I replaced my mostly galvanized and minimal copper supply pipes throughout the house. In the course of replacing what was not salvagable, I have found that a new faucet for our tub is on the order of $300 +, plus the shower extension and curtain ring. The cheapest that I’ve found the entire package is somewhere around $800!
Anyone know of a good online source for this stuff where I can get it for less than $500? The limitations are:
1. Supply pipes come from the floor and are exposed.
2. No holes in the tub for valve handles – so it is a floor mount.
3. Wife has design approval (i.e., homemade w/ copper & brass not an option)
4. Prefer something that will match the bathroom – chrome w/ porcelain handles.
Replies
sounds like a steal to me. I put something similar in my house during a bathroom remodel and paid well over $2000 for the faucet, drain, shower extension and curtain ring.
If you think about it, it really is a good deal, these items are generally very well made and will certainly outlast the bathroom.
Custom Cabinetry and Furniture
http://www.BartlettWoodworking.com
I've seen some vintage British units for big bucks, $500 is a tight figure but something on this site might fit your budget.
http://www.vintagetub.com/asp/tub_showers.asp
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
You may - just may - be able tp find stuff like that on "freecycle" , an internet-based resource for discarded but salvagable stuff. Matter of fact it's probably worth making their connection for anything you are lokely to want or give away...
cheers
***I'm a contractor - but I'm trying to go straight!***
I lost all my bookmarks when I got my new laptop, but I used a couple of different places for bathroom fixtures like this. One manufacturerer, I think, is 'Sign of the Crab'. Check out the Old House Journal web site under resources,
http://www.oldhousejournal.com/restoration_directory/rd_home.shtml
And shop around. But if you can get everything (supply pipes, shutoff valves, tub fill, shower riser, shower head, shower ring) for $800, you are doing well. (I spent $400 on a shower head) Be sure to get everything from the same source to make sure it fits together. And you will want the nice supply pipes with nice shut-offs. I didn't at first and I regretted it later. I forget what my exposed shower riser cost me, but the round ring was $300 by itself.
I think one place is Shop4Classics or something like that.
Or you might get lucky at a salvage facility if you are near one. Won't be as nice, but might do for the time being.
Be sure the spout of your tub fill stays above the overflow drain, or else you will have to install an anti-siphon device. And if you have a hand held unit also, it will need a vacuum breaker.
I don't want to put a wrench in the works, but your budget is way off. Go on line and see what these things cost. They break my beer budget! Luck.
One of my groomsmen basically runs one of the local plumbing supply parts departments, so I'm able to get some stuff at pretty steep discounts. Still, it's going to be about $800+. Hard to believe, for what seems to be pretty simple hardward - especially considering you could get some engines for that price.
I am in the plumbing trade and I pucker when I see the invoice for the parts I put in on a daily basis. Your best bet is search the web and see if their prices are close, if thay are, thats the world you are stuck in. The only one I can think of is Renovators Supply.They carry a lot of old style plumbing. I don't know their web site. I'm sure there are hundreds of sites out there. LOTS OF LUCK.
In my parents house we redid the claw tub and Dad had the taps re chromed.
For the supply lines I took regular copper pipes and shined them up then laquered them. Using compression fittings so as to not have to heat them up. 8 years later they are still a nice copper color with no green corrosion marks. Even with condensation from the cold water.
"Sir! You are drunk!"
"Madam! You are ugly, and tomorrow I shall be sober!!" Winston Churchill
You may want to check out Sunrise Specialties. Their stuff looks good, they are one of the few who still do polished nickel, and pricewise it's reasonable. Still, $800 is pretty good. Where $$$ is no object, Perrin & Rowe makes gorgeous stuff.
Check out Clawfootsupply.com -- they have a wide range of product including some that are in your price range.
Thanks Brian-
That's a pretty good site - a lot more organized than the other ones I've found.
I ended up ordering from my friend's place. American Bath Factory, 240 model. I still can't believe how expensive they are, but we're getting about 30-40% off retail.
The factory is recommending not installing the freestanding shower on the faucet since it is a floor mount model. They say it will void the warranty. I'm ordering a couple of extra support rods to attach to the walls to give it some ridgidity.
Thanks again to everyone for the comments & suggestions-
Lew