The Tub King Blog - Tub Talk: claw foot

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Buy Something That Will Outlive You -- a Clawfoot Tub

By Kerry Knight

There is a huge push today to find the magic pill that would enable us to live forever. Books line the shelves of bookstores on how to prolong life

or at least how to extend vibrant health. There is “The Longevity Bible,” by Gary Small MD. The “Healthy at 100: Secrets of the World’s Longest-Lived People,” by John Robbins is another popular one. One that has really caused controversy is “The China Study,” by T. Colin Campbell, PhD. This one clearly suggests that diet and lifestyle changes can prevent and even reverse many chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Deep down, we know it probably doesn’t work, but we wish anyway. We all long for permanency.

It is often said that we live in society that loves instant gratification. The fast food industry is based on this principle. As our technology has improved, companies have worked hard getting us use to disposable or renewable products. We started with Windows 1.0 and are now at windows 8.1. Whether it's computers, furniture, clothing, you name it, few things you buy today last very long. It seems like it's all about upgrading to the next thing.

Nothing Seems To Last.

DSC_1812 (Photo credit: Image_language)

We catch ourselves saying, “Nothing seems to last anymore.” Usually, we’re talking about the shoddy workmanship on products we have purchased. We imagine (and we’re often dead right) that years ago manufacturing was aimed at quality, not just quantity. Things were made to last a lifetime. However, today, we are lucky to get out of the store before something breaks. We all long for something that is really worth what we paid.

We often have people that come into our showroom looking for a claw foot tub. They ask if the tubs are acrylic. Our answer is NO, and for a very good reason. Claw foot tubs hold a lot of water. The pure weight of the water will sometimes create a strain on the acrylic structure. In time the tub actually becomes misshapen. They are also subject to damage to the surface by being easily scratched.

A Claw Foot Tub Can Last 200 Years!

On the contrary, newly cast porcelain claw foot bathtubs are designed to last. The exterior is cast iron. Porcelain is actually sprayed over the cast iron at temperatures of over 2000 degrees. The result is a bathtub that may last for 200 years.

Short Customer Testimonial

We often have customers come into our showroom and ask about our warranty. Our clawfoot tubs will no doubt outlive the customer, so we joke about a 300 year warranty. Of course, the porcelain surface of the tub could be damaged (if you hit it with hammer or droped a very heavy object on it). Remember, porcelain is a glass finish. But normal wear will allow the customer to enjoy the tub for a lifetime.

The bottom line is porcelain clad cast iron claw foot tubs are the most durable bath tubs that you can buy. There are lots of companies selling weaker acrylic or fiberglass tubs, but they won’t last anywhere near as long as a cast iron claw foot bath tub.

Short video showing the variety of Clawfoot tubs.

Claw Foot Tubs come in a Wide Variety of shapes and Colors

Claw foot bathtubs come in a variety of shapes including the Slipper Tub, Dual Ended tub, the Double Slippers, and the Traditional Roll Top claw foot tub. These claw foot tubs are not only appealing to the eye, they are built to last. If you really want something that is truly beautiful, that adds value to your property, and can be a showpiece for any home while adding a sense of ageless permanence, then you need to look at modern claw foot bathtubs. Noting says elegance and beauty like a claw foot tub.

In this article, I have discussed how cast iron, porcelain claw foot bathtubs can outlast any of their acrylic or fiberglass counterparts. I have discussed how our society has been conditioned to accept short lived products, even though we crave products that last a long time. People often say nothing lasts anymore, but cast iron claw foot tubs can last more than 100 years.

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 read more articles about claw foot tubs enter claw foot in the search box of this blog. You will find more than a dozen articles. Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article. I’ll personally get back to you. It’s 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, having received 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.

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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

How to Create a Glamorous Bathroom

By Kerry Knight

You've seen them in the movies and on the real estate channel when they feature the beautiful homes. All the designer magazines showcase them and, of course, the do-it-yourself, flip-that-house type TV shows mention them as well. I’m talking about the centerpiece of any bathroom: the bathtub. The bathtub can make any bathro

om glamorous and beautiful.

English: Black and white tiles bathroom (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are many home improvement TV shows today that cover every decor

ating idea, from planting scrubs to installing kitchen cabinets. Millions of do-it-yourselfers (myself included) watch them and then pack into stores like Lowe's and Home Depot every weekend to buy supplies — all in our quest to become a custom designer. Then we invite friends and family over to see just how talented we are.

In the bathroom, there are many areas where we can get creative. How about beautiful tile floors or fresh paint? Or a skylight or glass block window?

However, if you neglect the real focal point of the bathroom, the bathtub, you’re missing the mark. The old style, 60-inch, slide-in metal tub, and the one piece shower surround, are both dated. Plus, they don't really show off anything or catch one’s eye in the bathroom. Strictly utilitarian.

Think about taking out your old battle-worn bathtub and replacing it with a real show piece. For example, a Double Slipper Tub, resting just below a huge picture window, or overlooking a panoramic view of the landscape outside. Imagine how peaceful and relaxing your bath time would be. These gorgeous tubs will make your bathroom a real focal point in your home. Consider having the outside of the tub painted in your choice of color, like candy apple red or midnight blue. The tub’s legs also come in an assortment of metallic finishes, such as chrome, oil rubbed bronze, white or brushed nickel. Imagine how beautiful your bathroom will be. Even more, imagine the serenity of bathing in that beautiful tub!

The free-standing Slipper Tubs tub don't require an abutment against the wall, where it’s lost or hidden. It can stand in right smack in the middle of the bathroom if you want. All that’s required is a little extension of your existing plumbing. And if there's room in the floor for water lines and drainage, it's not that difficult to manage.

Or, consider adding free-standing water supply lines that come out of the floor and drape over the edge of the tub, where a gorgeous brushed nickel faucet hangs with porcelain hot and cold caps inserted inside the cross point handles. Then add the English “telephone faucet,” which has the hand held shower sprayer. Now you really have a touch of class.

There are other exotic porcelain tubs, if you prefer, like the Single Slipper, which comes in various sizes, or the traditional Roll Top or Dual Ended Tub. Everyone has his or her own personal taste and needs. I suggest you visit a showroom like the one at Tub King, so you can see firsthand the beauty and elegance of the tubs. You’ll get a real sense of the look and feel, and I guarantee you’ll fall in love with one of these tubs.

While you're at it, think about taking out the old bath sink and replacing it with something Victorian-looking, like a pedestal or console sink. They come in many sizes and designs, but they all take you back to times when bathing was something truly special.

Now you're ready to consider the finishing touches of live plants, wall hangings and color. Add Victorian trim to the entryway, floorboards, windows and ceilings and finally, update the bathroom door to a multi-panel one to complete the look.

Remember, your new bathtub is the center piece. Once in place, everything else follows. When finished, your bathroom will not only be something you're proud of, it’s a functional sanctuary you can escape to wash the stress of the day away.

In this article, I have discussed how the bathtub is the center of focus in most designer bathrooms. These usually have Claw Foot Tubs, or a Slipper or Double Slipper Claw Foot Tub. Some will showcase the Roll Rope Claw Foot as the center of attention. Either way, using a claw foot tub is an easy way to add beauty and elegance to any bathroom. That’s why you see them in so many movies and in the homes of the stars.

Customer testimonial for Cast Iron tub

If you 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’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.

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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.