Recent Customer Installation of New Cast Iron Clawfoot Tub
You’ve
just purchased a Victorian Era styled house or wish to build or remodel based on the style and are looking for a tub fitting the period. In early America, when main bathrooms came in to
style, the cast iron clawfoot tub became the standard. Known for their
durability and temperature retention the cast iron bathtub became the hallmark
soaking tub used through several generations.
Why did they fall out of favor?
in 1883,
both the Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company (now American Standard) and
Kohler began the process of enameling cast iron bathtubs to form a smooth
interior surface. For a time, only the wealthy could afford the cost of a cast
iron bathtub but when they started mass producing the tubs it opened up
availability to home owners of lower income levels. Which was great, however,
the sheer weight of the tub limited the type of houses the tub could be put in
and generally only on the first floor. In many cases, having a properly
reinforced floor to accommodate a heavy tub may not have been in a homeowner’s
budget or consideration when building or purchasing a home back then. Other
materials and lighter weight options eventually began to enter the scene and
take over the market. Slowly the beautiful and timeless cast iron bathtub
disappeared as an option to purchase “new”.
Why did it take them so long to emerge back in to style?
Actually,
the clawfoot tub never really lost its allure to home buyers and remodelers who
cherished the look and the period of American history they represent. For many years it was nearly impossible to find a brand new cast iron bathtub and buyers started turning to the secondary market. Availability of new tubs in the U.S.A. was impacted by the amount of lead content in the tubs manufactured at the time as well as the fact that the American National Standard plumbing codes changed. The change in the code essentially prevented vintage cast
iron tubs from passing plumbing inspections on new builds and bathroom
remodels.
Take a
look at the placement of the overflow and faucet holes on a vintage tub.
Now take a
look at the placement of the overflow and faucet holes on the new cast iron
bathtub.
The revised
plumbing codes required the placement of the overflow to be at least on-to-two inches
below the rim of the tub, where the incoming waterlines come through the faucet.
This is a precaution against a drop in pressure in the water line, such as a
break. With the faucet being above the rim the bathwater is prevented from
being siphoned out, back through the lines, which would contaminate the fresh
water supply. https://law.resource.org/pub/us/code/ibr/iapmo.upc.2009.pdf
In an
online article, This Old House states, “For an average cost of $350 to $500-a
fraction of the $1,200 to $5,000 expense of a new cast-iron or steel tub
installed — refinishers can make an antique fixture look brand new.” This may
be applicable to a homeowner who has an existing cast iron tub which requires
refinishing to bring it back to life as the owner is not remodeling or building
a new home. If the tub is not part of the original structure the story and
estimates may prove significantly higher, perhaps even more costly than
purchasing a new clawfoot tub and fixtures.
Essentially,
an antique cast iron clawfoot tub found on secondary seller sites such as
Craigslist would have to be retrofitted to accommodate modern plumbing so as to
pass inspections. This would require, not only, a thorough refinishing of the
inside and outside of the bathtub but also a significant cost in plugging the
existing holes on the face of the vintage tub. Both the plugging of the holes
and the refinishing or reglazing of the bathtub results in a tub that is now
not original porcelain on the surface. Once a the tub has been refinished or
reglazed the owner now has to be concerned with cleaning chemicals and sharp or
heavy items which may damage or discolor the new surface. Inevitably the tub
will have to be professionally resurfaced much more often than a new porcelain
cast iron bathtub.
Here at
Tub King, in Jacksonville, Florida, we routinely refinish vintage tubs, farmhouse sinks,
and other items. We are also the only approved
refinishing/resurfacing trainer in the entire United States for Midwest
Chemicals. We have a great love for the antique cast iron tubs and thoroughly
understand the allure of wanting to have that “feel” and “look” of the past,
which is why we sell brand new cast iron clawfoot and pedestal bathtubs for new
home builders and home remodelers. In the end, what you “think” is a higher
cost saves money and headaches down the road when deciding whether to purchase a
new or buy a vintage tub.
When pricing the
purchase of a new tub or considering the expense of retrofitting and
refinishing a vintage tub, consider the long term savings of buying brand new
and visit www.tubking.com or calling us at
(800) 409-3375.
Just like
any other industry Tub King experiences buyers who want to get “more bang for
their buck”. Sometimes this will lead the buyer to make the decision to
purchase a cheaper “replica” of a cast iron clawfoot or freestanding tub. This is not an
uncommon mentality when building and remodeling. However, the decision to save
a buck today may cost a significant amount of money down the line.
Property
inspectors, insurance agents, realtors, and the like have tools available to
them which indicate the life expectancy of items and furnishings in a home and
use the data in attaching values to the individual items and the home in
general. The end result of which can affect the price point related to
insuring, renting, and listing the property for sale.
