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How do I Choose the Best Clawfoot Tub Shower Enclosure?

Judith Smith Sullivan
Judith Smith Sullivan

The best clawfoot tub shower enclosure will have the correct mount for your tub, match your style preferences, and fit into your budget. It will provide ample room for showering while still remaining proportional to the room. Although shower enclosures are not cheap, they increase the functionality and value of your bathroom by allowing the tub to be used as a shower.

Enclosures are usually mounted to the tub and to the wall or ceiling. The type of mounting for the original plumbing will determine the type of mounting you need for your clawfoot tub shower enclosure. There are three different mounts: tub wall, tub deck, and free-standing. Your tub will have the faucets installed on the wall or rim of the tub. If there are no faucet holes, then your tub requires a free-standing enclosure.

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Woman with a flower

Measure the distance between the faucet holes on the tub to ensure that you order the correct size. Typically, the faucet holes will have a standard 3 3/8 inches (8.57 centimeters) width, but older tubs may have different sizes. A non-standard size might require plumbing alternations or a custom shower enclosure, which will add to the cost of the shower enclosure.

For stability, the shower-curtain rod is typically mounted to the wall or ceiling or both. The curtain rods for a clawfoot tub shower enclosure can be round, oval, or rectangular, and there are triangle-shaped corner surrounds that attach to perpendicular walls. The best sized enclosure will provide plenty of room inside the curtain for showering, while maintaining a good proportion to the tub and the bathroom. The surround should be at least as long and wide as your tub or slightly larger.

A clawfoot tub has a distinctive old-fashioned style that many people find appealing. The clawfoot tub shower enclosure often reflects that style. The faucets and color are the main style differences between different shower enclosures.

After you know what type of shower enclosure you need, and have an idea of the style you would prefer, decide how much money you can spend. Although there are a wide range of prices, be wary of inexpensive clawfoot tub shower enclosures. Cheap designs may rust, flake, leak, or even bend out of shape. A more expensive, higher quality shower enclosure will save you money in the long run because it will last many years.

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