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May 21, 2009
Tile & Clawfoot Tub
We have two bathrooms with claw foot tubs and are trying to figure out the best way of waterproofing/modernizing the bathroom, while keeping the claw foot tub. We can install a shower body so that there shower head is high and vertically above the tub spout, etc, but what should we do along the wall around the tub? Obviously we need a circular shower curtain. But tile the whole thing? Expose the brick wall on one side of it and put glass over it, abutting with some tiled portion of it? Tile with a marble/ceramic shelf that overhands a little over the tub lip so that less water gets down around the tub?
What have others done with their claw foots?
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Thekla
Comments
Color me crazy, but way back I built a wood 3-sided ring like thing that was attached to the wall (tub was in an alcove) and followed the contours of the tub; it acted as a water collector and drained back into the tub. Intended to tile it but that was beyond my DIY. I wonder if that would both work and look good if a real craftsman made it? You would see the entire tub from the room side. Then you'd only need a standard shower curtain.
Posted by: cmu at May 21, 2009 4:57 PM
We put our tub against an already exposed/sealed brick wall. The only problem we have is where the curtains meet at the spout. In retrospect, we should have tiled behind that.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/castleandkeep/2050378183/in/set-72157594378041657/
Posted by: rh at May 21, 2009 5:31 PM
Hi Thelka - Ultimately any non waterproof surface adjacent to a clawfoot tub will decay. Both ceramic or stone tile and glass are reasonable solutions. Wood panneling is popular and attractive, but is ultimately a poor choice.
Laying glass over an exposed brick wall is a cool idea, but I have seen situations in which dust, debris and even mold formed behind the glass making it very unattractive. Removing the glass later can be a very expensive proposition.
A shelf or other projection may help channel water into the tub, but be careful, it also may prove dangerous (head banging, shin barking) as well as tempting for little ones to climb on (always a bad idea in a wet environment.)
I have seen a few installations in which a stone (or other solid material like Corian or Siletone) has been cut to shape and follows the curve around much of the tub. This creates an interesting "built-in" feel and does prevent much of the problem of those drips down the wall. Still it has to be done sensitively and well to be a good idea. It can easily wind up looking weird or contrived. Probably at minimum a $1500 and up price tag.
One of the most important considerations (and one often forgotten until it is too late) is how you are going to CLEAN around the tub? Standing water does the most damage. Try hard to leave enough clearance at the ends of the tub for a mop as spillage is truly inevitable.
Hope that helps.
Posted by: WRArchitect at May 21, 2009 6:15 PM
We have a tiled wall along the tub, but water still seeps around and down (leaked into the apartment below). We didn't re-do the bathroom so I don't know what the options were for the previous owners.
To combat the leakage we actually have 3 shower curtains. 1 along the wall and 2 wrapping around the sides. Not the prettiest look but not awful either (and it only cast $1.79 each ;) )
Posted by: christopher at May 21, 2009 7:14 PM
We tiled the wall behind the tub up to about 5'. We have 3 shower curtains, too...we've got the washable nylon kind that doesn't look terrible. We have a D-shaped curtain rod that anchors into the wall, and into the ceiling.
If I had more time, I'd go without a shower curtain and just take baths with a spray attachement for rinsing...
I have a squeegee with a sponge on one side with a long wooden handle. I just swipe it behind the tub to pick up water.
Posted by: Bolder at May 21, 2009 11:00 PM
We've been using a D-shaped rod and three curtains for many years--it works fine.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at May 21, 2009 11:42 PM
Yeah, what about three curtains and sealed sheet linoleum floors?
Posted by: mopar at May 21, 2009 11:57 PM
Mopar,
With three curtains inside the tub no water will get on the floor.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at May 22, 2009 9:06 AM
Thanks for all your thoughts. I guess what I was concerned about is trying to preserve the look of the tub (without doing a built in wall area around it), but at the same time protecting against water. Sounds like the best option is shower curtains with some combo of tiling.
I really like the idea of exposed brick with glass over it, but I was also concerned about how to keep it clean. It would have to be far away from the wall so that you could clean it with at least a long pole, which then may make it look weird.
RH, I really like your bathroom and all your reno pics, thanks!
Posted by: theklahy at May 22, 2009 9:45 AM
Thanks, Bob. I am actually very relieved to hear that.
Posted by: mopar at May 23, 2009 5:28 PM
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