Taking this
in to account let’s consider the following example:
·Tub King’s 72" Double Slipper Pedestal Cast Iron Bathtub currently priced at $1545
·Competitor 72” Double Slipper Pedestal Acrylic
Bathtub currently priced at $1238
If we were
to pull up the aforementioned “life expectancy” data we would find that, IF
properly cared for and maintained, the life expectancy for an acrylic tub is
approximately 30 years. I stress “if properly cared for and maintained” because acrylic tubs are subject to chipping, cracking, scratches, and turning yellow over time. Referencing the same data a cast iron tub can last
upwards of 100+ years but we will be generous and utilize the lowest referenced
number of 50 years. Cast iron is one of the most durable materials used for tubs and is resistant to most chemicals so does not share the same disadvantages of acrylic which affect the long term durability and
appearance of the tub.
Now, if the
acrylic tub has been treated like gold and reaches a grand old age of 30, what
does the homeowner do now; purchase a new tub or have it professionally refinished?
The cast iron tub still has another 20 years, at the very least, over the
acrylic tub. How does the decision to refinish or replace the acrylic tub
factor in when considering the 20 year difference?
·The homeowner purchases a replacement tub now
the 50 year cycle is $50/yr
·The home owner refinishes the tub now the 50
year cycle is $37/yr
oAssuming the refinishing job is $600
oAssuming the quality of the refinishing job adds
20 years versus the industry standard of 15 – 18 years.
In the end,
the savings of $307 actually cost the homeowner from $305 to $955 more and that
is only taking in to consideration the tubs themselves. As mentioned at the
start, the overall value of the home is affected by these types of small
purchasing decisions so the monetary impact can go further than the tub itself.
In upcoming
articles we will consider other comparisons as it relates to heat absorption,
cleaning, and care of various types of material used in tubs. Please
feel free to email edie@tubking.com with any topics or questions you’d like to
see addressed in future posts.
Noted American author, Tad Williams, once said, “Never make
your home in a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head.”
So you have some ideas you’ve been thinking about, and
you're finally getting around to doing that remodeling job on your
house. Spring is that time of year when
most of us, after spending much time during the winter staring at the walls,
decide to put some long-thought-about ideas into motion. This means you can now take your renewed
positive attitude, motivation and home remodeling skills to good use. However, before tackling a major project,
let's look at some ideas you may have overlooked.
We have many customers that come to our showroom looking for
remodeling solutions, especially in their bathrooms. One family wanted a very nice bathtub, but
also wanted to include a separate, freestanding shower unit. The problem was they couldn't afford
both. In the end, they chose to spend a
little extra on the tub, a beautiful, deep-soaking Clawfoot tub, and economized
on a separate shower with sliding doors.
The wife dressed up the drab shower by putting a handsome, fabric shower
curtain to hide the sliding doors.
I’ve purchased many houses over the years, and one thing I
always do is to make sure the property is expandable. By that I mean are the property’s boundaries and set-backs such that I could add an extra room in the future if I so chose? If the house is on a foundation with “crawl space” it could be rather expensive to expand the floor system. A slab would be a little easier to work with,
but don't forget the cost of drawing up plans, pouring more concrete, and more
importantly, making sure the addition fits the current footprint design. Many people have created an oddity with their
home by randomly adding rooms and extensions that don't follow the original
footprint concept. A once-beautiful home
can become an “albatross” if over-all design is not taken into
consideration. A wise choice would be to
hire a professional designer to help with this before you start.
Let's talk about the kitchen for a moment. As you know, counter tops are a real focal
point in any kitchen. The old style of
laminate counter tops are being replaced with abandon by most homeowners. That style has never had a reputation for
holding up very well over time. A
“laminate” is just that, a shallow surface of vinyl or plastic that is
laminated over pressed board. The
corners are notorious for being easily damaged.
The surface will start to lift over time, regardless of the care.
Thank goodness for innovation. Today,
granite countertops are the craze.
However, even newer are the engineered quartz counter tops. Two words about counter tops: remember resale. Spend a little and it usually pays off in the
long run. In one of the houses we built
some years ago, we decided on laminate
counter tops to make sure we stayed within our budget. We took good care of them over the years and
they still looked good after ten years of living there. But, when we decided to sell, and before we
put the house on the market, we spent a little money and replaced them with
granite. It was a wise decision. The house sold quickly and the new homeowners
could only rave about how beautiful the new counter tops were.
