The Tub King Blog - Tub Talk: Porcelain bath tubs

Showing posts with label Porcelain bath tubs. Show all posts

What do Your Teeth and Bathtub Have in Common?

By Kerry Knight

If you’re considering getting false teeth, you have two primary options in terms of their material. One is acrylic and the other porcelain.

Many people choose porcelain teeth for a variety of reasons. Porcelain is a harder substance than acrylic, making porcelain teeth more durable. Because porcelain teeth resist wear, these dentures preserve the normal jaw movement and alignment. Acrylic teeth are subject to abrasion and will wear down over time, causing changes in the length of the artificial teeth. This, in turn can alter your bite, which could eventually cause Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) issues later on. This condition can become very uncomfortable, if not outright painful.

Another problem with acrylic dentures is that acrylic contains microscopic pits that can trap and retain bacteria. Brushing or quick soaking does not effectively remove the bacteria, although overnight soaking does a better job at cleaning dentures. The bacteria remaining on acrylic teeth can multiply rapidly and cause bad breath, or worse, an infection in your mouth.

Photo Credit: blisstree.com

One more thing: Acrylic dentures are about the same price as porcelain. So why not choose the more durable, better functioning material?

Now let’s switch gears. Glamorous bathtubs today, like the Slipper tub, Double Slipper, Dual-ended, Pedestals, and Roll Tops are made of either acrylic or porcelain. Interestingly, the pros and cons that apply to dentures apply equally to bathtubs. Which material do you think is more durable for a tub? Let me illustrate.

Porcelain is always the material of choice. It resists the forces of time and every day wear and tear. Just think of the abrasive cleaners one has to sometimes use in their bathtubs to get rid of soap grime, etc. Acrylic must be cleaned with nonabrasive cleaners. Otherwise, scratches may occur in the surface of the bathtub. In fact, if you were to vigorously scrub an acrylic tub repeatedly, especially with an abrasive cleaner, over the years, it would also develop pitting and an uneven surface.

Photo Credit: medical.angihel.com

Another thing, as we have already shown with dentures, bacteria can get trapped in the microscopic pits of the acrylic material. You could be setting yourself or someone in your family up for various dermatological conditions if you have an acrylic tube that several people bathe in. Common skin infections include cellulitis, erysipelas, impetigo, folliculitis, and furuncles and carbuncles. Most of these are caused by the Streptococcus or Staphylococcus species of bacteria. These conditions can range from being uncomfortable to outright painful, and they’re almost always unattractive. Also keep in mind they’re potentially contagious.

Not so with porcelain. The glass surface can be easily cleaned and ― importantly ― sterilized. And from an aesthetic standpoint, porcelain tubs’ high gloss finish can be maintained for a hundred years with appropriate care. I once owned a porcelain claw foot tub that was dated back to 1878, and it still looked good.

Recently, I someone call me that wanted to order a porcelain Clawfoot tub. He explained that he had purchased an acrylic one, but it just hadn’t held up. He said it had started to fade and because of the weight of the water inside the tub, it had begun to lose its once-firm shape. The legs of the tub could not even rest on the floor properly. So he now had a tub that had lost its aesthetic appeal and that had also become unsteady. It may have even become “scarred” with microscopic pitting. Obviously not a good situation.

Photo Credit: bathrenovationhq.com

When you think about it, what is acrylic? It’s a type of plastic. Acrylic tubs are formed from one piece of These sheets are put onto a mold and heated to form around the mold. After the tub is formed, fiberglass can be sprayed onto the back of the tub for reinforcement.

colored, plastic acrylic sheets.

However, porcelain is a type of glass. You simply can’t compare durable cast iron/porcelain with plastic for durability. Sure, some may counter that porcelain can break easier than some industrial grade plastics, but how often do you see someone drop an anvil in their bathtub?

If you’re looking for a material that will last, porcelain is your go-to choice. These tubs are made by pouring molten iron into a mold of the desired shape, then smoothing it and coating it with a thick layer of enamel.

Porcelain tubs are the most durable on the marketplace. Their finish is resistant to chipping, scratching and denting, as well as most types of chemicals. There are a number of different colors available, and there’s a richness to cast iron that just can’t be matched, truth to tell. Porcelain also tends to retain the water’s heat better than acrylic and other materials.

