Repairing Your Clawfoot Tub
The clawfoot tub first splashed on the scene in the late 1800′s. American Standard, still to this day a leader in bathroom fixtures and cast iron clawfoot tubs, produced the first tub with with short legs and “feet” that curved similar to an animals claws. The tub was made of sturdy, heavy-duty cast iron and given an enamel coating. The coating was important as it made the tub easier to clean. However, these tubs were extremely heavy and often needed reinforced floors to withstand the weigh of a filled tub with a bather in it. Eventually, the claw foot tub gave way to the cheaper and easier to manufacture one piece tubs.
When American bathrooms began to favor shower tub combinations the vintage tub & bath style of clawfoot tub became obsolete. Today you can have your vintage cast iron tub and your shower too, by installing a circular shower enclosure set. This combines a traditional clawfoot tub faucet with tub wall mounted faucets. It set also includes all the necessary fittings for shower curtain rods and the shower curtain of your choice. Now your home can salvage the look of the old style clawfoot tub yet still be practical for today’s families.
A clawfoot tub can add a certain quaint or Victorian look to your bathroom, but not if it’s in poor condition. But you don’t have to get rid of it as there are methods for cleaning and refinishing or resurfacing your tub. First you’ll want to use a cleaner like Rustoleum to clean the rust without damaging the finish even more. Now consider refinishing the tub with an acrylic resin coating. This can be done without moving the tub and for under $500. It is highly recommended that you hire professionals for this and not make it a DIY project as you’ll want to make sure there’s a warranty on the work that is done.
You can also consider a somewhat new process of removing and replacing the porcelain enamel coating. The process includes removing the tub, sandblasting off the old interior then applying and baking on a new interior at about 1500 degrees Fahrenheit for more than four hours. The results are beautiful, however, the cost of moving your tub and completing this process is expensive.
There is no doubt that the clawfoot tub adds a bit of yesteryear to any bathroom and in most homes that have the original tub, owners want to preserve that look. Although you can purchase new tubs that are reminiscent of the older ones, they tend to lack the authenticity of the original. So in the long run, if you want to keep your clawfoot tub, pay the money to have it professionally revamped and for years you’ll enjoy a practical piece of history in your home. If you want a new clawfoot bathtub there are many great styles to choose from on Amazon.com.