Another thing about kitchen remodeling, unless you’re a
professional cook or money is no object, don't buy an expensive
commercial-style range and fridge. There
are many mid-priced, great looking appliances out there. Appliances can be plenty big for your needs,
so start with what you can afford. When
I was growing up in the 1960s, we always had the same Frigidaire refrigerator. It was more like an old-time icebox. The inside was about half the size of modern,
regular size refrigerators, with a place for two ice trays in the top. There was no freezer portion to speak of and
it was about two feet shorter than today's versions. So today, be practical. You can always move up to something larger
and nicer later. Save your money for
custom cabinets and countertops.
There is a trend now to make the kitchen and bathroom huge, but they needn't be — after
all, they're also the most expensive rooms to build. Opt for functionality over size. A nice touch in a shared bathroom is a
separate room for the toilet. It can be
relatively small, but include a window to provide light and a feeling of connecting with the outdoors.
Choose shower curtains over custom shower doors. Glass doors cost about $1,500, and they
require a good deal of maintenance. Soap
film build-up is one problem, requiring the need to squeegee them every time
you take a shower. On the positive
side, great-looking fabric shower curtains are very affordable, plus they add
color and design to the shower area. And, if you get tired of the curtain color
or design, you can always change it for little money.
Here is another tip for the bathroom: Buy a good toilet ― the new ones are quiet
and use less water. Most showrooms don't
have working models, so be sure to check the reviews. Dual-flush models are a good option.
Throughout the house, keep the windows the same size, if
possible. That said, you can also make a spectacular change with really big windows or French doors. Increasing natural light is always a good
investment. If you have single glass
windows ― even if they're in decent shape ― it may be worth replacing them with
insulated windows, which will save money on heating and cooling and also help
reduce noise. Also, insulate all
exterior walls and ceilings. If you open
any internal walls, put in insulation, particularly around bedrooms and
bathrooms. It's cheap and it helps
reduce sound.
Small areas to consider are door hardware and light fixtures. Many homes have the typical cream-colored
light and receptacle plates. By simply
upgrading to something as simple as pewter light fixtures will speak volumes about quality and
elegance. Light fixtures in old houses
are normally ugly, discolored and out of date.
Bedrooms nowadays are fitted with ceiling fans, which come
with their own light package. It’s easy to catch a sale on ceiling fans. They sometimes run as low as $59or $69. If you’re ever considering a future resale,
this is invaluable. And don't forget the
porch, especially a screened-in porch. A
ceiling fan that is rated for outdoor use can turn the porch into a key
gathering spot.
Never underestimate the transforming power of color. Paint offers immediate gratification. Even the good stuff is relatively
inexpensive, and a careful amateur can do a good job. Hate the look of your house? Try a fresh coat of new paint first.
These are just a few suggestions for keeping your home
beautiful and functional. “There is
nothing like staying at home for real comfort,” wrote English novelist, Jane
Austen, in the 18th century. Her wise words
ring true even today. Make your home a
place of leisure that you can be proud to show off.
In this article, I discussed some useful ideas for spring remodeling
such as adding a cast iron/porcelain Clawfoot tub, upgrading kitchen
countertops, adding new ceiling fans, replacing electric plates with pewter,
repainting rooms, and myriad other suggestions.
If you’d like some suggestions and professional advice about
what type of bathing solution would work for your bathroom remodeling project,
whether it’s a Clawfoot or Pedestal tub, a Walk-in tub or a Safety Suite
Shower, Tub King’s experts are here to help.
If you found this article useful, please share it with your
family, friends and co-workers. If you have a comment related to this article,
leave it in the Comment section of this blog.
Thanks again for visiting with us.
Testimonial for Tub King's Pedestal Tub
Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the
end of this article and I’ll personally get back to you.
If you’d like to receive a FREE Walk-In Tub Buyers’ Guide, click
here.
If you’d like to receive a FREE Clawfoot
Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here.
Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville,
Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub
industries. His companies not only provide superior products, they are also
award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years
running. To contact Tub King directly, call (800)843-4231 or
email alan@tubking.com.
How many people are really out of work? The accurate answer is surprisingly difficult
to ascertain. According to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, the official unemployment rate as of February 2015,
is 5.5 percent. For reasons that are
highly political, official unemployment figures are greatly
under-reported. There are other factors that should enter into the reporting. For
example, there are discouraged workers (those who have given up on looking for
work.) There are those employed part-time
but not able to secure full-time work, and there are others who are marginally
attached to the labor force. In reality,
then, the actual U.S.unemployment is up around 11 or 12%.
Those who are fresh out of high school and college are
finding full-time employment more difficult to find. Many are educated but over-qualified for the
few entry-level positions that are available.
