Finding the right soaking tub can be a difficult task. Not only do you have to get the dimensions right, but you then have to choose from the many different styles offered—and here at The Tub Connection, we have a lot of quality tubs to choose from! So what are the steps to buying the right tub?
There are four main things to think about to get the tub of your dreams:
- The style, design, and material of the tub
- The available space in your bathroom
- How much sitting room you’ll need, and how to measure it
- What customizations you’d like
Let’s get to them!
First, you need to ask yourself: what design appeals to you? To help with this decision, let’s take you through the different design options for soaking tubs. The first one is the clawfoot tub, recognizable by its signature four feet that keep the basin aloft from the ground. This classic tub has a distinguished look that can bring opulence to any bathroom decor.
Cast Iron Tub
The next major soaking tub is the pedestal tub. Instead of feet, this type of tub has, as you might guess, a pedestal at its base that supports the basin. This look can lend Roman elegance to your bathroom, and make you feel like a queen or king reclining the warm water.
Acrylic Tub
“Pedestal Harrison,” a 68″ Acrylic Double Ended Slipper Pedestal Bathtub
Last, we have a freestanding tub. This one deserves a bit of explanation, as, technically, all of these are freestanding tubs. But when the label freestanding is used instead of clawfoot or pedestal here at The Tub Connection, it’s intended to mean a tub that sits on the floor without feet but does not have a pedestal base. The sharp look of it is perfect for modernist bathroom designs and suits a no-nonsense attitude.
Cultured Marble Tub
Once you’ve selected your design, you have to consider the style of it. Don’t get confused by those—there really are two elements to the tub design-wise: the base, and the basin. Let’s look at the different styles of basins.
The style you may be most familiar with is the rolled rim. This is a straight-shooter, with the shape you’d expect a tub to take, and a fairly straight lip all the way across. While the faucet can be inserted over the middle, for this style, it is more often installed over the straighter side.
Rolled Rim Tub
“Camden,” 61″ Cast Iron Rolled Rim Tub
Next is the slipper, or single-slipper. This style introduces a comfortable incline, perfectly designed for a long soak after a long day at work, or a relaxing one on the weekend. Like the rolled rim, the slipper more often than not has the faucet over the more upright edge, but it can also be placed over the middle.
Faux Copper Tub
“Copper Harrison,” 68″ Acrylic Clawfoot Double Slipper Tub
Along with style and design, there is another thing you must consider for your tub: the material from which it’s made. Tubs come in all kinds. The most common is acrylic, a resilient material that is easily customizable and no problem to take care of. Other types include cast iron, copper, and even wood and stone if you want a naturalistic feel to your bathroom.
Once you’ve selected the design, style, and material of your future tub, it’s time to judge how much space you have available. If you’re looking to install the tub into an open space, all the better—no restrictions on space are necessary. But for most, you only have limited space for the tub, which means you have to measure carefully and accurately.
Size Matters
There are two main measurements for tubs: at the top, outer edges of the tub, and inside the basin’s sitting area. For judging how much space you need in your bathroom for the tub, we’re looking at that first measurement of the top rim. To ensure you have enough space and avoid the risk of gouging your walls, be sure to have at least 1 inch on each side. That means you need to have 2 inches more than what the tub length is. The size of the tub is always listed in the product title.
Another consideration to bear in mind as far as space goes is where your water supply is located in the space. If it’s at one end, you’ll have to opt for either a slipper or rolled rim style. If it’s in the middle, you can have either of those, but the double slipper will be the most perfect fit.
The second measurement is also important: the amount of sitting room. To achieve a comfortable fit in your tub, it’s necessary to measure this accurately. Fortunately, we have an effective and quick way to do this. The safest way is to have the tallest person that will use your bathtub stand straight up, then measure from about two inches below the waist to the floor. The measure you get is what you need in the basin. In the diagram below, we can see where this measurement is located in the top right (42”).
Tub Schematic
Another customization is adjusting the type of faucet holes and choosing the finish for the feet. For the latter, the options range from brushed nickel and matte black to oil rubbed bronze and chrome. All of these options make your tub uniquely yours—there won’t be another like it made!
We hope this guide helps you in finding your very own perfect soaking tub. Be sure to browse The Tub Connection’s selection when the time comes to search and discover all our great options!
You can always reach us toll-free at 877.795.5684.
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