Clawfoot Tub Faucets and Fixtures

By Jose Sanborn

An important part of vintage and clawfoot style bathtubs are the fixtures attached to it. This article describes how the right clawfoot tub faucets and fixtures can turn your antique bath tub into the beautiful bathroom centerpiece it was designed to be.

Clawfoot tub faucets must generally be selected to match the type of tub you have or are going to buy. Many of the antique type tubs are not fitted with predrilled holes for attaching faucets, so you will need to drill holes in the tub or buy a faucet that can be attached to the wall or floor.

With today's modern manufacturing technology, we can now buy tubs which are antique replicas but fortunately cost much less than the real deal--assuming of course that you could even find a real antique tub. The advantage of these vintage tubs is that they can be manufactured with the holes already drilled to accept whatever style of faucet you desire. Tubs with predrilled holes are known as "deck" or "rim-fitted tubs.

If you are fortunate enough to have a true antique or vintage clawfoot bathtub, it is highly recommend that the replacement fixture you select be one that is very similar to what was already on the tub. The reason for this is simple; if the faucet was attached as a rim-fitted fixture for a freestanding tub, you need to replace it with a faucet that can also be mounted in the existing holes. If you do not, you will be left with unsightly holes and a potential leakage problem. As the centerpiece of your bathroom, you want it to look like the beautiful bathroom centerpiece it was designed to be.

Modern clawfoot tubs are manufactured to accept various faucet designs, including two separate taps and handheld shower attachment. This is a nice feature to have if you like to wash your hair in the tub or rinse your body when you get out. A separate shower fixture can also be used, but you will need to set up a shower ring so you can wrap a shower curtain around the tub and fitting.

There are a number of lovely finishes that are available for your antique clawfoot or vintage tub faucet. What you choose is entirely up to you. Finish options include polished and dull chrome and nickel, antique bronze, brass, stainless steel and even copper. Many designs will be available in all these finishes; just check with your supplier. You may even find a real antique faucet on eBay or in an antique store, but be sure to check with your plumber first to see if it will be practical for your tub.

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