What Items Do I Need For A Complete Tub Installation?
What Are The Differences Between Original, Refinished, And Reproduction Items?
What Are The Differences Between Deck, Wall-Mounted, And Free-Standing Faucets?
What is the difference between Vintage Tub & Bath’s cast iron clawfoot tubs and acrylic clawfoot tubs?
What do the terms "On-Center" and "Faucet Drilling Sizes" Mean In Relation To A Clawfoot Tub?
What Is The Difference Between Chrome And Polished Nickel Finishes?
What are the differences between original, refinished, and reproduction merchandise?
Original merchandise, as the name implies, are vintage items that are in original condition and are still fit for use. They may show some signs of wear (e.g., the porcelain on a tub might be a bit dull) or have some minor work done (e.g., new washers inside a vintage faucet). Overall, however, these items are in very good or better condition. Refinished items are those vintage pieces that need a complete overhaul to be made fit for use. The cleaning and painting of a vintage tub is a prime example. Reproduction merchandise (like new clawfoot tubs and faucets) are brand new items that are made to look and work like vintage items. 
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After I install one of your clawfoot tubs and faucet sets, will my bathroom pass a plumbing code inspection?
The simple, but unsatisfactory, answer is: “Definitely maybe.” The problem is that there is no single uniform plumbing code for the United States. Every state, county, city and town has the right to define and enforce their codes as they see fit. Needless to say, this lack of a uniform plumbing code causes a great deal of confusion and frustration. If you have a specific question about your installation, consult with a QUALIFIED plumber and/or call your local code enforcement office for guidance. For more on this topic, click here.
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How do you install a pedestal sink?
Although every sink is slightly different, a great set of general installation instructions can be found on the This Old House Online Web Site (Just Click Here).
Top of page How do you install just about any other bathroom item?
Although every situation is different (and we do recommend that only licensed professionals install the products we sell), detailed sets of general installation instructions for toilets, sinks, tubs and other bathroom items can be found at DoItYourself.com (Click Here).
Top of page Do you install the merchandise you sell?
We do not install the items we sell because of state and local permit requirements. We will, however, help clear up any installation difficulties should they arise. We can provide your plumber with verbal or drawn mounting, installation, or rough-in instructions for just about everything we sell.
Top of page Do you ever sell at a discount?
We routinely discount our items 20%-40% from the manufacturer's suggested list price. You can also check out our auction listings on eBay - we sell all of our customer returns there at a very deep discount. Click here to view our listings on eBay.
Top of page What is my vintage claw foot tub worth and is Vintage Tub & Bath interested in purchasing it?
Different tubs have different values depending on style, condition, location of the tub, etc. Vintage Tub & Bath no longer purchases vintage tubs or sinks, and we are not able to provide appraisals of your tub.
You can call local antique dealers and scrap yards to see if they are interested in your tub. You might try listing it for sale in your local paper, a classified advertisement magazine (like the Paper Shop in Pennsylvania), or an online auction like eBay.
You can get an idea of what tubs are worth by searching for “clawfoot tub” or “claw foot tub” on the eBay Completed Auctions site. If you want to get the most for it, we would recommend that you clean the tub as best you can before offering it for sale. Instructions on cleaning your tub appear below.
Top of page How do I clean my tub?
All liquid detergent soaps (Palmolive, Dawn, etc.) and all spray cleaners for kitchen and bathroom surfaces commonly available (409, Lysol Kitchen cleaner, Fantastik, etc.) are fine for everyday tub cleaning uses. Bon Ami (my favorite) and Spic and Span (properly diluted) are fine for use in our clawfoot tubs (for tougher stains, not best for common use).
Top of page How do I get rid of rust stains on my Porcelain tub?
This answer is for PORCELAIN TUBS only - do NOT use this cleaning method on a refinished tub. Surface rust should come off with a mild cleaner. You can use more abrasive cleaners like Bon Ami or ZUD for tougher surface stains. For rust that has come through the porcelain, we recommend rubbing the problem area with a damp terry cloth using a solution of 1 part muriatic acid to 1 part water. Muriatic acid is available at most hardware stores. Remember: always add the acid to water, never add water to acid. Wear clothing that covers exposed skin areas. Use gauntlet-style acid-resistant gloves and eye protection. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SAFE HANDLING AND DISPOSAL OF MURIATIC ACID. The acid/water solution will start to dissolve the rust as well as a bit of the porcelain. When the rust is gone, apply baking soda to the area to stop the reaction, wash the area with soap and water, and dry. Then prime the exposed cast iron with a metal primer and paint with a waterproof epoxy paint (like Krylon).
