Think of this blog post as a caveat to the last one – the one in which we waxed lyrical about the wonders of the reclaimed bathroom.
Let us state right at the outset that nothing has changed. We still think upcycling and reclaiming materials can lead to an incredibly unique bathroom that will leave your friends feeling furiously jealous.
But the reclamation route is not all plain sailing, especially when it comes to anything that includes plumbing.
As you know, roll top baths are our thing. And being an architectural historian with a lot of experience in sourcing original cast iron baths for clients, our founder Lee Hunwicks is keen to ensure you know the potential pitfalls before you start your reclamation project.
So let’s start at the bottom.
1. Check the feet. If you are considering buying a reclaimed cast iron bath, it’s really important that make sure the feet are the originals. There should be a good fit where the feet meet the bath. The last thing you want is a foot coming off under the weight all that water.
2. Ancient enamel. It’s definitely worth knowing that enamel repairs don’t last long, and a full re-enamelling will cost you upwards of £600. So give the cast iron bath a thorough look over to make sure the enamel is good condition.
3. Plugholes. Measure the distance between the underneath of the plughole and the floor. If this is less than 10cm you’re going to have problems getting a waste to fit without making a hole in your bathroom floor.
4. Tap hole position. If the tap holes are on the inside face of the bath, you’re going to need globe taps. These may not be what you have in mind for your bathroom, so it’s worth checking this out. Also, if the taps are positioned below the line of the overflow, you’ll be at risk of contaminating your water supply. You’d think this would be in breach of building regulations… and you’d be right.
5. Antiquated pipes and tap ware. Reclaimed plumbing is the stuff of nightmares. So, while old taps look great, their age means that internal parts are likely to be worn, and replacements are notoriously difficult to track down. If you do insist on reclaimed taps, we can’t urge you strongly enough to substitute the original mechanics. That’s no easy task, but there’s nothing like a leak to spoil even the best-looking reclaimed bathroom.Reclaim your bathroom… a word of warning
Think of this blog post as a caveat to the last one – the one in which we waxed lyrical about the wonders of the reclaimed bathroom.
Let us state right at the outset that nothing has changed. We still think upcycling and reclaiming materials can lead to an incredibly unique bathroom that will leave your friends feeling furiously jealous.
But the reclamation route is not all plain sailing, especially when it comes to anything that includes plumbing.
As you know, roll top baths are our thing. And being an architectural historian with a lot of experience in sourcing original cast iron baths for clients, our founder Lee Hunwicks is keen to ensure you know the potential pitfalls before you start your reclamation project.
So let’s start at the bottom.
1. Check the feet. If you are considering buying a reclaimed cast iron bath, it’s really important that make sure the feet are the originals. There should be a good fit where the feet meet the bath. The last thing you want is a foot coming off under the weight all that water.
2. Ancient enamel. It’s definitely worth knowing that enamel repairs don’t last long, and a full re-enamelling will cost you upwards of £600. So give the cast iron bath a thorough look over to make sure the enamel is good condition.
3. Plugholes. Measure the distance between the underneath of the plughole and the floor. If this is less than 10cm you’re going to have problems getting a waste to fit without making a hole in your bathroom floor.
4. Tap hole position. If the tap holes are on the inside face of the bath, you’re going to need globe taps. These may not be what you have in mind for your bathroom, so it’s worth checking this out. Also, if the taps are positioned below the line of the overflow, you’ll be at risk of contaminating your water supply. You’d think this would be in breach of building regulations… and you’d be right.
5. Antiquated pipes and tap ware. Reclaimed plumbing is the stuff of nightmares. So, while old taps look great, their age means that internal parts are likely to be worn, and replacements are notoriously difficult to track down. If you do insist on reclaimed taps, we can’t urge you strongly enough to substitute the original mechanics. That’s no easy task, but there’s nothing like a leak to spoil even the best-looking reclaimed bathroom.