9/19/2017

Get A Bathtub Resurface Before Tossing Out A Gem

By Betty Brown


Anyone with dreams of owning an old farmhouse and turning this money pit into a palace may run across an old claw-foot porcelain tub. For some years, these were mistakenly regarded as an eyesore, and literally thrown into the dump where they are lost forever. The truth is, getting a bathtub resurface can bring such gems back from the dead, and preserve an antique.

Porcelain tubs used to be the standard in all construction, going back to the days before most people had running water. During the 1970s and 1980s, porcelain was replaced by acrylic and fiberglass. There were some benefits to this change, one of which is that old houses with porcelain tubs are highly valued items within a home now.

One reason that porcelain tubs were replaced was due to the weight of the cast iron underneath. This is a particular issue for second-story bathrooms where the chances of sagging or even falling through was much greater due to this weight. Mobile homes were the first to introduce the acrylic tubs, but also the first to make them garden tubs in glamour baths.

These days people often shower most often, and some see no sense in owning tubs at all. Newer houses often have only one tub, even if there are two ore more full bathrooms built on the house. When apartment shopping, it is an item that must be inquired upon, as one who does appreciate a hot bath may be very disappointed with having only a small shower.

With home improvement being a popular concept, many people will replace these old tubs and sinks with acrylic Jacuzzi tubs. In fact, getting a kit that fits over an existing tub/shower combination just might save a lot on a refurbishing budget. With this push to make everything new, many of these antique tubs have been tossed, left in the yard, or otherwise forgotten.

If you own a home built in the 1960s or prior, then you just might have one of these claw-footed gems. Rather than throwing it out, you can easily purchase a kit which resurfaces the porcelain, making it smooth and beautiful again. This is a much better plan for a home accent that is quickly becoming a thing of the past, and at the very least is a valuable antique.

If the tub is extremely rare and worthy, one can have it refurbished by the pros. They will sandblast the surface inside and out, and create a whole new coating that just might rival the beauty of the original. While the old-style of baking on the porcelain is no longer used, there are still composite materials which are being used to make these tubs look like they are covered in marble.

Anyone guilty of throwing out one of these gems is probably regretting that decision now. A simple Internet search easily reveals that these old washtubs are going for thousands of dollars now. Should your refurbishing project not include keeping the old tub, then you may find an eager group of antique collectors online, ready to take it off your hands.




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