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"You can't find the knowledge, quality of selection, customer service and committed neighborhood store setting anywhere else. I look forward to another 10 years of business with A-Ball and its staff."
DeNeice Worthington
Homeowner
Portland, Oregon
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Footed Tubs |
Old waste & overflow systems are repairable if all the old nuts and the tee and head with tube are in reasonable condition. It is possible to purchase thin-wall 1-3/8 in. slip joint washers and 1-3/8 in. tailpieces for repair. It is usually necessary to purchase a 1-1/2 in. x 1-3/8 in. slip joint nut and washer to connect to the trap under the floor. This is the case either in using an old waste and overflow or a new one of the same size.
The overflow gasket fits between the outside wall of the tub and the overflow head. The overflow screen goes directly against the inside wall of the tub. The drain shoe (the bottom part) has a gasket between the bottom outside of the tub and the cast piece of the shoe. Make a snake of plumber's putty and put it to the underside of the piece that screws from the inside bottom of the tub.
A Few Notes About Footed Tubs
- Supply lines for footed tubs are designed with a 90 degree bend; they run from the outside back of the faucet down to the floor. Today, supply lines are 1/2 in. OD copper and are either chrome- or brass-plated so they can easily be customized on site. This size can use shutoff valves manufactured today. We strongly recommend that these be placed at floor level so it is easy to turn off the water to the tub if maintenance is required.
- Most tubs require a face-mount faucet that is 3-3/8 in. on center. There are exceptions, and there are fixtures that can accommodate these cases. If the tub is not standard, proceed with extreme caution.
- Today's code requires that tub faucet spouts must be above the rim of the tub. The old skinny spout that goes directly down in front of the overflow screen will not pass a plumbing inspection.
- Adding a hand shower to a footed tub is a nice feature. It requires a vacuum breaker added between the hose and the handset.
If seeking a used footed tub, here are a few basic guidelines:
- Find a tub that has all four of its feet. Examine them so you can determine how stable the connection is. Trying to repair cracked or missing connections can be tricky.
- If a tub that is missing one or two feet and is a must have, remove one of the feet to find a mate. The variations in size, shape, and type of connection are amazing; there is no such thing as a standard tub foot.
- Price will vary greatly, depending on: Place of purchase, length of tub, style of foot, and condition of porcelain. The best scenario is a tub with all four feet intact and traditional faucet holes on the face above the overflow drilled 3-3/8 in. on center. Other tubs may be attractive, but these shortcomings can lead to other problems.
Yes, there really are new footed tubs on the market other than Kohler's Birthday Bath or Vintage Bath!
Having space for a walk-in tile shower is, of course, the best of all worlds. Otherwise, it is possible to have a stationary shower arrangement for a footed tub. A number of shower-rod systems are available for this purpose.
More Tips
See our selection of footed bathtubs here.
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