Soaking Tubs

Is there anything better than a nice long bath after a hard day at work? Long passed are the days when you needed to go to a spa just to get that special type of relaxation only a good bath can give. Buying a new tub isn’t something you should rush into. There are a lot of different options and a ton of variety. It would be such a shame to miss that perfect tub just because of a little lack of knowledge and patience.

The first thing you have to do before buying a tub is, well, deciding you want to buy a tub. I say that because nobody really “needs” a tub, it’s meant pretty much just for those of us who yearn for that hot long relaxing bath. However, if you’re not really into baths there’s no real point in getting a tub at all. A shower will do just fine if all you’re after is fulfilling your hygienic needs. After you’ve decided a tub is what you really want, let’s look at the things you’ll have to consider before making the right choice.

Sense a tub is the biggest single object in your bathroom, which is the smallest room in your house anyway, deciding where to place is going to affect the entire design of the room. Whether you’re doing a remodel or building a house from scratch makes a real big difference here. If you’re remodeling it’s probably a good idea to place the new tub where the former one was, sense moving around plumbing can be quite expensive. However, if you’re building a new home you can pick pretty much any spot as your ideal bath tub placement. You can read about the different types of tubs before making up your mind.

Three Wall Alcoves

the most common type of tub you see in houses nowadays is the recessed bathtub or the three wall alcove. These have walls surrounding them from three sides. Only one the 4^th side of the tub is finished sense it’s the only visible one. Don’t forget that if the tub doubles as a shower (most commonly it does) then all three walls need to be waterproof.

Corner Tub

corner tubs come in a triangular shape with the diagonal side facing the room, which is the only side finished. This type of tub can mostly fit two people comfortably, making it the most romantic and couple friendly type of tub.

Drop-in Tub

drop-in tubs are supported from all different sides by a frame. They can either stand on platform or set below floor level. Most commonly, dropin-tubs are maide of lightweight acrylic and therefore allow for larger tub to be placed then models made form heavier materials. They usually come with molded sits for a comfortable and relaxing soaking experience.

Freestanding Tub

can come on feet like a clawfoot tub and sometimes has a base. It’s definitely the focal point of any bathroom, and makes a very powerful style statement. It completely changes your bathroom decor with its lavish style and feel, a definite choice for those who enjoy the good life and like to make their friends a bit jealous.

There is a surprising amount of different materials used to make tubs these days, there are plenty of different options each one bringing its unique flavor to the overall design of the room. You could go with metal, acrylic, cast iron, glass and even wood or stone. When choosing a material try not to think only on what looks best, but also about what feels the most comfortable and what matches the rest of the room and your bathroom tiles.

When deciding how big you want your bath tub to be there is always the age old debate between comfort and water usage. The first thing you’ll have to figure out is whether you’re planning the take baths mostly alone or with your spouse. If you’re taking a couple’s bath only every long period of time you might just want to go for a bit bigger single person sized bath, the both of you could probably squeeze in when you feel like it. However if you’re one of those couples who enjoy taking long baths together then by all means get a two person sized bath, it’s much more comfortable and will greatly enhance your joint bathing experience