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kristen_barczak

Freestanding tub filler vs deck mount

13 years ago
I am remodeling my master bath and we have selected a freestanding tub. I like the look of the freestanding tub fillers but am concerned about both ease of installation on my second floor, as well as the stability and durability of these fancy faucets.anyone have any experiences good or bad worth sharing?

Comments (25)

  • PRO
    13 years ago
    You cannot use a deck-mount faucet because there is no deck with a freestanding tub. You can either do a laminar flow from the ceiling, a wall-mount faucet if there is a wall close enough, or a freestanding tub filler. I would definitely recommend a freestanding tub filler - it completes the look. Don't worry about the ease of installation - that is what your plumber is there for. :) Haven't had issues with stability or durability.
  • 13 years ago
    I did find a couple of freestanding tubs that can be drilled for a deck mount faucet. I love the idea of wall mounted but our space wont really allow for it. I agree that the floor mount can look too fussy- I prefer a cleaner look. Thanks for the feedback.
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Dianahb - did you order the tub filler online or through a local dealer? Online sales are tricky, because unless you are buying through an authorized website or dealer, a lot of warranties are voided and many returns are not accepted. I'm glad you were able to get your money back from FedEx!

    Kristen, be careful about drilling into a tub. Generally that voids all warranties, which means if you ever have any leaking you will not be able to go back to the manufacturer. Maidstone tubs ( http://www.maidstonesupply.com) have many tubs with deck holes pre-mounted. There are some new free-standing tub fillers hitting the market this fall from Newport Brass ( http://www.newportbrass.com) and Brizo ( http://www.brizo.com) that are sleek and beautiful.

    Hope this helps!
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    Best Plumbing: We ordered mostly through a local plumbing supply place, which was perfect. They had no floor tub fillers in the showroom, but we knew what we wanted, so I ordered online (Signature Hardware). And while the item looked just as pictured and was just as described, I hadn't realized how much the look seemed to dilute the clean lines of the tub and overall bath-- and gave a cluttered look. Additionally, it just took up too much space. The wall mount, which we did get locally, worked perfectly.

    At the last minute, I did insure that tub filler when I shipped Fed-ex. Even so, it was like pulling teeth to get refunded from Fed-ex. After I called their head office, though, and talked to someone fairly high up--I got the check within a couple of days-- after months of dealing with them.

    While I have bought some things online, including Kohler sinks-- which arrived in pristine condition-- I admit that to order online, you have to know exactly what it is you want, have actually seen what you want elsewhere, and have all the specifics down. Otherwise, in our experience, it's better to order locally. As a side note, the best customer service I have ever encountered-- bar none-- just amazing-- was with Kohler direct. I'm so impressed with them. An awful lot of businesses could take lessons from Kohler about customer service and how to make a product.
  • 13 years ago
    Actually the tub I'm looking at is available pre drilled from the manufacture. So far I've had great luck with all items and returns from online sources, so I guess I'm lucky.
  • 9 years ago

    Can you install a boxed deck mount or wall mount faucet next to a freestanding tub?

    Paces Neighborhood - Atlanta, GA · More Info

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    You cannot use a deck-mount faucet because there is no deck with a freestanding tub. You can either do a laminar flow from the ceiling, a wall-mount faucet if there is a wall close enough, or a freestanding tub filler. I would definitely recommend a freestanding tub filler - it completes the look.

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Depends on the tub and configuration.

  • 9 years ago

    What is the brand and name of the top pictured tub

  • 9 years ago

    I'm looking for a 60" (or smaller) freestanding tub similar in design as the first picture but must have center drain and brush nickel fixtures. Any suggestions?

  • 9 years ago

    I am also interested in the first tub pictured. What site is that on? Having a difficult time finding a stand alone with deck mount filler. My plumber has one he will sell me but the price is higher than I wanted. So I know they're out there.

  • 9 years ago

    google jacuzzi primo freestanding. we purchased the deep soaking model on line from lowes. you do have to order the specific required drain assembly. it has plenty of space to mount the filler. it's 2 pieces that fit inside each other and we did add some insulation before setting the interior piece. our plumber installed and I can 't remember if the holes were pre drilled, but either way the plumber had no problems and it's very comfortable to use. fyi, plumber used something on the bottom piece to keep the tub stable on the floor because I was worried about it moving if leaned on when empty.

  • 9 years ago
    Try Signature Hardware. They have a large selection.
  • 9 years ago
    Here's a pic of mine:
  • 9 years ago

    First tub pictured is A&E Bath & Shower UNA 71-all-in-one Oval Freestanding Tub Combo; the deck does not come pre-drilled for the faucets (faucets come with the tub) so you have some flexibility as to where to install it. We purchased this tub for our master bathroom (waited over a month to receive it) and it is beautiful and worth the wait; bit of a pain to install so you'll definitely need an experienced plumber.

  • 9 years ago
    I preferred wall mount -- Less chrome to wipe down, simplified look. The price tag is a nice bonus. Our plumber commented that our wall-mount tub filler was straightforward to install and appeared well made. He was thankful we did not do a floor-mounted filler as they can be hard to secure on slab at times.
  • PRO
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    DreamBath Tub offer lots of freestanding tubs for your choice.

  • 9 years ago

    not with a deck for mounting faucets

  • 9 years ago
    I would either do a wall mount if you can ( and it is not an exterior wall in a cold winter area) or I would do freestanding with brackets to secure to wall. Our plumber cleverly did this as he said should anyone slip and grab the faucets they would not be stable in a fall.
  • PRO
    9 years ago

    You can only use a deck mounted faucet if your freestanding tub has holes for mounting the faucet to the tub deck. Otherwise you'll want to go with a freestanding tub faucet. Plus, freestanding faucets look super cool. They are not necessarily easy to install but it does depend on your situation. To learn more about free standing tub filler, check out this buying guide. It has information on installation (including a video) and goes pretty in depth on the difference between expensive and cheap free standing faucets. One of the main issues people complain about when they go with less expensive freestanding tub faucets is that they are wobbly and not stable. You want to make sure you go with a good quality product. For example Delta free standing faucets come with a mounting plate that secures the trim kit to the floor. Delta freestanding faucets also have the ability to install on concrete. The buying guide has links to instruction sheets etc. so you can review the process: https://faucetlist.com/blogs/buying-guides/free-standing-tub-faucet-buying-guide-with-how-to-install-video



    You can also go for a wall mounted tub faucet but make sure you don't order a wall mounted bathroom sink faucet. It will not put out enough water to fill a tub. You really need a wall mounted tub faucet so you get enough water to fill the tub fast.


    Here's a good modern looking wall mount tub filler:


  • 8 years ago

    Why can't you build a ledge for a deck mounted faucet for a free standing tub?

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    That's a good idea too! You could definitely build a ledge for a deck mounted tub faucet. It's really just a question of style and space. From a style standpoint, having a ledge in the middle of the room might not be ideal, but if your tub is up against the wall it could be a good option. If you have the space and it would work with the design of your bathroom you could definitely mount a tub filler faucet on a ledge.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Dornbracht makes a freestanding tub filler - the model is Lulu. The same model is available as a deck mount. It is peculiar to me that the deck mount has a higher flow rate than the floorstanding. The floorstanding is a big piece of hardware and it performs less than the deck mount? I would compare flow rates of the deck mount versus floorstanding of any manufacturer,. Since I wanted a higher flow rate, the deck mount was the way to go.

  • 5 years ago

    Kristen - I saw the photo of your completed deck mount freestanding tub. What tub did you go with? Our remodeler is pushing us toward deck mount. Any final feedback or regrets?