When you’re either building your dream home or undertaking renovations, don’t overlook the importance of your bathrooms. These spaces may seem secondary, but they play a significant role in your daily comfort and convenience. Whether the bathroom is solely for your use or not, it’s essential that it mirrors your personality and meets your functional needs. In particular, adding a bath can give you a place where you can pamper yourself.
However, there are so many styles of tubs that you might not know which to choose. You might not even know which bathtub can fit in your bathroom based on the underlying construction and available space.
In this blog, we’ll explore the different designs of bathtubs and how you can select the right one for your bathroom.
The Various Types of Bathtubs
The main difference between tubs is their shape, whether they touch the wall and floor, and if they go deeper than the rest of the bathroom floor. Therefore a bath can fall into two categories. Nevertheless, examining these six main categories can help you understand what you want and what you’ll need to get it.
Now, let’s dive deeper into the differing tubs.
-
Freestanding Bathtub
A freestanding bathtub such as a clawfoot or garden tub is a traditional bathtub that doesn’t connect to any walls or even the floor. Since this tub doesn’t have any connection to the floor or the walls, it has exposed plumbing. That said, you can invest in the exposed plumbing to highlight it and make it part of the room’s decor. Plus, their installation is simple.
Furthermore, freestanding tubs tend to need a wide area and a strong foundation. They’re often made of heavy material, can hold a lot of water, and their weight is usually focused on four points. All of this pressure can be dangerous unless constructors build your bathroom for this tub.
Aesthetically, this tub can be a striking piece that easily fits traditional styles. Their ergonomic or traditional shape can add a touch of luxury to your bathroom. In particular, the ability to sink fully in a freestanding tub gives it a spa level of comfort. Moreover, they can come with shelving, making them convenient as well.
-
Alcove Bathtub
The alcove or recessed kind of bathtub is the most common type of bath in the USA. What makes them a popular choice is their low price, standard 60” length, and ease to fit in small spaces. They’re often used in preexisting alcoves to minimize space waste. However, they’re also available in slightly larger and shorter lengths but they’re not as customizable as other baths.
Since these tubs fit in an alcove, three walls surround them. You may attach this tub to those walls. Alternatively, you could leave it detached. This gives you the option to customize the space around them. For instance, you could add a longer ledge or ‘lip’ to one side to transform it into a ledge for your toiletries.
-
Drop-in Bathtub
The drop-in bathtub introduces a unique design element to any bathroom. The bottom of this tub goes beneath the bathroom floor. Moreover, the walls and floor surround this tub. It has a lip that goes all around it. You can use this lip as storage space or decorate it to fit your bathroom’s theme.
However, this design requires a constructed foundation that fits the tub. Otherwise, you’ll need to remodel your bathroom which will cost a lot more than if you had already designed your bathroom for a drop-in tub.
Nevertheless, this tub offers a unique and versatile design that’s space-efficient. Nonetheless, if you wish to include jets in the tub, you’ll have a harder time than with some of the other designs.
-
Combination Bathtub
Another popular type of bathtub is a combination of tub and shower. Usually, this style of bath comes in the alcove style. However, it’s possible to combine it with other styles so long as you’ve planned for its maintenance. This type of bath requires the most clean-up regardless of its design. All the same, you can minimize backsplash with a glass door.
You might prefer this style because it saves space by sharing the shower and bath area. However, it might not suit you if you or your family members have mobility issues since it can be difficult to enter and leave. Moreover, combination tubs usually have limited designs and may feel stifling if you have a specific look in mind.
-
Corner Bathtub
Corner or triangular bathtubs are a type of tub that fits in a corner between two walls. If you have an empty corner, they can be an interesting design to add to your bathroom. Their shape can give a spa-like appearance to your bathroom.
However, this tub has multiple drawbacks:
- Needs Space: Corner tubs require a large area to install.
- High Maintenance: Their shape makes them more difficult to clean than other tubs.
- High Water Consumptions: With a triangular shape, they need more water to fill to satisfactory levels.
-
Walk-in Bathtub
Lastly, walk-in tubs are a bathtub that makes entering a bath easier for those with mobility issues. This tub has a watertight door with or without a threshold. By eliminating the need to lift your leg high above the edge of the bath, it’s easier to walk into the bath.
Though they’re difficult to install, they can increase the value of your home since they can be essential to those living with mobility issues. Plus, you can add aromatherapy features to this tub to give your bath time a luxurious experience.
Which Bathtub Is Right for You?
These factors affect the different types of bathtubs:
- Aesthetic: If you don’t like the look of a bathtub, even if it has all the benefits you’re looking for, it’s better to consider the other designs of the other tubs. Plus, some materials such as acrylic are more versatile in appearance and others have a distinct look you might appreciate such as cast iron, copper, and marble.
- Floor Capacity: Your floor can only hold up so much weight, So, if you want a heavier tub such as a cast iron garden tub, you’ll need to reinforce your floor which will increase the cost of the renovation.
- Cost: To stay within budget, you need to consider the material, type, and size of the tub. Cast iron, copper, and stone baths are expensive while fiberglass and acrylic baths are much cheaper. Additionally, deeper baths such as freestanding baths use more water and require more heating. Therefore, they’ll cost more in the long term.
- Space Available: Though you may desire a specific tub, if it’s difficult to access or makes the bathroom cramped, it’s best to choose a smaller bath. In particular, freestanding and corner tubs require more space.
- Water Heater Capacity: If you select a deeper or larger tub, you’ll need a water heater that can heat enough water in one go. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to have a full bath or the water will cool down as you wait for more hot water.
- Durability: The material of your tub will affect its durability and in turn how long before you need to replace it. For instance, fiberglass tubs scratch and crack quickly while cast iron doesn’t.
Conclusion
Now you know the types of bathtubs come with a variety of benefits and drawbacks. For instance, clawfoot tubs are statement pieces but they’re expensive and heavy. In comparison, alcove bathtubs are commonplace and limited in style but cost-effective.
You can try to lessen the drawbacks by mixing the styles. However, the foundation of your bathroom will limit which tub you’ll be able to install. Additionally, the material you choose will affect the durability and cost of your tub. Therefore, whether you go for a freestanding, alcove, drop-in, combination, corner, or walk-in tub, keep the above information in mind.