Top of page What items do I need for a complete tub installation?
Most tub installations require four elements: a clawfoot tub, a faucet or shower enclosure, supply lines to feed water to the faucet, and a drain to remove the water from the tub. Start by looking at our tubs – every new tub we sell has links for the faucets and drains they require. Most of our faucet listings, in turn, have links that will take you to the supply lines that feed that particular faucet.
Top of page What is the difference between deck-mounted, wall-mounted, and free-standing faucets?
Wall-mounted faucets fit in the wall (or side) of the tub, deck-mounted faucets fit on the lip (or rim) of a tub, and free-standing faucets stand on their supply lines – they do not mount to the tub at all.
Top of page How do you install tub feet on a new cast iron leg tub?
CLICK HERE for printable tub foot installation instructions.
Top of page Do the feet come off of your tubs?
Yes, all of our new tubs and almost all of the vintage tubs have removable feet. Most of the new cast iron tubs and vintage tubs are delivered with the feet removed for installation on site. New Acrylic tubs and some of our Vintage Tub & Bath brand tubs are delivered with the feet attached already.
Top of page What is the difference between Vintage Tub & Bath’s cast iron clawfoot tubs and acrylic clawfoot tubs?
If made well, both acrylic and cast iron clawfoot tubs will serve you well for decades. However, acrylic clawfoot tubs and cast iron clawfoot tubs are indeed quite different physically. As a result, each type has its own pros and cons. For instance, an acrylic clawfoot tub interior surface is much easier to scratch than the extremely hard porcelain glass interior surface of a cast iron clawfoot tub, so an acrylic will typically lose its shine and luster well before a cast iron clawfoot tub does. However, such scratches in an acrylic surface can be more easily repaired by sanding and polishing methods than a similarly scratched porcelain enamel tub.
The porcelain surface on a cast iron clawfoot tub is usually easier to keep extremely clean as compared to an acrylic surface because of its superior hardness and scratch-resistance, but acrylic surfaces are also wonderfully suited for sanitaryware use and are also quite easy to keep very clean. Acrylic tubs usually weigh less than a similar size cast iron tub, which makes for easier movement and installation. However, their light weight also makes them easier than a cast iron clawfoot tub to bump out of place after installation if not anchored to the floor. Such movement can scratch the floor and bend attached plumbing components.
Acrylic clawfoot tubs are usually a better insulator against heat transmission than cast iron clawfoot tubs, although once heated a cast iron tub will have a much greater thermal mass than an acrylic tub. This fact is what would cause an acrylic clawfoot tub to feel warmer to the touch than a cast iron tub if they were both empty at room temperature. It is also the reason why so many people will say that cast iron tubs seem to “hold the heat” so much better.
Cast iron clawfoot tubs have a more substantial “feel” and sound to them than do lighter acrylics, and usually appear more historically authentic to the eye than do acrylic clawfoot tubs. However, acrylics are usually better suited for use where more modern features like whirlpool jets are desired as a feature with the tub. A cast iron clawfoot tub is usually perceived as “stronger” than an acrylic clawfoot tub, and indeed most iron is stronger than most acrylic. But it is probably more useful to say that a cast iron clawfoot tub is simply different in terms of strength than an acrylic clawfoot tub. Both types of clawfoot tub will crack, shatter or otherwise break if sufficiently exposed to the kind of forces it can not tolerate just like any other object. But any clawfoot tub buyer should be advised that significant characteristics like resistance to blunt force, thermal shock, acid and alkali vary widely between acrylic and cast iron tubs, and between different manufacturers of both. In the end, almost all leading or recognized brand-name acrylic and cast iron clawfoot tubs of quality will serve you well for decades; which type you should purchase is mostly a matter of personal preference.
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Can you repair a refinished tub?
We have a kit that we can send you for $19 plus shipping that will repair minor scratches on your refinished tub.
Top of page Can I drill the faucet holes on my own tub?
