good morning.
the claw foot tub in our house is old and in need of help. there is one company in our area that refinishes these at a cost of 700. i have to deliver it and pick it back up.the reglazing comes with a 10 year warranty. i have seen fiberglass and acrylic claw foot tubs for around 700. does anyone have any experience with them? how do they look, how long do they last? got to like that they are lighter and easier to manuver into the house. thanks. paul.
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I'm not too fond of the appearance of fiberglass and acrylic claw foot tubs but then I am a strong purist in the appearances of restored things. So I am of no use for you there.
I do know that I would be very careful about "refinishing" an old iron tub. Unless that $700 is going to get you a tub heated in an oven with the glass type glaze melted onto it I would not have it done. Most refinishing is done with very soft materials and the end product is not durable. It'll even scratch with cleanser.
thanks ed. they told me that we would have to be careful with the new surface..abrasive cleansers can not be used. leads me to believe it is the softer materials you mention and not oven baked. good question to ask, thanks. paul.
The refinish jobs I've seen looked pretty bad. Maybe I'm too picky but Its never going to look like the original factory finish. There's the only gaurantee that worth anything.
Locally I hear $4-500 an epoxy coated cast iron claw foot that is in good condition. More $$ for each ding repair.
I'm a purist too............fiberglass looks and feels just like it is====>synthetic!
...............Iron Helix
That sounds high. Shop around for something in the $400 -$500 range. Make sure it is an established business with an address and a track record. Check the BBB. The refinishing of these tubs has always invited scamsters. As the prices go up, it is wise to do your homework. The weakness on most of these jobs is in the drain area. If they do not properly clean that down to the metal, you are guaranteed to have a problem.