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Clawfoot Bathtub Tips |
| Clawfoot Classics offers clawfoot tubs in many different styles and sizes. The variety can make it a challenge to choose a clawfoot bathtub for your home. The following tips are provided as a service from Clawfoot Classics. We hope you will find this information helpful in your selection of a claw foot tub. Clawfoot Classics urges you to consult with a professional if you have any doubts or questions about the installation of these products. |
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Clawfoot Tub Options
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Material
Cast Iron, Acrylic |
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Style
Roll Top, Dual, Slipper, Dual Slipper |
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Holes
Wall Holes, Rim Holes, No Holes |
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Feet
Ball & Claw, Lion Paw, Imperial, Pedestal (or Plinth), Skirt |
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| Should I choose a cast iron clawfoot tub or an acrylic clawfoot tub? |
| Perhaps the most important decision you will make regarding your choice of claw foot tub is the material from which the tub is manufactured. There are two basic options: cast iron or acrylic. For some, project requirements or preferences will make the choice obvious. For others, this can be a difficult decision. The following comparison should help you with your decision. |
| Cast Iron Clawfoot Tubs |
Acrylic Clawfoot Tubs |
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A strict traditionalist will select cast iron to reproduce the original look and feel.
The cast iron exterior can be painted (and repainted) to match the décor in your bathroom.
Cast iron tubs provide more choices for shower enclosures. The cast iron walls can support a shower enclosure mounted through faucet holes in the tub wall or tub rim. Shower enclosures are not recommended for acrylic tubs with holes in the tub wall.
The porcelain interior provides excellent abrasion, stain, and wear resistance, often better than metals.
Porcelain is flame resistant. The hard porcelain finish resists burns from cigarettes.
Cast iron clawfoot tubs have a very long lifespan. These tubs have been refinished for over 50 years, although all of our tubs are new reproductions.
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Acrylic clawfoot tubs are relatively lightweight. They are easier to move, install, and are perfect for upper story baths.
Acrylic is naturally warmer to the touch and it is a good thermal insulator so water stays warm longer.
Acrylic can be scratched, however, most scratches can be easily buffed out to restore shine.
Acrylic will break down if strong chemical cleaners (especially acetates) are used to clean it.
Acrylic resists chips.
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Clawfoot Tub Check List
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Clawfoot Tub
Select a claw foot tub to match your preferences and requirements. Consider style, size, hole placement, and material. |
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Faucet or Shower
Select the appropriate type of faucet or shower enclosure for your tub. Many options for finish and style are available for every configuration. |
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Drain
Choose a proper size drain in a matching finish. |
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Supply Lines
Add supply lines in a matching finish to complete the installation. |
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Accessories
Accessorize for convenience and flair. |
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What should I know about faucet holes? |
The placement of faucet holes, or lack thereof, is an important point to consider when selecting a clawfoot tub. Your choice of tub style or placement of faucet holes may limit your choices.
Wall Holes |
Classic American style roll top claw foot tubs have faucet holes drilled on 3 3/8” centers in the wall of the bathtub. This style of tub provides the widest and usually most economical selection of faucets and shower enclosures. |
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| Larger tubs and acrylic clawfoot tubs often have faucet holes drilled in the rim of the tub (7” and 8” centers are common). The holes can be at the end of the tub or on the side of the tub. By mounting the faucet on the rim, more space is made available inside the tub walls. These tubs also frequently provide deeper water levels. Deck mounted faucets and shower enclosures are available but tend to be more expensive and more limited in selection. |
Rim Holes |
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No Holes |
European style clawfoot tubs are available without faucet holes. The faucet is usually mounted on freestanding supplies or on a bathroom wall. Like clawfoot tubs with rim holes, these tubs offer more space and deeper water levels. This type of tub is the most restrictive in terms of faucet and shower enclosure options. |
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How do I clean my tub? |
| Always use mild detergents (e.g., Soft Scrub, 409, Dow Bath & Tile Cleaner) for everyday cleaning. For more stubborn stains, we recommend Barkeepers Friend or Zud. These products are readily available at most grocery stores. Do not allow the cleaning material to soak on the tub surface. Rinse and immediately wipe with a soft damp sponge or cloth.
Never use chlorine bleach or acidic cleansers (e.g. C.L.R.) as these chemicals can cause a permanent discoloration. Avoid abrasive cleaners that will scratch the porcelain surface.
Always test the cleaning material in an inconspicuous area before applying to the entire surface. Most importantly, follow the instructions and read the warning label before you begin.
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What should I know about tub delivery? |
| Your tub will be delivered by LTL motor freight. The carrier will call the number you provide in your customer registration to make arrangements for delivery when the tub reaches your local service terminal. Typically freight companies use semis (18 wheelers) for delivery of tubs. If the delivery location is not accessible to tractor-trailers, please email customerservice@shop4classics.com for assistance prior to placing your order. It may be necessary for you to make alternate arrangements if the freight company cannot deliver the tub to your home. |
| Tub prices include crating, residential delivery, and liftgate service. The carrier will remove the tub from the truck, however, they will not take the tub into your home. Please have help available to move the tub from the curb/sidewalk. |
| The freight carrier will require a signature to confirm delivery. Inspect all packages and their contents prior to signing the delivery receipt. See Receiving Freight Deliveries for more information. |
Where can I find help with tub faucets and shower enclosures? |
| Clawfoot Classics offers an comprehensive list of faucet and shower enclosure options. For help in selecting the perfect fixture for your tub, see our clawfoot tub faucet tips or shower enclosure tips. |
Where can I find help with supply lines? |
| There are many options for supply lines. The appropriate choice will depend on your project requirements and the type of faucet you select. Please see Clawfoot Tub Supply Line Tips for help with selecting and installing leg tub supply lines. For help selecting and installing leg tub drains, please see Leg Tub Drain Tips. |
Who invented the clawfoot tub? |
| No one knows for certain when the bathtub was invented; however, today’s tubs probably descended from large pottery bowls. The earliest known bathtub was found in the ruins of a palace on the island of Crete. The tub is almost 4,000 years old and originally belonged to the queen. Even after its invention though, bathtubs did not immediately catch on. In fact some considered bathing to be unhealthy and immoral. Fortunately, sanitary conditions improved and bathing became widely accepted. Claw foot tubs, as we know them today, came about many years after that first tub in Crete. These freestanding leg tubs were made of cast iron. The cast iron was coated with porcelain enamel to provide a smooth attractive finish. The J. L. Mott Iron Works company is generally credited with producing the first cast iron tub with an enamel interior in 1873. Although the design has changed some, cast iron clawfoot tubs are still a popular choice today. |
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