Installing a Freestanding/ Claw-foot Bathtub

Freestanding/ Claw-foot Bathtub

With free standing bathtubs, all you really need to worry about is to get the plumbing right. That being said, installing one is still not an easy job, given that bathtubs are all big and heavy. However, installing one on your own is still possible with the help of at least another person. You should never try to install a bathtub on your own as it is impossible, if not difficult to handle by yourself. But of course, before you even purchase your bathtub, make sure that you have ample space in your bathroom for one. You do not want to end up with a very congested bathroom with no space to walk around in. Bathtubs take up a lot of space and therefore you will also need to make sure that it does not get in the way of any doorways or even block access to any of your bathroom counters. There are many types and designs of freestanding bathtubs available in the market. Freestanding bathtubs usually give a more traditional look to bathrooms and therefore, you should always pick one that matches with the decor of your bathroom so that you do not have an odd piece that sticks out like a sore thumb.

  1. First of all, you will need to raise the bathtub to install the feet. You can do this by placing the tub on a layer of packaging material or some bricks to jack it up. If you are using bricks, make sure that you cover the bricks with some old rags to prevent them from scratching the surface of your new tub. What you want is to jack up the bathtub as you would a car when you are working on it. This will provide you with easy access when fixing the feet onto the bathtub.
  2. Install the feet correctly as each foot is made to be in a specific spot. You should start by installing the feet that go on the end with the plumbing first. Once you have all the feet installed, you may also want to check that the bathtub is levelled with a carpenter’s level.
  3. Next, attach the plumbing, making sure that you have the hot and cold faucets installed correctly.
  4. You can now remove the packaging material or bricks that you used previously to jack up the tub. Your tub should be able to stand on its own.
  5. Next, make sure that your tubs is levelled using a carpenter’s level. If it is tilted, use space washers on the legs until it is levelled out.

Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/houseofsims/2662540391/