And just like the denture illustration I gave earlier, the prices you’ll encounter when comparing acrylic tubs to porcelain tubs are about the same.

Photo Credit: tubking.com

Consider this: If you had a choice between buying a plastic plate, or one made of fine china, and they were both priced the same, which would you choose? Those who purchase acrylic tubs, especially the nicer designs that I have mentioned, are eventually disappointed. I had someone tell me, “They just look cheap.”

We decided years ago that Tub King would only carry the highest quality, cast iron/porcelain glamour tubs. They’re worth every penny and will last a lifetime, if not beyond.

Testimonial for Cast Iron Bath Tubs by Tub King

In this article, I compared the differences between acrylic and porcelain, both as a substance for dentures, as well as for bathtubs. I discussed the various disadvantages of acrylic, especially in comparison to porcelain, and also shared several more positive attributes that definitely make porcelain the material of choice for bathtubs (and dentures).

If you found this article useful, please share it with your 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 Clawfoot Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here. 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.

Thanks again for visiting with us.

Click Here to Learn More

Alan and Kerry Knight are the owners of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. Together they have many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. Their 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.

Clawfoot Tubs by Tub King

Related articles

Placing Your Bathtub on a Pedestal

By Kerry Knight

Items of beauty, works of art and yes, elegant bathtubs need to be shown off. We put movie star on pedestals to show them off, why wouldn’t we do the same for a functional work of art like a beautiful slipper tub.

We recently had a couple in our showroom who were shopping for a claw foot tub. They didn't want just any tub. They wanted something that was unique and special, something you don't find just every day. After looking at our "footed" tubs they announced that they just weren't happy with the idea of a tub resting on the legs of some animal. The chrome, brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze legs that we carry often display the image of an eagle's claw, and bear claw or an emperor's headdress. Not everyone is drawn to that style. So this couple asked if there was something else they could see.

That's when I introduced the Pedestal Tub. Many of our claw-footed tubs come with the option of being on a pedestal. Some call it a skirt or a ring, but most just refer to it as a Pedestal Base. Most remark that it makes the tub look more contemporary, more modern.

But it also makes it look even more elegant. Just after the turn of the twentieth century, the pedestal tub became the tub of choice for the elite, sophisticated, and wealthy. During the roaring twenties, it was a popular item at parties and new-worthy events. I remember reading about a party during prohibition. There was gunfire as the Revenuers came in with guns blazing. One guy jumped in the cast iron tub filled with gin. He survived but was very tipsy when he came up.

Check out this video on double slipper tubs

There is a big event-taking place in our city where the theme is a throwback to the roaring twenties. A couple of reps for this project came by our showroom recently and RENTED one of our pedestal tub for the event. They said this was going to be the centerpiece for the entire event.

The cast iron and porcelain tubs that we offer with the pedestal base instead of legs would include:

The Dual Ended in sizes of 60, 66 inches and 75 inch lengths.
The Slipper Tub in sizes of 61 and 67 inch lengths.
The Traditional Roll Tub in sizes of 61 and 66 inch lengths.
The Double Slipper Tub in the 72 inch length.
The Slight Slipper Tub in the 72 inch length.

Double Slipper Pedestal Tub

The pedestal tubs will typically weigh around 100 pounds more than the footed tubs due to the massive skirt. Make sure to check the support capacity of your floor when considering it, although for the majority of homes, this weight will not be a problem. The tub will set up slightly taller, so the step over may be a little more than the footed tubs, but again, it's not prohibitive.

The pedestal tub is definitely in a league of its own. When considering your purchase of a claw-footed tub, you might want to give it a look.

In this article, I have discussed how claw-footed tubs can be purchase with a pedestal instead of the traditional claw feet. Adding a pedestal totally changes the appearance from a more Victorian look to that of a modern or contemporary bathtub. A pedestal roll or slipper tub provides that modern look that may desire and it’s a great addition to most of our claw-foot tubs.

Customer Testimonial

If you found this article useful, please share it with your 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, click here. Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article and I will personally get back to you. It has been my pleasure sharing this information with you. Thanks again for visiting with us.

Until next time.

