Although many homeowners are removing their original cast iron bathtubs, just as many are putting them back in. So, how much do they cost? As with most antique purchases, it all depends on condition. At ReHouse we take into account many factors when pricing our antique tubs to make sure you get the best deal we can offer. To help you decide which tub is right for you I am going to share the method to our tub pricing madness: the “Antique Tub Rating” checklist. This sheet is a point rating system developed by owner, Sally, to determine appropriate pricing guidelines for tubs.
Interior Finish – Rated on a scale of 1-10, this is the condition of the inside of the tub. Is there rust or missing porcelain particularly around the faucet and drain? Are there those non-slip flowers in the bottom that are a pain in the neck to remove? Are there stains that won’t come out? Is the porcelain smooth or rough? Could you actually bathe in it as it is? Below are some photos of tub interiors that range from 4-10. These have each been cleaned to the best of our abilities.
Exterior Finish – Rated on a scale of 1-5, this is the condition of the outside of the tub. Is it painted or 1/2 painted? Is it rusty? How rusty? Can it be cleaned with normal household cleaning supplies? Will the surface need to be sandblasted in order to accept new porcelain? Below are some photos of tub exteriors that range from 3-5. These have each been cleaned to the best of our abilities.
Feet/Base – Rated on a scale of 1-5, this is the condition of the feet on a clawfoot tub or the skirt on a pedestal tub. Is the porcelain in tact? What about rust? Are there 4 feet and do they match? How ornate are the feet?
Size – Aren’t they all the same? Nope! Most are 5 feet long. That earns it 3 points. Some are 4.5 or 5.5 feet long. These lengths earn a tub 4 points. The most unusual sizes are smaller that 4.5 feet or longer than 5.5 feet. Any tubs falling in these ranges earn 5 points!
Rust? – Even though this is partly covered in the above topics, this indicates the overall rust situation. Rust requires sandblasting. Sandblasting requires tools and time. A lot of rust and the tub loses 5 points. “Average” rust (a little around the faucet and drain) takes away 3 points. None? No points taken away.
Faucet? – yes or no. If there is a fabulous faucet the tub might get some extra points. Otherwise this is just for informational purposes.
Let’s visit a few of the tubs we have in stock at the moment. Let’s start with the lowest rating and work our way up. This tub only earned a 6.
Next we have an 15 pointer.
Here is an interesting specimen. Often times a non-neutral paint color on the outside would lose points in the Exterior Finish category. In this case, the paint job is so unique and well done it earned points for this tub which totaled 18. Who wouldn’t want to bathe in the pools at Giverny?
A few different tubs came in at the 19 point mark. Both have near perfect Interior Finishes, workable Exterior Finishes, and only tiny spots of rust.
Lastly, here are some beauties. The cream of the crop. Admittedly, these tubs did not look so well last month. These tubs have been completely refinished by Bathtub Made New. They can refinish your tub or sink too if you need a professional. These two tubs earned 22 and 23 points.
Let’s finish up with a slide show of some other tubs which have passed through our doors over the years.
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