For a household feature that represents luxury and relaxation, a bathtub can be a stressful item to purchase.
The number of options available today are head-spinning and it can be difficult to understand the best product for your needs.
As a high-level tip, it’s useful to focus initially on the shape, depth, size and any weight issues when making a purchase. Below are four critical factors to specifically consider.
Measure first
Before hitting the showrooms and falling in love with a particular bath, measure your bathroom and decide how much of it should be taken up by a tub. An oversized tub will cramp your options for a shower, vanity and storage and may make the room feel small rather than luxurious.
Jet-setting option
If your heart is set on a spa bath, or one with jet-streams, then investigate your plumbing options first. Spas require both water and power access and are usually larger tubs that may become very heavy when filled with water. They’re also more likely to splash and require great drainage. You’ll get lots of good advice from a qualified contractor.
The heat is on
Can your hot water system or boiler cope with the demands of a large bath? This is another question to clarify with your contractor. If you need a new heater, the project might start to blow out your budget. And if you’re looking to sell in the short-term, discuss with your agent whether the investment will return the price that you want.
Weighty problem
A bigger bath will add significantly more weight to the structure of your home once full. If you’re planning a much larger bath upstairs, it’ll be a good idea to check with a contractor to see if its weight will be a problem. Also ask yourself how you’ll get the tub up the stairs and how it will access the room.