Is a Used Clawfoot Tub a Good Idea?

There is nothing quite like having a Clawfoot bathtub in your home, both for the convenience and comfort that it provides along with the fact that it typically adds a vintage look that is unavailable in any other type of tub. The unfortunate thing is a newly manufactured or even an antique clawfoot bathtub can run into thousands of dollars in most cases. That is why many people are looking for a used Clawfoot tub, one that will be exactly what they need but will not necessarily cost them an arm and a leg to obtain.

Finding a used Clawfoot tub is not really that difficult, but finding one that is exactly what you need may require a little bit of footwork on your part. The first place that you can look is on some of the websites which specialize in antique and slipper clawfoot tubs and you would probably be surprised with the variety that you will find there. It is not difficult to find one of these antiques, particularly if it is the standard 60 inch tub that was so popular many years ago. There are also some more unique pieces which may cost a little more money, but can add additional flair to this area of your home.

Of course, you may not be in the market for an antique and are simply looking for a used Clawfoot tub, regardless of whether it is old or new. If that is the case, something that you may want to keep in mind is the type of material that the tub is made out of. Since you will be moving the entire tub assembled from one place to the other, the weight of the tub is certainly something that is of concern. Cast-iron, although durable is extremely heavy and can make the moving process rather difficult. An acrylic tub, on the other hand, is almost equally as strong but very light in comparison.

Choosing acrylic clawfoot tubs can make any Clawfoot bathtub restoration that is done much easier, but there are other advantages to acrylic as well. These tubs are not only easy to move, they are easy to maintain and the color can easily be changed in order to fit in with your existing decor. This is something that is commonly taken care of by a professional, however, as the fumes from the acrylic paint can be quite overwhelming. Fortunately, it is not overly expensive to take care of this and you can usually find someone who will paint your tub in your local area for under $200.

There is nothing quite like having a Clawfoot tub in your bathroom and soaking in the tub will make it worth all the effort that it took to put the tub in place. By choosing a used Clawfoot tub, you can save yourself some money and have the tub put into place without any assembly, other than attaching it to the existing plumbing. That is about as easy as it gets.