Bath tub suggestions?

longhorngal · #1 09/09/10, 03:02 PM

We will be completely redoing the bathroom soon-floor up with ceramic tiles and those heating elements under the tiles. I would really love one of those refinished claw foot tubs or we are thinking about a corner tub.
Anyone have pros and cons on either type of tub? No jacuzzi just a plain tub.

Jean in Virginia · #2 09/09/10, 03:50 PM

We have an old 5 foot long claw foot tub, and it is the BEST for long, hot soak.

It heats up like a giant heating pad, and then I take a nap.

If I could I would have a separate shower, but the tub is worth it.

bluefish · #3 09/09/10, 04:09 PM

Get a pedestal tub. That gives you all the pros of the clawfoot without having to clean under it.

Love mine!

NorthCountryWd · #4 09/09/10, 04:11 PM

Agree with the cast iron clawfoot. You can find them on craigslist and architectural salvage yards in decent shape.

Sparticle · #5 09/09/10, 04:45 PM

You can make your own tub to fit your body and have it contour anyway you like. Looks pretty cheap, easy and beautiful. I JUST scanned and emailed my friend a section out of book on it yesterday. If interested I can email you. It's only about 4 pages. Otherwise I'd go with claw foot tub too.

LonelyNorthwind · #6 09/09/10, 05:07 PM

I have a huge very old claw foot tub, at least 6 feet long behind the cabin. It's yours free if you can figure out how to get it (:
I have a smaller one I use and I love, love, love it. It stays warm forever.

Pelenaka · #7 09/09/10, 05:08 PM

If you were closer I have a 5' 1920's version parked on our trailer. Rescued from a bbgf latest house flip. They replaced it with a big shower. Apprently showers sell clawfoot tubs even with a shower not so much. It's around the 100 pound mark.
I had plans of dragging it to an architectural salvage yard for credit. But hubby & I can't seem to get a day off together that isn't spent on chores. Have listed it on Craig's for $75. Everyone who wanted it was a wife who's hubby said no to hauling & installing.
I have another one that was on the patio which I used as a poor man's hot tub. Place hot coals underneath on an old metal tray to keep water hot. Remember to keep the tray at the drain end. Or risk a boiled hot bum.

Sorry wandering train, to answer your question claw foot all the way. Corners are hard to clean and usually not as long or rather more expensive in the longer versions.

~~ pelenaka ~~
http://thirtyfivebyninety.blogspot.com/

Kmac15 · #8 09/09/10, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparticle

You can make your own tub to fit your body and have it contour anyway you like. Looks pretty cheap, easy and beautiful. I JUST scanned and emailed my friend a section out of book on it yesterday. If interested I can email you. It's only about 4 pages. Otherwise I'd go with claw foot tub too.

LINK..LINK

Joshie · #9 09/09/10, 05:18 PM

You can get new cast iron tubs. I love the look but... cleaning under them can be next to impossible.

meanwhile · #10 09/09/10, 06:48 PM

We have an old Claw Foot and love it. Ours had feet that were out of whack and we had to set a few bricks under one side to keep it level - but other than the wobbly feet - it is great.

RebelDigger · #11 09/09/10, 07:12 PM

Another vote for claw foot, love mine, but you will want a seperate shower.

strawhouse · #12 09/09/10, 09:17 PM

I worked as a designer for 6 years..... kitchen and baths were my specialty.
Clawfoot pros: looks great, can get new acrylic or old cast iron, can paint the outside of the tub to match.
cons: suck if you want a shower in it as well. curtain rods, proper faucets are expensive.
waste/overflow parts, supply lines and faucets for tub only can be quite costly as well.(almost as much as buying the tub)

Corner tub pros: fits standard faucets, some like the looks of corner tubs. (great if it's under a corner window with a view!)
cons: takes up a huge amount of space, but the tub is the same size as a 5' stanard tub. (I have had many customers call me to redesign their bathroom that was renovated only a few years ago with a corner tub in it. They all want it gone.) No shower option.

Good Luck!!

longhorngal · #13 09/09/10, 10:13 PM

Thanks for the input! I told one of my daughters I wanted a claw foot tub and the first thing she said was it would be hard to clean under it and she's only 15! I saw one on Craigs List today-refinished-really nice. I was reading somewhere they could leech out lead if not finished properly?!

I'm not wanting the corner tub so much but DH is. I thought maybe with a tile buildup around it might look nice.
I do like the look of the pedestal tubs.
Sparticle-there's 5 still at home might have to wait on that contour tub idea!

oz in SC V2.0 · #14 09/09/10, 11:04 PM

We used a galvanised stock tank,six feet long,two feet deep and quite comfortable...

Talk a little work by the contractor but not too much.

longhorngal · #15 09/10/10, 07:02 AM

Oh my gosh, Oz, I thought you were just kidding til I look at your blog. Cool! But I don't think DH will go for it. I'm sending him a link to it anyway!

tamsam · #16 09/10/10, 07:20 AM

I don't know for sure but if your floor is wood you may want to do some checking about the weight of the claw tub on the ceramic tile. I would hate for it to break on you. Keep us posted and good luck. Sam

Sparticle · #17 09/10/10, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmac15

LINK..LINK

sorry there is no link. Just a few old copies from an earthship book. I can email the pages to you if you want.

bluefish · #18 09/10/10, 08:34 AM

http://www.durafinish.net/pages/stor...ack&returnURL=

This is what I have, only mine is old. Like I said, all the advantages of a clawfoot without the cleaning underneath it.

The Paw · #19 09/10/10, 08:42 AM

I redid our bathroom in our old house and used an old clawfoot, which I loved.

I had the interior finish re-done by a company, and I took the feet off and had them chromed at an autoshop, it looked real cool.

The only drawback was that I also laid the floor tile myself, and it wasn't dead level, so I had to shim under one of the tub legs to keep it from rocking. Fortunately, I could shim the back leg, so you couldn't really see the shim.

longhorngal · #20 09/10/10, 10:17 AM

thermopkt-that is a really nice tub.
I don't know about the whole floor thing. I don't believe it's on a slab. Our house is 90 years old and I know part is over the basement but the bathroom was added on in the 50's so I'm not sure about what's under it. DH is out of town so I will have to ask him later. Good point about breaking the ceramic tile.