Freestanding Clawfoot Tub Faucets
There are many faucet options available for clawfoot tub showers but the most beautiful and dramatic option available is easily the free standing faucet. If you have a clawfoot tub and haven’t drilled holes for a faucet yet then stay with what you’ve got and see what the market has to offer. These faucets that appear to defy gravity will usually be the most pricey of the clawfoot tub shower faucet styles but once you have it installed you won’t be sorry you spent the extra money.
Benefits
One of the big benefits of installing a freestanding faucet is that it shows more of your selected finish. Another big selling point for freestanding faucets as well as deck mount is that it will allow you to have a deeper tub. This is possible because it is possible to put the overflow drain higher than it is on inside mount faucets. Finally, freestanding faucets will also give you a little more room inside the tub since the faucets will not protrude into the bathing area in the same way a insde mounted faucet would.
Considerations
Freestanding faucets have the ability to define the character or an entire bathroom as they rise up from the floor appearing to defying gravity. Since the design statement can be so bold be sure to make sure that you can find sink faucets that will match.
Installation
Once installed the only connections to the tub will be at the overflow drain and the foot drain. If you have a clawfoot tub shower these faucets will sometimes be stabilized through a connection to the wall or ceiling near the shower head but this will be included with your purchase.
You should also make sure that when you are purchasing your supply lines that you choose the strongest supply lines that you can find. These pipes will need to be strong enough to handle the occasional bump and tug as well as the weight of the faucet itself.
Be Bold
While you’re not going to see freestanding clawfoot tub faucets as often as the deck mounted faucets or the wall mounted faucets don’t be afraid to be bold and be different. This will be one of the investments in your home that you never regret those few extra dollars on and each time you walk in your bathroom and see your freestanding faucet you’ll fall in love all over again.
I’m interested in a “free standing” faucet for a clawfoot tub bathroom renovation but have a couple of questions.
1) Can you have a 2 handle faucet, hand shower AND stand up shower with enclosure?
2) How much space do you need for the freestanding “piping” (aka how much space does it require from the outside rim of tub to the wall?). For example we have a 70″ space and I’d like to put in a 66″ tub. Is this doable or will it be and look “too tight”.
3) Can I have a faucet and shower head come directly out of the wall and overhang the tub? What kind of faucet would that be?
Thanks,
Jess
1- Yes
Just make sure the wall can support it and is sealed somehow.
2- depends on the pipes but I would say a minimum of 4 – 5 inches
3 – You could… and that would just be a regular shower head and faucet… just like what you would use in a regular bathtub..