Montana is full of homes with history -- Helena's mansion district, Butte's uptown Victorians, Livingston's railroad-era houses, and farmhouses across the state that have sheltered families for a century. Many of those homes still have their original clawfoot or pedestal tubs. And many of those tubs look rough: stained interiors, worn enamel, rust around the drain, exteriors carrying decades of old paint.
Here is the good news. A clawfoot tub that looks beyond saving almost never is. Professional clawfoot tub refinishing restores these fixtures to their original beauty -- without altering the shape, style, or vintage character that makes them worth keeping in the first place.
Why Clawfoot Tubs Are Worth Restoring
Vintage clawfoot tubs were built differently than modern fixtures. Cast iron construction, thick porcelain enamel, and generous soaking depth make them heavier, sturdier, and frankly more comfortable than most tubs sold today.
They are also expensive to replace. A quality reproduction clawfoot tub runs $2,000 - $5,000 or more before installation -- and reproductions rarely match the proportions and detail of the original. Removing a cast iron tub is its own project: these fixtures can weigh several hundred pounds and often will not fit through doorways without serious effort.
Refinishing keeps the original tub, the original character, and most of your budget.
What Refinishing Can Fix
Professional refinishing (also called reglazing or resurfacing -- the terms mean the same thing) addresses nearly every cosmetic problem an antique tub develops:
- Stained, dull, or yellowed interiors that no cleaner can bring back
- Worn or etched porcelain enamel, including spots worn through to the cast iron
- Chips and pitting from decades of use
- Rust staining around the drain and faucet
- Crazing -- the fine spiderweb cracking old enamel develops
- Old paint on the exterior, often several layers deep
Interior, Exterior, or Both
One thing that makes clawfoot restoration different from standard bathtub refinishing: the outside of the tub is part of the show.
- Interior refinishing restores the bathing surface to a smooth, glossy, porcelain-style finish -- classic white is the traditional choice.
- Exterior refinishing can go classic or bold: white, black, deep period colors, or decorative faux copper, bronze, and metallic finishes.
- Feet accents in a contrasting color -- dark copper or bronze feet under a white tub is a period-authentic look that photographs beautifully.
What It Costs
In-shop clawfoot interior refinishing starts at $639. Interior-plus-exterior restoration and decorative finishes cost more depending on the scope. Compare that to the multi-thousand-dollar cost of a reproduction tub plus installation, and restoration is usually the clear winner -- typically saving 75 - 85% versus replacement.
Every clawfoot and pedestal tub restoration is backed by our 3-year warranty, and with proper care a professionally refinished tub lasts 10 - 15 years or more.
The In-Shop Advantage
Because clawfoot tubs are freestanding, they can be transported to our shop for refinishing -- something that is not possible with a built-in tub. In-shop work gives us controlled temperature, ventilation, and lighting, which means better results on the fixtures that deserve the most care. We handle tubs from across Montana, from Helena and Great Falls to Bozeman, Missoula, and Livingston.
Get a Free Consultation
If you have a vintage tub worth saving -- or you are not sure whether it is worth saving -- send us a photo and we will give you an honest answer. Call (406) 438-4288 or book online for a free estimate.