Alan and Kerry Knight are the owners of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. Together they have many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. Their companies not only provide superior products, they are also award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” three years running. If you would like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231; or email them at alan@tubking.com

New Porcelain Tubs are BETTER than the Antique Ones

By Kerry Knight

A question I am often asked, “Is it better to buy a new cast iron and porcelain tub or to restore it to like new condition?” This is a great question, however the answer I often give is not the one people are expecting, especially if the old tub has been in the family a long time.

We've all seen the old cast iron and porcelain tubs from yesteryear, lying around gardens, farms and ranches. Many have been turned into watering troughs for cows and horses. They are rusting on the outside and pretty beat up on the inside. Good luck in finding the cast iron legs that were original to the tub. You might be able to buy a set of antique legs that fit the tub from someone that handles this for about $50 per leg. These old tubs can date back as far as the late 1880s, often with the date stamped right on the bottom of it, so the condition of the tub can be pretty rough.

Are you an Antique Lover?

Many antique lovers have gone out in search of them. A purchase of a discarded antique claw foot tub could range from $200-400. If they are fortunate enough to locate one in decent shape, they are looking at a number of refurbishment stages to bring it to an acceptable, finished condition. First, the outside of the tub, (cast iron) is no doubt, rusted or has several coats of lead paint from many years of use. The tub will have to be sandblasted to bring the cast iron back to its original form. This can be expensive, sometimes $100 or more. Then the outside must be primed and painted again so that the cast iron doesn't rust again. Left unfinished, it will rust quickly, when exposed to the elements.

The porcelain will then be the center of attention. What shape is it in? Most old tubs will have chips, missing porcelain, scratches, and deep stains, all which require professional refinishing. Most refinishers who work on this type of tub will charge $700 or more to repair the porcelain and paint the inside of the tub.

Let's add up the cost so far.

Cost of the old tub -   $400
Sandblasting -            $100
Refinishing -               $700
Replacing Legs -       $200

Total $1,400

Keep in mind, the total listed above does not include the cost of searching for a person that does sandblasting or refinishing, the hauling expense (these tubs can weigh over 400 lbs.), the agony of lifting the tub time and again, the wear and tear on your tools and the long wait in getting the project completed.

What if You Don’t Like the finished Product?

Moreover, what if, after everything has been done, you are not satisfied with the finished product? After all, we are talking about painting the tub to look like porcelain. Not all refinishers are great at what they do.

Nevertheless, let's be positive. If everything goes well, and you are happy with the result after spending quite a sum of money, what does the future hold for your antique tub? Special care for the surface will be required since we are dealing with a painted tub. Certain cleaners cannot be used. It will need to be polished from time to time. Then, after a few years (if you're lucky), you'll have to have it refinished again. Why? Because the paint will peel over time. That's what paint does. Now you're looking at spending money all over again.

Is There a Better Way?

Yes! Purchase a NEW cast iron and porcelain claw foot tub. The surface will be brand new. New porcelain. New cast iron. The legs on the new tub are not cast iron, they come in chrome, brushed nickel, even oil rubbed bronze. They even come in unique shapes; not just the traditional roll top, but also the slipper tub, dual ended, pedestal and double slipper. And most importantly, the price is comparable to the cost of refinishing an old tub, sometimes even lower. This is a no brainer. It’s one thing if you’re refinishing an old tub for a museum because you’re trying to preserve a special piece of history. It’s a whole other matter is you’re doing this for yourself. Don't waste time, your hard-earned money and your labor on that old discarded tub when you can have a perfectly designed NEW CLAW FOOT TUB for the same or less money.

In this article, I have outlined the steps it takes to restore and refinish an old claw foot bathtub. I spell out the advantages and considerable disadvantages that come with the restoration/refinishing process. I also compare the cost of this process with that of purchasing a new claw foot tub. I have provided the process that can be used to restore a historic claw foot tub so that it looks like new. I have also shown why I believe replacing the old claw foot tub with a new one is the better way to go.

If you have found this article to be useful, please pass it on to your friends and co-workers. If you have a comment related to this article, please leave it in the comment section below. If you have a question, feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article. It’s been my pleasure telling about how we restore old claw foot tub for our clients. Thanks again for sharing this journey with us. Until next time.

Alan and Kerry Knight are the owners of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville Florida. Together they have many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. Their companies not only provide superior products, they are also award winners, receiving the best of Jacksonville Chamber Award three years running. If you would like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231 or email them at alan@tubking.com.