005 3:49 PM

Call Auers Moving & Rigging at 212-427-7800.

Website is www.auersmoving.com

A tenant of mine used them to get an oversized sofa into his third floor apartment through a front window. They specialize in that type of thing and are fully insured.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 11, 2005 4:16 PM

My dad (68 years old) and I (39) put the clawfoot cast iron 600lb tub up on end and tied it to a handtruck. The two of us got it up the stairs step by step. It seems like it is hard to do, but it is not.

Posted by: Tom at May 11, 2005 5:37 PM

this may seem dumb, but make sure that the spot where you are putting that thing can support the weight of the tub - and make sure you do the math with the tub at full capacity...

as far as getting up there - if it is only a weight issue (i.e. not a curved staircase or anything) it is nothing a little muscle can't solve. try the plywood idea. another idea may be to put two "tracks" down the stairs to reduce the points of friction. good luck.

Posted by: jwc at May 11, 2005 7:49 PM

easy !! rent a walking handtruck .. it's a handtruck with a motor on it. it has 3 sets of wheels .. it really walks up and down stairs . the MTA has them . they take MVM'S ( metro card vending machines to you ) down the subway that way . those MVM's weight 1100 lbs .

Posted by: electricgreek1 at May 11, 2005 9:42 PM

hmm maybe consider a new decorating style where the bath tub is on the first floor.

Posted by: sherman at May 11, 2005 11:43 PM

Ah.. the cheap man always pays twice

Posted by: Anonymous at May 12, 2005 10:19 AM

If you install a service elevator in your house, getting the tub upstairs will be a cinch.

Posted by: Whitbo at May 12, 2005 10:28 AM

Money or muscle, take your pick.

If muscle - 1. it's not as heavy as you think, and the more people, the lighter it gets, four should do it comfortably. 1. it will be easier to move crated, there are more hand-holds: you can build a crate easily right there on the ground floor (I shouldn't say easily but if you're undertaking a reno. you should be able to whip something up; it doesn't have to be elaborate, just sound).

Without a crate, the worst thing will be the 'flop-factor', the tub will want to 'flop' upright, everytime you stop, and hand-holds. The crate solves these two things.

Then spit on your hands and get to work. Hint - it's easier to carry the top.

If money - Auers, they are insured.

Posted by: amnomynous at May 12, 2005 10:45 AM

Just to reiterate the question of floor load capacity where you are placing this tub. In my memory (sometimes quite faulty) you have put bathrooms in the middle of the house where the staircase opening has made the floor joists weaker. If this is true or not, the question is a good one. You don't want sags and cracks appearing after an expensive reno.

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wow...power of the internet.

i've got no tips to add but am just amazed at the ingenuity of some people and the info available in the online community. who (except transit workers) knew about those walking handtrucks!

Posted by: PkSlopeRenter at May 12, 2005 12:50 PM

Light as a feather...stiff as a board....

Posted by: don at May 12, 2005 1:13 PM

I did not read all 20 comments, but I do have a serious suggestion: try calling a piano moving company or a safe moving company. Piano movers may be willing and able to move the tub - after having moved a baby grand piano three times to three different floors in our brownstone, I know they have ingenious ways of moving heavy objects. Companies that move safes may also help - if they still exist.

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Posted by: Anonymous at June 4, 2005 11:21 AM

Rather than offering advice, I'd like to know if you've had success moving that tub. I currently have the same issue and no one short of Auer's Moving and Rigging will touch these things. I suspect your tub came out of a Stamford architectural salvage yard, and yes, they are entirely glazed earthenware (no cast iron anywhere) and they do weigh 700 to 900 pounds, depending on the manufacturer, model, and size. Moving an 800 pound bathtub is very different from moving a 300 pound cast-iron tub.

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Posted by: viagra at August 16, 2005 12:46 PM

Assuem you've gottent the tub in but thought this might help someone else looking for advice as I was....

Just went through removing a small (320#) cast iron tub from our 2nd floor. Used a power Handtruck (power dolly) and it worked like a charm. Had one other person to help keep things on track... I didn't want to lose control half way down the stairs and end up with a new door in my house. The one I rented ($30 for 4 hrs - $40 all day) was rated to 625#. I'd be a little concerned about the stairs but they'd proabbly be fine for a one time overload. (btw: They work by having the flat part of the hand truck raise and lower relative to the wheels.. Raise the wheels up (lower load) and tip so they are up 2 or 3 steps from the bottom.. then lower the wheels (raise the load). rinse and repeat till done.

As someone else stated(?), I'd build a box around the tub out of 2x4s so you weren't putting the edges of the tub on the dolly. Should be easy enough for your contractor to figure out how to build the box. (Didn't have to worry about that with our cast iron.. it was rectangular)

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