How to Refurbish an Old Clawfoot Bathtub

Many people love the look of a clawfoot bathtub in their bathroom. This style of tub is very popular among homeowners who are remodeling their current bathroom. This clawfoot bathtub adds a unique look, character, and luxury to any bathroom, and especially a master bathroom. With a clawfoot bathtub the homeowner is greeted with luxurious lounging after a long hard day.

Refurbishing older clawfoot bathtubs is a great way to not only have one of these fixtures, but also keep it out of the landfill. Taking the time to refurbish an old tub is not a hard project, but does require a great amount of time. However, in the end you will be very satisfied with the look and feel of the clawfoot bathtub.

Step 1: Prepare Work Area

Before doing any work to the clawfoot bathtub you should have a well prepared area to work in. This means an area where there is good ventilation. Once you determine where to do the work, set a plastic tarp on the floor area to minimize any scratches to the rim of the tub. Remove any old fixtures or pipes that are still attached to the tub.

Step 2: Remove Rust and Old Paint

The hardest part of restoring an old clawfoot bathtub is removing the rust and old paint. Use a drill, or grinder, with a wire brush attachment. Run the wire brush over the entire surface of the tub to remove all traces of rust and paint. This can take some time and does require patience. You may speed up the process by using some paint remover, but in sparing amounts.

Step 3: Clean and Repair

After you have removed all of the rust and paint, you will need to clean the entire surface of the tub. Use a sponge and warm water to get rid of all of the debris and dust. If there are any scratches, or small cracks, you will need to repair them with some body filler. This filler should be specific to either a metal or acrylic material. Spread it on the damaged areas with a flat scraper and let it dry. Once it is dry, sand it down with fine sandpaper.

Step 4: Prime Clawfoot Bathtub

Once all of the preparatory steps have been taken, you can finish the project by applying the primer and paint. Use a spray gun to apply the primer to the surface of the tub. Use smooth strokes with the gun and hold it about 8 inches from the surface. Overlap each stroke by 1/2 inch.

Step 5: Paint Clawfoot Bathtub

After the primer has had a chance to dry completely, you can then add the first coat of paint. Fill the paint sprayer with a good acrylic paint and use the same painting method. Once the tub is completed, let it dry to a tacky feel. At this point, paint the but with a second coat of paint.

Step 6: Add Glaze Finish

For your refurbished clawfoot bathtub to shine you will need to add a glaze finish. You may use the paint sprayer for this, or a foam brush. Apply two coats of glaze and enjoy your luxurious new tub.