Clawfoot tub refinishing
By erik_ote on Dec 29, 2011 in Advice
My wife and I have been throwing around the idea of a bathroom remodel. I’ve been on the hunt for a clawfoot tub that won’t break the bank and I think I’ve found one. Of course, I’ll need to inspect it personally with my “keen” sense of quality, but if all goes well, I may very well buy it. The photo and description indicate a need for refinishing. I’m wondering if anyone around Duluth has tackled this on their own and has some advice on a budget friendly solution or if anyone has had a local company refinish one for them (prices?). Any other advice or warnings would be great as well. Thanks!
I have used the DIY kits and you can achieve decent results if you do the proper preparation and carefully follow the instructions. It is tedious job, smells and takes a while to cure. I have also used a professional service, though more expensive, it is the way to go, the results are much better and more durable. I cannot remember their name but it was in the yellow pages several years ago.
I bought my clawfoot tub from John McCarthy of Architectural Antiques in Two Harbors. Last time I was there (3 months ago) John had several tubs for sale.
I had mine refinished by Surface Specialists, located in Wrenshall (http://www.surfacespecialists.com/WrenshallMN.htm). I think it cost around $700, and they did a great job. Just a guy working out of his garage, but he knows what he is doing.
Good luck with the project.
Tony,
Was that to refinish both the interior & exterior of the tub? I’m thinking I can do the work on the exterior and probably the feet, but I don’t have the ability to refinish the interior of the tub.
Inside and out, and even the feet. (Inside white, outside black, feet kind of a coppery-bronze.)
If I’d have purchased a refurbished tub, it may well have cost over $2K. The money saved helped buy a very nice faucet for it.
Can’t say enough about the people from Wrenshall. We had our cast iron tub refurbished over 6 years ago and are very happy with the final product. Unless things have changed since then the only thing we didn’t like were the fumes that took a day or two to dissipate. But once the fumes were gone the final product was awesome.
Don’t you have to re start something before you can re finish it?
My wife and I used the Wrenshall people as well and we were very pleased with the results. Another plus 1 from us.