Bathtubs are many different things to many different people. For some they’re a personal retreat where the cares of the world melt away. For others they’re the design element that makes their bathroom remodeling project take flight. What bathtubs aren’t anymore is just a place to get cleaned up. Those days passed with the ascendance of the shower. Today people typically choose to have a bathtub for personal reasons that have little to do with soap and water: they want a focal point, a meditative pool, a private spa.
Bathroom Remodeling Revolves Around the Bathtub
Deciding exactly which bathtub is right for your lifestyle can be a challenge. From a design standpoint the possibilities are almost endless and from a materials standpoint you’ve never had more choices. Let’s look at bathtub styles first:
- The Freestanding Bathtub – The freestanding bathtub of yore has made an astonishing comeback in recent years as bathroom remodeling experts have searched for ever more ways to meld the timeless with the contemporary. The freestanding tub will need to be near water lines though, so keep that in mind while you’re lusting after those claw feet.
- The Platform Bathtub – The platform configuration is typically used for air baths and whirlpools. Most of the bathtub is dropped into an enclosure where plumbing and other hardware can be hidden from view. Platform bathtubs are not usually associated with traditional interior design schemes.
- The Alcove Bathtub – Similar in profile to the platform the alcove bathtub, as its name implies, is designed to tuck into a nook in the wall or that space at the end of the bathroom under the window. If you’re after design flexibility in your bathroom remodeling project the alcove may be the way to go.
- The Corner Bathtub – In the long history of the bathtub the corner tub is a fairly recent development but one that has caught on. The corner bathtub will give you a little more room to spread out in different directions and the angled or rounded profile gives you additional interior design flexibility.
Materials
Which material you choose for your tub will largely depend on a combination of personal preference and budget, as well as availability (since all styles aren’t available in all materials).
- Acrylic – Acrylic tubs are more affordable and available in a wider range of styles than say porcelain tubs. If something should happen to your bathtub they’re also easier to repair.
- Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic – An FRP bathtub has a glossy surface like an acrylic tub but is less expensive. If it has a downside it’s that it is not as resistant to damage as acrylic.
- Porcelain – A porcelain tub is actually porcelain-coated steel. The primary advantage over a more traditional material like cast iron is that the porcelain tub will weigh less.
- Cast Iron – While a cast iron tub may last for a couple of centuries it may also be so heavy that you’ll need to reinforce the floor before installing it. Hard to beat the authentic look though.
- Cultured Marble – Cultured marble bathtubs aren’t chiseled from a single block like a statue but rather created using crushed marble that is set in resin and given a clear coat. At 4 or 5 times the price of an acrylic tub you may want to think about this for a while.
Karen Home is one of the Toronto area’s most trusted bathroom remodeling companies. We take great pride in every project we do and it shows in the quality of our workmanship and the satisfaction of our customers. If you are contemplating a bathroom renovation give the interior design experts at Karen Homes a call and get your project off on the right foot.