What Is A Roman Tub Faucet?

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The Romans. Perhaps the greatest military might in history.

They are also famed for their enduring inventions, such as the codex book, sophisticated roads, and the Roman tub faucet?

Although the faucet isn’t the most recognizable of Roman gadgetry, it’s withstood the test of time and is now considered a premium fixture in bathroom designs.

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What Is A Roman Tub Faucet?

A distinctive feature of a Roman Tub Faucet is its positioning. Unlike traditional wall-mounted faucets, a Roman Tub Faucet is mounted to the tub deck. A design style that first featured in the baths of ancient Rome – hence its Roman name.

You’ll also find a distinctive arched faucet head on a Roman faucet, which is longer than other faucet head designs.

Why Roman Tub Faucets Are Great

If you are unsure about which kind of faucet to choose but maybe you’re leaning towards a Roman Tub Faucet, here are a few reasons why it’s a great choice:

Timeless design – Add a sleek and luxurious roman feel to your bathroom with this modernized antique design style that has withstood the test of time, and unlock your inner emperor or empress.

Great for freestanding Tubs – If you have a stand-alone tub then a Roman faucet is a no-brainer. Not only are Roman faucets designed with freestanding tubs in mind but they will also inject some finesse into the centerpiece of your bathroom.

High-Quality Artistry – Get a perfectly crafted faucet to match your tub and complete your bathing experience.

Long Lasting – Given the enduring roman design, it’s not surprising for this type of faucet to outlast other faucet types – reaching a lifespan of up to 30 years.

Increase Home Value – Roman Tub Faucets add such a level of elegance and luxury to your home that the overall value of your home is sure to increase. All the homeowners and landlords out there should definitely consider Roman faucets when installing fixtures for the bathroom.

Is a Roman Tub Faucet The Same As A Garden Faucet?

It’s possible that you may have mistaken a garden tub faucet for a roman tub faucet. Whether you were examining a jacuzzi bathtub (see also ‘How To Remove A Cast Iron Tub‘) as you relaxed or just inspecting a friend’s bathroom setup, it’s very easy to confuse the two faucets.

Roman tub faucets are almost identical to garden tub faucets, sharing many of the same features.

Similarities

Both these tub faucets are deck-mounted, meaning the faucet is attached to the rim of the tub, as we’ve mentioned earlier.
Both faucets are traditionally designed with two handles, but you can find faucets with a single handle or even those with three handles.
The traditional two-handled design means they both need three holes for installation (one for each handle and another for the faucet head). An additional fourth installation hole may be necessary if you want to add a showerhead to the setup.

To the untrained eye, the faucets look identical but a closer inspection will reveal the main difference between them.

Differences

The primary difference between a Roman tub faucet and a garden tub faucet is the sprout length. Roman tub faucets have a longer faucet head compared to their garden tub cousins. At least 1 inch longer on average.

Buyer’s Guide

So you’ve been tasked with finding a tub faucet to complete your bathroom design, but where do you start?

There are so many styles, types and variations to pick from to perfectly match your tub and bathroom aesthetic.

But with an abundance of different handles, water flow rates, and finishes, it can sometimes get overwhelming. Don’t panic, we’re here to guide you through finding the tub faucet that’s right for you.

First, you need to be set on a design for your bathroom. If you’ve already added all the fixtures and fittings to your bathroom, a deck-mounted faucet with the right finish adds some finesse to your bathroom.

Or if your blueprint hasn’t been finalized yet, then a freestanding tub faucet could be the centerpiece of your bathroom.

Ultimately, it will all depend on your preference. But if you don’t have one yet, here’s a guide through the different faucet types and other considerations.

Roman Tub Faucets / Deck-Mounted Faucets

As we’ve mentioned earlier, Roman tub faucets are deck-mounted faucets that need three holes drilled into the rim of the tub – four holes if you’d like a shower.

These faucets look especially sleek on stand-alone tubs, however, you’ll first need to examine your water supply lines. You may need underfloor access before proceeding and a platform will need to be installed next to the bathtub.

Freestanding Tub Faucets

Also known as floor-mounted faucets, these faucets are suitable for tubs with no pre-drilled holes, as they hang over the edge of the bathtub.

The placement flexibility of these faucets makes them perfect for stand-alone tubs in spacious bathrooms.

However, underfloor access is required in your bathroom because the water supply must come from beneath the tub. Freestanding tubs should be installed in the early/middle stages of a bathroom redesign.