Clawfoot tub shower enclosure

A clawfoot tub can look really elegant and make your bathroom dazzle, if you’re thinking about changing your bathtub or are completely revamping your bathroom you may already have considered one of these tubs. If you have expressed an interest in these tubs and have started doing your research you may have discovered that quality information regarding these products can be really hard to come by, this is why I’ve written this article, to help out all of those home owners who  really don’t have enough information on which to form a sound decision.

If you’re considering purchasing an antique clawfoot tub to give your bathroom a little more character there are a few things you will need to consider first. These units are made out of cast iron; this makes them very heavy and easily chipped. Acrylic clawfoot tubs on the other hand are credited by many experts as ‘better than the real thing’, not only do they look the same, but because acrylic is used instead of cast-iron, these tubs tend to be much warmer during colder months, they are much lighter too which comes in handy when having them installed and if you do happen to chip or scratch them these little dints can be smoothed out rather easily.

Many people decide that they would like to install a shower onto one of these tubs, if you fall into this category you’re in luck; packages are available for you to install shower enclosures onto an existing clawfoot tub. This is great because it saves you having to buy a new bath tub just because you want a shower but have nowhere to fit it in your bathroom.

A clawfoot tub wall shower enclosure is by far the most popular type on the market; in this case the enclosure is actually attached to the wall of your bathroom. Many of these models are much sturdier than most other alternatives.

Rim mounted shower enclosures are another favourite, if you’re very tall or find that you don’t have much room within your shower to move, these are the perfect solution for you because the tap (faucet) doesn’t stick out. When buying this type of enclosure you’re advised to pay particular attention to the manner in which the rim mountings are attached to the tub, these will most commonly be found at the end, but occasionally are fitted to the side of the tub too.

A free standing clawfoot tub shower enclosure is the least common and you’ll be lucky if you see one at all. These are might be a favourite amongst home owners who are on a bigger budget, they cost a fair bit more but they look much better than the aforementioned alternatives and they are little more spacious too. A common complaint many people have with clawfoot tub showers is that there can be fairly limited space to move around in, free standing enclosures are the exception to this rule.

As a final note, readers are advised to consider the size of the tub they buy carefully and ensure that you have enough bathroom space to facilitate it. Clawfoot tubs can vary between 48 and 72 inches so you have a considerable amount of different sizes to choose from.