How to Attach a Clawfoot Bathtub

A clawfoot tub doesn't need to be attached to a floor.

Unlike standard bathtubs, which generally attach to the floor and wall of a bathroom, a clawfoot tub is not designed to be secured to a surface. Instead of attaching the clawfoot tub to the floor or wall, you simply set the clawfoot tub directly on the floor. Before you can place the clawfoot tub into your bathroom though, you must attach the feet to the clawfoot tub. These feet provide support for the bathtub and keep it off the floor.

Things You'll Need

• Foam or blanket
• Clawfoot feet
• Bolts
• Washers
• Nuts
• Floor coasters or felt

Instructions

1. Elevate the clawfoot bathtub off the floor. Signature Hardware recommends resting the bottom of the clawfoot tub on sturdy foam roughly 12 inches tall. Alternately, place a soft blanket down on the floor and turn the bathtub over so that the top of the bathtub rests on the blanket and the bottom of the tub faces up.

2. Match the letters on each foot that comes with the clawfoot bathtub with the letters on the connectors, or lugs, on the bottom of the bathtub if the feet came with the tub. If the feet that you want to install did not come standard with the tub, the feet are likely interchangeable with any of the tub's lugs.

3. Place one of the bolts provided with the bathtub or the feet into each lug on the bottom of the bathtub. Put a foot onto each bolt so that it slides down over the entire bolt and the lug and touches the base of the bathtub.

4. Put the washers provided with the tub or feet over each bolt and screw the nut onto the bolt so that the foot of the tub is just loose. Adjust the position of the foot of the bathtub as needed, and then tighten the nut until the foot no longer moves.

5. Lift the clawfoot tub off the foam or the floor and turn the tub upright, if necessary. Put down a coaster or a piece of felt on the floor where each foot of the clawfoot bathtub will sit, and lower the tub's feet carefully down onto the coasters or felt.

References

• Signature Hardware: Cast Iron Clawfoot Tub Installation Help
• Vintage Tub: Clawfoot Tub Foot Installation Guide