Are you thinking of giving your bathroom a facelift? If so, you might have thought of installing an Americast bathtub. After all, these tubs are lightweight and the less expensive alternative to cast iron. As we all know, it’s good practice to read reviews of a particular product online before purchasing. The Americast tub reviews consist of both the good and bad things about the product. We want to help you make an informed buying decision by highlighting the most common Americast bathtub problems as experienced by different users and their possible solutions.
What Is an Americast Tub Made Of?
Located in Piscataway, New Jersey, United States, American Standard is a company that deals with the manufacture of plumbing fixtures.
The American Standard tub is made of americast—a high-quality, unique porcelain surface that bonds over a strong sheet of enameling grade steel and a modeled composite reinforcement backing.
The americast material is similar to those used in the automotive and aerospace industries to achieve lightweight yet strong and durable products.
Americast bathtubs are outstanding alternatives to cast iron tubs, with unbeatable strength, weight, and durability.
This patented and exclusive material is significantly lighter than cast iron, hence easier to carry, ship and install.
Are American Standard Bathtubs Good?
As mentioned above, the American Standard bathtubs are made of americast—a strong, durable, and lightweight material.
The americast material also has exceptional noise-deadening and heat retention capabilities compared to enameled steel and cast-iron tubs. The durable construction offers a great improvement over its counterparts.
Most alternatives feature a spray-on or foam backing, which are less robust than the americast material.
Another reason you should consider buying the americast bathtubs is that they offer unique features to give you a more relaxing bathing experience.
Their contoured tub design offers improved head and neck support and increased lumbar support while bathing.
Apart from the powerful, attractive features, americast bathtubs are manufactured in the USA by American Standard, a reputable company with a long-standing history of durability and trust. So, yes, American Standard bathtubs are good!
Americast Bathtub Problems
The different americast tub reviews will reveal that users experience several common problems with these bathtubs.
However, this shouldn’t discourage you from buying this bathroom fixture, as everything on the market has pros and cons.
Let’s look at some of the americast bathtub problems and how you can deal with them.
Chipping
The top surface of the americast tub comes in a glossy porcelain finish. Over time, you may realize that the surface is getting scratched, chipped, or cracked. This damage may be due to the use of abrasive cleaners and certain items being dropped in the tub.
The chipping off can also result from unsafe shipping where the tub is not appropriately covered when transporting.
The chipping can make your americast bathtub less beautiful and unappealing. But you don’t need to despair, as a simple repair will make the cracks, scratches, and chips invisible, and your tube will look as good as new.
Creaking Sounds
Some users complained of the tub making creaking sounds every time they stepped on it. The reason for this could be the absence of floor underlayment, which makes the tub move around.
If your bathroom is uneven, try installing a blocking alongside your tub skirt between the joists at the center, back, and the front side of the tub under the plywood.
This blocking is meant to support the bathtub appropriately, preventing it from wobbling.
Flexing
Flexing may come about due to poor installation. This problem could cause cracks in your bathtub and render it unusable. That’s why you need to read and follow the installation instructions carefully.
Installation Incompatibilities
Installing an americast bathtub is pretty straightforward. But that is only true if you choose the right product for your bathroom.
You’re bound to run into installation incompatibilities if you don’t consider the right size of the bathtub and other things, such as the overflowing drain. An example is buying a tub that is too narrow for your bathroom.
You may also find out that the openings on your tub are too big or too small for your bathroom, making installation difficult.
The solution to this problem is straightforward. First, pick the right bathtub for your bathroom. Second, follow the installation process carefully to ensure the base of the ridges is placed correctly. Also, ensure the support stringer is trimmed to achieve the right length.
Water Puddles
After installing your bathtub, you may find that the tub has a low spot or is tapped. This might lead to water pooling, which could cause rust that could compromise the integrity of the tub.
Usually, this would require a total replacement of your americast bathtub. Before purchasing another tub, check with the company as they tend to replace the product if it’s a manufacturing defect.
What Is the Difference Between Cast Iron and Americast?
We have mentioned that americast is a great alternative to cast iron. But what is the difference between these two material types? To give you a clear picture of each material, we will look at the following parameters:
Cost
Cost is the first variable that sets cast iron and americast tubs apart. Cast iron tubs will definitely cost you more because of the material used in their manufacture.
Americast bathtubs are not the cheapest on the market, but they are more affordable compared to cast iron tubs.
Durability
Cast iron tubs come in first in the durability contest. These bathtubs are made of pure metal and do not easily crack or dent.
Cast iron tubs will, therefore, serve you well over 70 years, unlike americast bathtubs that will only serve you for about 15 years, with proper maintenance.
However, americast tubs last longer than their counterparts. As mentioned earlier, most alternatives feature a foam or spray-on backing, which doesn’t compare to americast’s flexing and non-bending capability.
Ease of Installation
Americast bathtubs carry the day when it comes to ease of installation. You don’t need a motor bed to install an americast bathtub securely. Moreover, the company gives you every accessory required for complete and faster installation.
Also, americast tubs are lightweight and, therefore, easy to move around. On the flip side, cast iron is a heavy material that makes installation more labor-intensive and calls for additional hands. Besides, you may have to reinforce the bathroom floor to preserve its integrity.
Weight
We have mentioned severally in the text that americast is more lightweight than cast iron. This makes americast bathtubs easy to transport, handle and install.
On the other hand, weight is a huge turn-off when it comes to cast iron tubs. The heavy weight makes it difficult to ship and install.
While there are americast tubs weighing about 100 pounds, cast iron bathtubs typically weigh between 350 and 500 pounds.
Material
Americast bathtubs are manufactured by binding a high-quality porcelain surface with an enamel-grade steel material and molded and reinforced by a backing material.
Conversely, cast iron tubs are made by putting molten iron in molds and allowing it to thicken, making iron harden and assume the bathtub’s shape.
What Is the Best Quality Bathtub Material?
Americast bathtubs are made to be solid and sturdy. But there are other materials that rival the quality and strength of this material. Materials such as enamel-coated cast iron and stone resin are sturdy, easy to clean, durable, and can retain heat for a long time.
Cast iron tubs are the most durable of the three (americast, cast iron, and stone resin), and that’s why they are the most expensive.
Final Thoughts on Americast Bathtub Problems
The americast bathtubs are strong and lightweight and could be a perfect addition to your bathroom. They are exactly what you need to make your bath time soothing and luxurious. But, just like any other product on the market, these bathtubs are not short of a few flaws. The good thing is that you can troubleshoot and fix most of the problems and continue enjoying your bathtub.