While many professional careers do require formal education
and years of experience, there are high-paying jobs out there that don't
require a college degree or prior experience.
Let's look at some of the better paying jobs that don’t always require a
college degree or vast amounts of experience needed:
Working as a security guard can mean a lot more than just
patrolling the local mall for unruly punks.
You might work as a protective sentry for an embassy, a secure cash
transporter for firms such as Brinks, or even a member of the Homeland Security team at an airport. A high school diploma is sufficient for most
of these jobs, but requirements vary and could include passing a drug test,
having a clean criminal record, and perhaps even obtaining a firearms license. Annual SalaryRange: $18,000 - $39,000.
You don't need a formal education to work as a bartender,
but you should go to a bar tending school. Working behind a bar can be difficult, as each shift requires dealing
with an imbibing public from different walks of life. Some locales have laws in place where a bar
or bartender can be held responsible if a patron drinks too much, so there is
the added pressure of monitoring how much alcohol your customers consume. The ABC Bar TendingSchool lists locations
around the country.
Delivery Drivers
Whether national, regional, or local, companies need
delivery drivers. As long as you have a
clean driver's license, you’re eligible for these jobs. You sometimes don't need prior experience for many of
these jobs, and they often offer a lot of scheduling flexibility. Starting with a company as a driver can also
help you get your foot in the door, with opportunities to work towards a
higher-paying position such as in sales, a shift manager, a terminal manager,
etc. Annual Salary Range: $17,000 - $46,000.
Experts project the employment rate for bill collectors to
grow by approximately 19% in the next 10 years,and most of these positions
only require a high school diploma. Job
requirements include effectively communicating over the phone and having good
customer service skills. Previous bill
collection experience is sometimes not required.
Annual Salary Range:
$22,000 - $48,000.
Sanitation Worker
Garbage collection may not sound as attractive as some other
non-degree jobs, but the pay is good and the opportunities are abundant. You’ll need to wake up before the crack of
dawn to start your work day, but you get most holidays off, receive good
benefits, and you get to exercise a bit on the job when you work as a garbage
collector. Requirements include being
physically fit, capable of lifting heavy items, and the ability to drive a
garbage truck. You can begin looking for
a job in this field on a waste management company's career site. Annual Salary Range: $20,000 - $60,000.
You must have the patience of a saint if you want to drive
children to and from school every morning and afternoon. Additionally, you need a clean driving and
criminal record. Bus drivers usually
work twice a day, in the morning and in the afternoon, and get all the same
holidays and days off that students enjoy. Oftentimes no previous experience is required to become a school bus driver, and
the job can come with benefits as well as a decent salary. Annual Salary Range: $16,500-$40,000.
Cable TV Installer
Cable TV and Internet installers can make decent
salaries. Previous experience is not
required for employment, and on-the-job training is provided. A good rapport with the public certainly
helps make this job easier. Annual
Salary Range: $21,500 - $52,000.
The majority of your time will be spent away from home, but
being a truck driver certainly has its rewards. These jobs offer good pay and benefits, and little or no previous
experience is required for employment.
You have to get trained and licensed to drive the big rigs, but most
trucking companies pay for your training and assist you with getting your
commercial driver's license. Medical
exams and background checks may also be required, depending on what substances you
might be hauling. Annual Salary
Range: $27,500 - $67,000.
The most successful brokers have established a large
referral network and have return business.
In other words, it takes at least a few years to make significant income
in the field. But the potential is there to earn a great deal of money, and you
only need an agent license to get your foot in the door at a real estate
firm. To become eligible for a license,
you must take an approved pre-licensing course and then pass the state
exam. You can then affiliate with an
established broker and work your way towards getting your own broker's
license. Annual Salary Range: $30,000 - $200,000+
Specific licensing requirements for taxi drivers vary from
state to state, but include being over 21 years of age, having a clean driving
record, several years driving experience, and passing a background check. Generally, taxi drivers pay to lease their
cabs from a cab company, keeping all the income they receive from their
fares. Work hours can be long and often
include nights, weekends, and holidays, and the work can even be dangerous at
times. But with no previous experience
needed and the ability to set your own hours, being a taxi driver can make for
a relatively comfortable career choice. Annual Salary Range:
$17,000 - $67,000.
Years ago, the idea of painting a bathtub for a living would’ve
been considered a ridiculous notion, but today the business of bath and kitchen
refinishing has grown into a multi-million dollar industry. In reality, it involves much more than just painting.
The concept is to replace a worn-out finish on a bathtub, sink, or kitchen
counter top with a new finish. The
activity is highly detailed, with specific steps to properly clean and etch the surface, and then apply the new finish through the use of a
professional spraying process utilizing specialized equipment. It enables the homeowner to save quite a bit of
money and annoyance by avoiding having to tear out the old fixture and replace
it with a new one. It could save a
family up to 70%. Annual Salary
Range: $20,000 -$200,000.
