Tubs

Scrub-a-dub-dub, find the best tub

There is nothing like a soak in a hot bath to relax, rejuvenate and revive you even on the worst of days. So, the tub is one of the most important elements of your new bathroom design. There are several styles to choose from.

Claw-footed

These are the tubs of yesteryear, but they are still so right for today. Originally, they were made from cast iron, which almost can’t be destroyed. (That’s why you can still find these tubs being used as horse troughs and garden planters.) They will never wear out. Today some are still made from cast iron, but you can also find acrylic varieties. Some newer ones are even made with whirlpool features. The claw-style feet are ornate, and the tub shapes are elegant and provide a deep pool for your bath. The design elements of a claw-footed bathtub add a spark of beauty to an otherwise utilitarian device.

Standard

Standard bathtubs are typically 60 inches long and 14 inches deep, but you can find tubs up to 72 inches long and 16 inches deep. The standard tub is rectangular in shape and will fit into a three-walled alcove, which usually makes better use of the space in a bathroom and provides a more private feel. Twists on the standard tub include the garden tub and the corner tub, both of which provide large-capacity soaking areas and give your bathroom look a little more interest.

Whirlpool

Whirlpool tubs are usually deeper than standard tubs, and they come in assorted shapes and sizes. If you want to replace a standard tub with a whirlpool tub, you should be able to find one that fits the space you have. Whirlpool tubs offer the added benefit of jetted water circulation that massages and comforts the user. The whirlpool jets are motorized and use a pump to drive air through the water at great pressure. Unfortunately, these pumps can make a lot of noise. High-end models may have a separate pump that can be located elsewhere in the house so that noise is diminished, but that is considerably more difficult to implement in a remodel than in new construction. In addition, whirlpool tubs often need to be framed specially and may need an electrical circuit or water heater that is devoted only to it.