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…
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?
So where does one rent a power Handtruck (power dolly) ?
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)
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.
Now there is the internet. And I really appreciate people like you who take their chance in such an excellent way to give an impression on certain topics. Thanks for having me here.
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.
Light as a feather…stiff as a board….
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!
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.
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.