Vintage Clawfoot Bathtub Restoration: How to Reclaim Classic Style with Refinishing

Clawfoot bathtubs combine elegant style with sturdy construction, which is often diminished by their age and wear. Vintage clawfoot bathtub restoration aims to preserve the original look and restore their functionality.

There are not many items in a home that are more sturdy than a vintage clawfoot bathtub. If your home has one, then you are one of the lucky few. If not, you may be looking at acquiring one. Either way, there a few things that you should consider when you are looking to do a vintage clawfoot bathtub restoration. As some things can be DIY projects while other may be better left to professional bathtub refinishers.

• Inside and Outside: These freestanding tubs were unique for many years, since you were able to see the exposed underbelly of the bathtub. Most original clawfoot bathtubs did not have porcelain on the outside of the bathtub. When restoring a clawfoot tub, you will have the option of coating the outside of the tub to match the inside, or have the outside done in a different color, one that may match the décor of your room.

• Bathtub Feet: Most of these bathtubs come with four custom feet. Some resembling bird claws, others a lion paws and many with a less detailed stands. It is important to note that these feet are often not universal. So if you are looking at a tub that does not have the feet included, then you may be in for a challenge of finding ones that fit. These feet are often painted to match the outside of the bathtub but in some cases we may offer metal finishes for them.

• Faucet Locations: Most clawfoot bathtubs are intended to be completely free standing. So they often have a set of holes drilled through the top front side of the bathtub to mount the fixtures onto. If you do not intend to use these holes because your tub will be up against a wall, then we are able to seal them off for you if need be. If your bathtub already has the tub mounted faucets installed, then we usually need them removed before we can refinish the tub.

• Clawfoot Bathtub Damage: We have refinished some clawfoot tubs that were cast in the 1800's. Tub's that old often show their age by different kinds of damage. Chips, rusting or even water erosion. These types of damage are common on any type of bathtub. But depending on your level of expectation, we may need to take extra time to do a vintage clawfoot bathtub restoration. If you are wanting your tub to look as good as possible, then please be sure to tell us that up front.

• Current vs Final Bathtub Location: These clawfoot bathtubs can be extremely heavy. Some weighing around 500 lbs. So it is important to consider when and where to have the tub refinished. We typically recommend placing the bathtub in the room where it will be installed and having it refinished there before it is fully hooked up. But there are times where it is best to do the tub off site. But please note that any damage caused to the tub during transportation/installation, would not be covered under our warranty.

Why Restore a Clawfoot Bathtub Instead of Replacing It?

If you have a distressed clawfoot bathtub, you may be thinking that you would be better off replacing it. But there are some factors that you should strongly consider.

• Cost Of New Clawfoots: New clawfoot tubs range from $1,500 to over $5,000 depending on brand, quality and style. Where as restoring a vintage clawfoot bathtub with bathtub refinishing typically ranges between $700 and $1,700.

• Quality: Nothing beats the quality of the craftsmanship and materials in the vintage clawfoot tubs. They truly were built to last during an era where there was pride is ones craft.

• Eco-friendly Option: These tubs are so durable that unless they are melted down and recycled, they will sit in landfills for centuries. By choosing to restore your vintage clawfoot tub you will extend it's life in a functional and elegant way.

Common Issues in Vintage Tubs (Before Restoration)

Any tub that has been used for a decade or more will tend to have some issues. So you can imagine that a tub that is over a hundred years old may need a bit of work to restore it.

• Rust: Vintage clawfoot bathtubs are made with cast iron then with porcelain baked on. If the porcelain has worn down to the cast iron or if there was a chip, then the metal start to rust. We would sand down these areas and if need be, apply a rust inhibitor to the metal before building up the area to match the surrounding porcelain.

• Chips: While the porcelain is extremely durable, it can still be chipped if it hard enough or by a sharp object. These chips would need to be filled before continuing with the restoration.

• Cracks: While very uncommon in vintage claw foot tubs, they can still get cracks in the porcelain, especially if they were ever dropped. Any loose porcelain shard would be removed and filled while hairline cracks would be sealed to ensure that water will not soak in.

• Peeling: With tubs this old, is is quite common that they have been painted before. Any prior paint coats should be removed from the interior of a vintage clawfoot tub during the restoration process. If the outside of the tub was painted then it depends on what shape it is in. The outside of these tubs don't often get wet, so they don't necessarily require the same prepping as the inside. But if you are looking at the highest quality possible, then the outside may need to be reconditioned or possibly even sandblasted.

