Plastic bathtubs can weigh as little as 50 pounds empty, while a cast-iron bathtub can top 1, pounds. If you're considering a heavier material, can your floors handle the weight? When you add up bathtub weight, plus the weight of water and people, it may be necessary to reinforce the floor beneath the tub with supports or bracing. Also, a too-heavy tub may be impossible or prohibitively expensive to get into a second-floor bathroom.
Before buying a tub, try it on for size—literally. Climb in, settle back, and imagine yourself soaking. Does it fit and feel comfortable for you? Don't be embarrassed; it's the best way to determine if you'll be satisfied with it. With hundreds of shapes and sizes to choose from, buying a tub can be overwhelming. The bathtub material you select determines its price, durability, and cleanability. Use our bathtub material comparison to help you choose. Plastic : Made of either fiberglass or acrylic, plastic bathtubs offer the greatest design flexibility because they can be molded into many shapes.
It's warm to the touch and insulates well, so water doesn't cool as fast as in enameled-steel bathtubs or cast-iron tubs.
Plastic is also the lightest tub, weighing in at pounds. Although it doesn't chip easily, abrasive cleaners will damage the surface. Enameled steel: Formed steel bathtubs with a porcelain-enamel coating are the least expensive tubs. But the material has drawbacks: Steel conducts heat, meaning tub water cools quickly; the surface is prone to chipping; and it weighs about twice as much as plastic.
Cast-iron: Cast-iron tubs, like steel, are coated with enamel. However, they don't chip as easily as steel because the enamel coating is thicker than on steel tubs, and cast iron is more durable and resistant to impacts.
At first, a cast-iron tub will pull heat from water, but once it heats up, it will keep water warm for a long time. Cast iron's main drawback is its weight, pounds, which may complicate second-floor tub installations. It measures 60 by 32 inches and claims to be warmer to the touch than a steel or enamel tub. Another simple option, this tub comes in two lengths — With its block feet, this model is a modern take on the clawfoot tub for people who are still seeking an elevated design.
Equipped with 12 massage jets, a quick-fill faucet, showerhead with inch reach, and chromatherapy colored light lighting, this walk-in tub is as luxurious as it gets.
The watertight door comes with a lifetime warranty guarantee, while the drain quickly empties the gallon capacity tub in under a minute. The gallon capacity bathtub comes with a water heater, and there are easy touch controls to adjust the water flow and massage jets to your liking. It also includes an extension kit that lets you expand your available tub space. Alcove bathtub: An alcove tub is surrounded on three sides by walls, so you get in on the exposed side.
It's usually the most affordable and space-efficient. Drop-in bathtub: A drop-in tub is "framed by materials like cabinetry, tile, or solid surface slabs and 'drop-in' to a deck," said Kerrie Kelly, National Board Chair of the American Society of Interior Designers. Although it might be surrounded by walls like an alcove tub, its sides do not actually touch the walls directly.
Corner bathtub: A corner tub is often three-sided or heart-shaped, with two of the sides in the corner of your space. It's best for small spaces. Freestanding bathtub: A freestanding tub can be placed anywhere in the room and is often the focal point. It can stand directly on the floor, on a low pedestal, or on claw feet. It takes up a lot of space and tends to be heavy, so you might need to reinforce your floor, but it has the most eye-catching and elegant look of all the tub types.
Both Kelly and Tricia Fraser, a merchant and bathtub expert at The Home Depot say freestanding tubs are growing in popularity and the biggest trend in bathroom design recently. Walk-in bathtub: A walk-in tub is for people who can't step into a regular tub. It has a watertight door and "typically has safety features, like a grab bar, slip-resistant textured flooring, and ADA-compliant seating.
These tubs can also offer a therapeutic massage experience with features like jetted whirlpool or jetted air," said Fraser. Bathroom size: Take measurements of your bathroom and doorway.
Depending on the amount of space available, you may only be able to buy certain tub styles. Plumbing location: The location of your plumbing rough-in limits where you can place your tub.
The drain location needs to work with your tub's design. Water heater size: "Confirm that your water heater can handle the size of tub you are looking to fill. This is especially important if you opt for a deeper soaking tub.
Material: Material affects the price, feel, and longevity of your tub. The most common bathtub materials are acrylic, fiberglass, porcelain-enameled steel, and porcelain-enameled cast iron.
Acrylic is long-lasting, lightweight, affordable, and widely available in many colors and styles. Fiberglass is the most affordable but not as durable.
Both enameled cast iron and steel are very durable and resistant to scratches and stains, but cast iron has even greater heat retention, keeping your bath water hot for a longer period of time. Weight capacity of your floor: If your tub is going on the second floor, you might need to reinforce the floor based on what materials you choose.
Acrylic tubs are lighter in weight, while cast iron tubs are a lot heavier. Extra features: Features like whirlpool jets, grab bars, and seating will bring the price of your tub up but add to the overall experience of your bath.
According to Fraser, a standard tub measures 60" x 30". I am thinking about having a new bathtub installed in my bathroom because I feel like the one I have is too small for me to comfortably fit in. I will be purchasing an alcove or freestanding soaking tub for my new home.
I am a senior and need to take into consideration my future agility to get into the tub as well as a wider rim or handles for extra support to emerge. Would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions of a style to meet my needs. Thank you. These are low enough that you can easily get in and out of and provide plenty of space around you. Let us know if you have any other question or email us at Badeloft.
Choosing the right bathtub for your home can be exhausting and tedious. Many bathtubs today tend to be the same. So you are ready to remodel your new bathroom, but your remodel is extensive-you want to double the size, knock. Can you make your bathroom feel luxurious and spacious without breaking the bank? The answer is yes, with proper paint,. Although it may seem trivial, every homeowner knows that water is a big danger to any bathroom. Trapped moisture without. Please use the following form to get your free material samples matte and glossy.
Or send us an email at usa badeloft. By Badeloft May 7, How to Guides. Oval Contrary to the more classic design of the clawfoot is the oval bathtub. Alcove Alcove or recessed tubs are tubs that are installed in a recess of three connecting walls with one finished side. Corner Tub Similar to an alcove, but much larger is the corner tub.
Walk-in A walk-in bathtub is a bathtub that is fitted to allow the user to walk in and sit down without fear of slipping. Whirlpool A whirlpool tub is a bathtub that houses self-contained jets. Air Tub An air tub is a bathtub that is equipped with multiple small jets that blow heated air into the bath water to create a massaging sensation. Materials There are two factors in choosing the right material for your bathtub , namely price and comfort. Fiberglass The cheapest bathtub material, fiberglass is constructed from reinforced plastic sheets which are eventually molded into the shape of a bathtub.
Porcelain Porcelain is constructed by layering cast iron or stamped steel with a layer of porcelain enamel-a mixture of powdered glass and substrate heated into a durable coating.
Acrylic Similar to fiberglass, acrylic is formed by taking a solid sheet of petrochemicals, stabilizers, resin and appropriate dye, heating it then molding the result into a bathtub shape which is then reinforced with fiberglass.
Ceramic Ceramic bathtubs are formed by molding numerous ceramic tiles together until it hardens. Stone Resin Stone resin is a material composing of crushed natural stone bounded together with adhesive to give you a composite material that has the look and feel of natural stone without the additional weight and added cost. Rated 5. Share this article:. Share on facebook. Share on twitter.
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