We strongly recommend that you do NOT attempt to drill holes in any cast iron tub. You can easily shatter the porcelain on a new tub and damage the finish on a refinished tub. Drilling your own tub also voids all of the warranties associated with the tub.
Top of page What do the terms "on-center," "faucet drillings," or "tub drilling centers" mean in relation to a clawfoot tub?
Tub faucet drillings are measured from the center of one drilling (hole) to the center of the other drilling (hole). You need to make certain that the faucet (or shower enclosure) you purchase matches the drillings in the tub you select. CLICK HERE to see an image showing exactly what we mean.
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What is the difference between chrome and polished nickel finishes?
Chrome reflects cool colors while polished nickel reflects warmer colors.
Top of page Do we ship internationally?
Yes, we ship tubs and faucets all over the world. Call us toll free at 877.868.1369 or e-mail us for more details.
Top of page Vintage Tub & Bath does not have the item I am looking for. What other firms sell vintage items?
If we don't have what you are looking for we recommend checking out OLDE GOOD THINGS. They have warehouses in New York City and Scranton, PA with mountains of vintage items to choose from. Irreplaceable Artifacts and Urban Archeology (212.431.4646) are two more substantial resources in New York City. In Virginia, you can contact the folks at Black Dog Salvage - their site is well organized and they have a lot to choose from. You can also check out StartRemodeling.com for more links to other home improvement sites or TapDirect.com for tips on saving time and money on your bathroom project. A commercial serch engine you should look at is Comparos. Looking for a home? Let Reals.com - the comprehensive real estate directory - give you a hand. If you know a business that deals with vintage bath items, feel free to e-mail us with their link.
Top of page What is the Privacy Policy at Vintage Tub and Bath?
Vintage Tub & Bath does not sell, rent, or give any of the information you provide us to any person, business, or organization. The information we gather is only used to process your order and contact you if there are questions. We do not send unsolicited e-mail (i.e., “spam”). Should you ever get an unsolicited e-mail from us, please contact us and we will take care of the problem immediately.
Any questions or concerns about this policy should be addressed to the General Manager. You can contact Allan toll-free at 877.868.1369, e-mail at allanvtb@ptd.net, or fax at 570.450.7926.
Top of page I want to visit Vintage Tub & Bath. Is there anything else to do in Hazleton, PA?
PLEASE REMEMBER to call (toll free at 877.868.1369) to make an appointment before arriving - we want to make certain we have the staff on hand to assist you. With that out of the way, let's talk food. Martin's Restaurant (301 East Broad Street, West Hazleton PA 18201, 570.501.2500) is a truly outstanding restaurant with reasonable prices and great food. Since it's among the best in the area you will want to get a reservation before stopping in. If you like juicy ribs in a classy sports bar environment, we recommend Damon's (120 State Route 93, Hazleton 18201, 570.453.0400). Locals love Byorek's Knotty Pine (great BBQ sandwiches and milkshakes - 26 and North Church Streets, Hazleton, 18201, 570.455.3211) and Jimmy's Quick Lunch (THE best hot dogs on the planet, 123 East Broad Street, Hazleton, PA 18201, 570.454.3281). Finer Italian dining can be had at the Ovalon (254 North Wyoming Street, Hazleton, PA 18201, 570.454.0853) or Zola's Italian House (109 Winter's Avenue, West Hazleton, PA 18201, 570.454.2361). Note: if you need directions, just go to www.mapquest.com and enter the address of the restaurant you want to visit. Need a place to stay? we suggest Genetti's Best Western. Nice folks, clean rooms and good prices, enough said there. Want some culture? Check out the Eckley Miners Museum. Want to dive into the great outdoors or take a walk through history? Drive 20 minutes to Jim Thorpe, The Switzerland of America. Jim Thorpe has lots of charming shops (like the one of a kind clothing at Marianne Monteleone Design), trains, canal and coal baron history (the Harry Packer Mansion is a must-see), and lots of mountain biking, whitewater rafting and hiking options. Want to find out about the massive Funfest celebration or build a business in Hazleton? Try logging in at the Hazleton Chamber of Commerce site. There is a whole lot going on in this area and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Visitors Bureau has TONS of information on all of the concerts, events, outdoor activities, and the like that you can handle.
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Canada
