Clawfoot Tub Refinishing and Repair

Probably the first question one should ask about clawfoot tub refinishing is "Is it worth it?" A high-quality restoration of a vintage tub will likely cost you at least as much as a new clawfoot tub. With so many new (and often much lighter) clawfoot tubs available in vintage styles, the cost and bother may outweigh the benefits of owning an antique clawfoot tub. But if your heart is set on restoration, here are some tips on the best ways to proceed.

Inside and out

Clawfoot tub refinishing can be a simple or difficult do-it-yourself job, depending on whether it's the tub interior or exterior that requires restoration (or both, of course). If it's the exterior, it will be a very time-consuming task, but also one that you can do on your own at a low cost.

Professional refinishing of a clawfoot's exterior involves sandblasting, followed by application of a rust-inhibiting primer. For a DIY task, go with a medium-coarse sandpaper (e.g., 80 grit). An important safety tip: if you're removing paint from an old clawfoot, buy a test kit to make sure that it's not lead-based paint; if it is, then DIY is not recommended.

After sanding is done (and that's easier said than done), apply a primer and a couple of coats of oil-based paint.

Tub interiors are a different matter. Clawfoot tub refinishing kits are available for adding a spray-on finish, but this is not a durable solution. Professional refinishing is best for the porcelain enamel powder coating of clawfoot interiors, and also less expensive than exterior refinishing - probably about half the cost of buying a new tub.

Clawfoot tub repair

The difficulty of repairing a cast iron clawfoot tub is one of the major reasons why contemporary homeowners often prefer acrylic clawfoot tubs. The hard porcelain enamel interior finish of a cast iron clawfoot tub is resistant to scratching - but if it is scratched, it may be difficult to repair with a perfect color match.

Cast iron clawfoot tubs can also be damaged by chipping. In cases of either scratching or chipping, DIY repair can be attempted using clawfoot tub repair kits.

An acrylic clawfoot tub is easier to scratch than a cast iron one, but the plus side of acrylic is that it's highly unlikely to chip, and any scratches that do occur can usually be buffed out rather easily.