Those who have been truly successful have taken the time to
learn the trade by attending a professional Refinishing School. There they can get not only classroom time,
but precious hands-on instruction, so that when they go into a customer's home,
they can provide professional results. Tub King, Inc., in Jacksonville, Florida provides such a
course one weekend each month.
For the past decade, people from all over the world have
traveled to Jacksonville, Florida to attend its bathtub and kitchen refinishing class. Previous participants
have hailed from Canada, Colombia, Spain and Germany and, of course, from throughout
the U.S. Typically, the class runs
Friday and Saturday, unless the class size is larger, in which case, it is continued into Sunday. The class usually runs for a full eight hours each
day with a free lunch included. It's taught by Tub King’s Operations Manager, Mike Turner, who has been instructing the class for well over a
year.
During the class, participants learn about the entire
refinishing process, repairing damaged bathtubs, spraying the tubs to make them
look new, refinishing countertops, and more. The students are taught the
various skills and then are able to practice in real-time during the class.
It’s here they’ll actually get hands-on experience in learning how refinish a
variety of Clawfoot bathtubs, countertops, sinks, cabinets, etc. Furthermore, the course offers hands-on instruction in:
An Overview of the Refinishing
Industry
How to Select the Right Equipment
Proper
Preparation
What are the Most Reliable Coating
Products
How to Refinish Porcelain (sinks and
tubs)
Striking Gold in Antique Clawfoot
Bathtubs
How to Refinish
Fiberglass
How to Do Spot Repairs
What are the Most Effective Cleaners
How to Refinish Kitchen Countertops
How to Refinish Appliances
How to Refinish Ceramic
Tile
How Refinish Kitchen & Bathroom Cabinets
How to Create Multi-speck Patterns
How to Refinish
Concrete
Bathtub Conversion (for Walk-in Tubs) for
seniors
Truck Bed liners (which is a separate business all in
itself)
How to Properly Set Up Your Business
A Review of the Best Marketing & Advertising
Strategies
At the conclusion of the class, students are awarded a Certificate
of Completion as a trained refinishing professional. After receiving a Certificate of Completion from Tub King's
course, students can start their own bathtub and kitchen refinishing
business. With the purchase of a professional spray rig,
approximately $700 of materials, they're now a professionally equipped,
well-trained contract laborer. Not only are they now skilled to refinish
tubs, but also counter tops, ceramic tile, appliances, sinks, and
cabinets. Whether as a part-time or full-time job, this could expand your
income far beyond just being able to refinish your own tub.
Tub King’s well-lauded refinishing class empowers students
to work for themselves to change and improve their lives as a qualified,
certified refinishing professional. Upon completion, students can “put up their
shingle” and earn a decent income by providing their professional services,
whether it’s in commercial, residential or doing antique work.
Equipment and coating materials can be obtained inexpensively and there
are many avenues for advertising that are affordable. In fact, Tub King also offers
its students discount pricing on requisite equipment and materials as well as advertising
assistance; so in addition to offering expert hands-on training, the class also
addresses marketing techniques to help its students’ get started with their
refinishing business. We offer marketing assistance in the form of brochures,
advertisements, and flyers.
Tub King also has a very active referral program. Every
class graduate is added to Tub King’s database of certified refinishers. When
someone from another state contacts us to find out if we’d recommend a
professional for any of their refinishing projects, we help them get in touch
with one of our graduates who’s nearby them.
Learn More About Tub King's In-Depth Refinishing Course
In this article, I provided solutions to the issues
surrounding our nation’s current unemployment figures. I then recommended several
possible non-degree career tracks such as security guard, truck driver,
etc. I especially discussed Tub King’s
internationally acclaimed Bath and Kitchen Refinishing course, going into
detail about the once-per-month course’s hands-on curriculum, and also
mentioned some of the things Tub King does to facilitate our graduates’
business success. If you
found this article useful, please share it with your family, friends and co-workers.
If you have a comment related to this article, leave it in
the Comment section of this blog.
If you’d like to receive a Free Walk-in Tub Buyers’
Guide, fill out the form below.
If you’d like to receive a FREE Clawfoot Tub
Buyer’s Guide, fill out the form below.
Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or
email listed at the end of this article and I’ll personally get back to you.
It’s been my pleasure sharing this information with you.
Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville,
Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub
industries. HIs companies not only provide superior products, they are also
award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years
running. If you’d like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231;
or send an email to alan@tubking.com.