• Pitted or Rough Surface: Water is natures abrasive element. If it can cut through stone, then it can wear down anything man made. We often see vintage bathtubs that have deep grooves worn into the porcelain from years of use. These groves may not be very visible when the surface of the tub is dull and faded. But they become very noticeable when the porcelain surface has been restored to a bright glossy shine. So we may need to do some skim coat filling prior to refinishing.

• Staining: Over time, the porcelain surface can absorb minerals and chemicals. These contaminants can stain or discolor the surface. Fortunately our bathtub refinishing process covers over these unsightly stains leaving a fresh and clean finish.

How to Restore a Vintage Clawfoot Bathtub Step-By-Step

• Remove hardware: To get the best coating possible it is always recommended to remove the hardware. This includes faucets and drains.

• Prior Coat Removal: New coatings will not adhere well to old coatings, plus the peeling lines of the old coating may be visible though the new coating. So it is always recommended to remove any prior paint/refinishing coatings.

• Cleaning: Clean all loose dust and debris off the bathtub. Then do a deep cleaning of the entire surface that will be coated. The goal is a contaminant free surface with no soap scum, mildew or oils.

• Repairs: Fill any chips, deep scratches or pitting. Address any cracks in the surface. Sand down rusted areas and when possible, use a good quality rust inhibitor before filling in.

• Second Cleaning: When performing repairs there is likely to get some dust or other contaminants on the surface, be sure to remove this before you start to apply the refinishing material. Wiping the tub down with a clean tack cloth may help.

• Masking: Depending on the type of coating you intend to use, it is always good to protect the surrounding surfaces from any drips or overspray. Every minute you spend masking, can save you hours of cleaning later.

• Apply primer or bonding agent: Almost every coating has some initial bonding agent or primer that is used to prep the surface of the bathtub. Follow all manufacturer recommendations. This step is crucial in ensuring the best foundation for your coating, so take your time and do it right.

• Final Coating: Depending on the refinishing kit you are using, you will either spray on the final coat or pour it on. This is the stage were minor defects can easily happen which turn out to be major eyesores. So before you start to do the final coating, make sure you have everything you need close and have a steady hand. It is also recommend to clean out your spray gun prior to this stage to make sure there is no contaminants in the hoses or the gun.

Restoration vs. DIY: Should You Hire a Pro?

Some people may look at the total cost of a restoration and decide that they will try it themselves. From our experience there are very mixed results for this. If you have prior painting experience, especially in car painting, then you may have good success. But the lifespan of a refinishing coating and the final look always come down to two factors.

1. Quality of Materials

2. Labor

Most store bought refinishing kits are made with fairly low end products. Especially when compared to products supplied to professional residential refinishers. On the flip side, if you buy the best material you can get your hands on, but botch the application, you can be left with a very durable and very ugly bathtub. When you are wanting to restore your vintage bathtub, plan for the option that will give you the best look with the longest lifespan, just like the original craftsmen did.

Estimated Costs and Timeframe

If you are only looking to restore the inside of your vintage clawfoot bathtub, and it has been well maintained, then you can realistically plan for around $500-$700 to hire a professional bathtub refinisher. If you do it yourself, kits range from around $100 to $200 depending on the quality. Keep in mind you may need special tools or other masking products in addition to the kit.

If you are restoring the inside and outside of the clawfoot tub then the price will range on average from $700-$1,700. This large difference is mainly due to the surface prepping of the outside of the tub and how you want the feet to be done. Some people want the feet to be the same color as the rest of the tub. Others want them in a metal finish. We have even had the feet chrome and brass dipped before.

Timeframe ranges from a one day in home project, or two weeks+ turn around if we do the tub offsite.

Long Term Care Tips for a Restored Vintage Tub

• Cleaning: Best practice for cleaning is frequent gentle cleaning vs. a hard cleaning once a month. Avoid bleach based cleaners and anything with high concentration of acids or abrasive compounds.

• Keeping the Shine: The bathtub will eventually loose it's gloss. So you can use a polishing compound to restore it's shine. Just be careful as this will make the bathtub extremely slippery.

• Treat it With Respect: Imagine this tub is your car, the better you care for it, the longer it will last. So avoid dropping heavy or sharp objects in it. Clean it regularly. Do not use products that can stain it. If you follow these rules your refinished vintage clawfoot bathtub can easily last another decade before it may need to be done again.

Want to Get Started On Your Vintage Clawfoot Restoration?

Contact Us today to see how we can help you get the bathtub of your dreams! Not sure if we service your area? Check out our Locations to see if we can service you.