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Installing a Pedestal Tub vs. a Freestanding Tub: Pros and Cons
| Featured Image – SKU: VCTND723224 | The alcove tub nestled into surrounding walls may have its fans, but it’s not known for being the most stylish or eye-catching option. Instead, freestanding tub designs tend to get far more attention for their design appeal. Yet there’s more than just the classic clawfoot tub look available today. Homeowners must pick between fully freestanding tubs, such as the clawfoot, or pedestal tubs that feature a base. Having a base connecting it to the floor offers many benefits while still allowing these tubs to be placed almost anywhere like a freestanding design. |
The Challenges of Plumbing Pedestal Vs. Freestanding Tubs
Both of these styles of tubs can be placed practically anywhere in the bathroom with the right door and wall clearances; any existing plumbing must be altered to fit them. Each freestanding tub will only work with one type of sewage configuration based on the placement of the drain. Exposed tub fillers must connect to the hot and cold water lines. This requires extra floor space, limiting where the tub can be placed.
Once the water supplies and drain have been plumbed, the key is to pair the tub with the appropriate faucet and supply lines. Because pedestal tubs come in 3 configurations, wall mount and by wall mount, we are talking about the wall of the tub, they are predrilled with two holes at 3-3/8″ from center to center, deck mount, where the faucet sits on a horizontal part of the tub and are generally predrilled at 7″ from center to center, and there are also pedestal tubs with no drillings, each one of these configurations requires a specific type of faucet and supply lines. All supply lines and drain connections are placed outside the pedestal tub’s footprint. On the other hand, freestanding tubs generally do not have holes predrilled for faucets and are usually paired with freestanding tub fillers. Because the connections for these types of faucets are located below the floor. They work better on wood floors or on a second-story bathroom, where the water supply can be plumbed from the floor below. There are a few models that do allow the space for deck mounted faucet, freestanding tubs require a bit more care when installing since the tub sits flush on the floor, there is no room for the plumber to connect the drain on the tub to the drainpipe if you add to that the supply line connections to the deck-mounted faucet it makes for a prolonged and careful installation process.
Protection from Plumbing Damage
Except in the case of the freestanding tub with a deck-mounted faucet, all other tubs will require you to install exposed supply lines; therefore, you should be mindful to locate the supply lines, or freestanding faucets in an area where they would be less exposed to foot traffic or potential impact from floor cleaning equipment, some of the freestanding faucet sets paired with pedestal tubs tend to be somewhat top-heavy, as such, they depend on additional support from a wall and in some case can be secured to the tub’s overflow pipe.
Ease of Cleaning
Cleaning pedestal or freestanding tubs are relatively equal since both designs have a smooth surface on the exterior of the tub, and because they sit flush on the floor should be properly caulked to prevent water from seeping under the tub.
Shop Kingston Brass for Pedestal tubs
Consider a pedestal tub regardless of the style selected for the bathroom in question. Homeowners can gain more flexibility in plumbing configurations, easier cleanup, and the classic or modern style they want all in one package. Kingston Brass has a wide variety of pedestal tubs perfect for completing any new construction or bathroom renovation.
