~ 5 min read
How to Enclose a Clawfoot Tub (and What to Consider Before You Do)
Enclosing a clawfoot tub can help keep your bathroom warm, prevent an assortment of potential problems, and give you a more spa-like bathing experience. But before you dive into this project, there are a few things you should know.
A clawfoot bathtub is an antique-looking, charming bathtub that can add an authentic touch to your bathroom. There are a few things you might not like. Since clawfoot tubs are so deep and narrow, they can feel cold in your bathroom. And since most of them are placed against windows, they can let in cold air.
One way to fix this is to install an enclosure kit that surrounds your clawfoot tub. Enclosing a clawfoot tub can help keep your bathroom warm, prevent an assortment of potential problems, and give you a more spa-like bathing experience.
What is a clawfoot tub enclosure?
A clawfoot tub enclosure is a floor that wraps around a clawfoot tub that, makes it watertight. It creates a physical and visual barrier between the hot bath and the rest of the room.
Clawfoot (or, more commonly, “claw leg”) tubs have gold feet that extend out from the vessel, either on the outside edge or on the inside edge. The feet of the clawfoot tub extend beyond the edge of the tub’s rim. The legs of a claw-leg extend out from the bottom edge of the vessel and connect to the outside edge.
The feet can be plated with metal or made of porcelain, ceramic, or another material. The material is usually a high-gloss finish in color like gold, brass, or black. We call them “golden” or “claw” feet because they look like the claws of a bird or animal. “Claw leg” is another common term.
Because they are the part of the vessel that extends outside the wall, they do not usually get wet inside the tub.
What are the different types of clawfoot tub enclosures?
There are two main types of clawfoot tub enclosures—shower curtains and glass shower doors. Glass shower doors are the most common type of clawfoot tub enclosure. They create a solid wall of glass that can be clear or frosted or be made up of several small pieces of glass, sometimes called shower panes or shower windows. But shower curtains are also a common choice.
Shower curtains create a wall of fabric that you can secure with a tension rod along the top edge. The bottom edge should be attached to the bathroom floor with a shower curtain. If you have a glass shower door, you can also buy an inexpensive shower curtain that attaches to the inside of the door.
The bottom edge of the shower curtain or shower door should be approximately 36 inches off the floor. A shower door allows room for the bottom edge to move up and down with the opening and closing of the door. Your shower curtain provides space for the curtain to move up and down with the opening and closing of the curtain.
Why are enclosures necessary for your clawfoot tub?
Even if your clawfoot tub does not have a shower, you may still want to enclose it. Enclosing a clawfoot tub creates a safe, secure, and dry space inside it, which is essential because water damage can be a real problem.
One standard solution is to install a shower liner inside your clawfoot tub. This shower liner creates a small space that you can use as a shower and fits inside the clawfoot tub.
One downside of installing a shower liner inside your clawfoot tub is that it requires you to install a shower rod. However, this is not a big concern since shower rods are usually not very noticeable. Another option that does not require a shower rod is a clawfoot shower curtain. A clawfoot shower curtain is similar to a shower curtain but is made specifically for use in a clawfoot tub.
How can you choose the proper enclosure for your clawfoot tub?
A curtain rod attached to the wall above the tub gives you a simple solution for enclosing the clawfoot tub with curtains. This solution can also be cheap. But there are several considerations that you should keep in mind before choosing this option.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that the curtain rod needs to be strong enough to support a heavy fabric. White feet stepping out of clawfoot tubs generate a lot of heat, and a piece of heavy curtain fabric can make this issue more pronounced.
You can also choose to install an iron tub that sits inside the clawfoot tub. This is a more substantial option than a curtain rod, but it will likely be more expensive.
There are a few things to consider before enclosing a clawfoot tub, but it is possible! Take into account the size and shape of your tub and the type of enclosure you want. Plenty of online tutorials and articles can help you! Have fun and enjoy your new, private clawfoot tub!
Related Reading: