When we think about a bathtub it’s easy to imagine soaking yourself in a bubble bath, relaxing after a long day at work, listening to some soft music and maybe sipping some good wine. All the better if there’s a loved one to keep us company during this amazing relaxation method. Everybody secretly wishes they had a beautiful and spacious bathtub in their bathroom and nowadays, if you are looking to design or refurbish your bathroom, this wish can become a reality thanks to a huge selection of bathtubs to pick from.
Finding the right bathtub is not always an easy task, be it because of space or budget, there are always several problems before the perfect solution for your bathroom comes to you. However, to make your life easier, bathroom design companies usually have the experience and professionalism you need in order to find the right option for your house.
The list of styles, models and materials for bathtubs can go on and on and sometimes it can be quite difficult to make up your mind about the one you want for your bathroom, for this reason we’re going to prepare a list of the main categories of bathtubs that are easy to find and can hopefully help make your bathroom as unique and personal as you want it to be.
Standard Acrylic Bathtubs
Let’s start from the basis: What is an acrylic bathtub? To make it simple, it’s basically a bathtub made of vacuum-formed sheets of acrylic and sometimes they can be covered with fiberglass in order to make them last longer. Acrylic bathtubs have a lot of advantages; for starters, if you live in an apartment building or if you want to install your bathtub in an upstairs bathroom, an acrylic bathtub is a very good choice since it’s made of a light material which is also easy to transport and lift when necessary, therefore your bathtub will be pretty easy to install.
Additionally, you are going to find a lot of different shapes and models for acrylic bathtubs because the material is simple to model and allows many shapes to be created. Acrylic is probably going to offer enough choices to satisfy you and everybody else in the household and it can also adapt to the space you have available in your bathroom.
It’s also important to keep your acrylic bathtub clean if you don’t want it to be ruined by the limestone that’s going to be created when you use the bathtub. We suggest always using hot water and soap to clean the bathtub (and it’s sink) after each and every use.
Steel Bathtubs
Steel bathtubs can be a very good choice to consider when renovating a bathroom or designing a new one. They are affordable, and their main characteristic is that they are very durable. It’s very easy to keep a steel bathtub clean and it’s likely to keep its original shine for a really long time after installing it. Just as acrylic bathtubs, steel bathtubs also come in a lot of different models and shapes and they are not difficult to transport. I’d say that one of the main advantages of choosing a steel bathtub for your bathroom is that, when you fill it with hot water, they maintain the temperature for a reasonable length of time. This happens because steel keeps the temperature of the water warm and the water will only cool down due to the air exposure on the surface and not through the bathtub walls.
Cast Iron Bathtubs
Cast iron bathtubs can look similar to steel bathtubs but they are more expensive and also way heavier. They are made pouring liquid iron into a mould and when the iron hardens it then gets the shape of the bathtub. When it comes to water temperature, cast iron bathtubs have the same characteristic as steel bathtubs, meaning that they retain the high temperature of the water for a long time. Cast Iron bathtubs are thick and difficult to manoeuvre if you need to renovate an upstairs bathroom and the manpower to install one will most likely cost more money compared with other bathtubs. They are however the most durable bathtubs in the long run and it’s because of this durability that these kinds of bathtubs are usually some of the most expensive you can find.
Keep in mind that, due to the weight of both the material and the water, your floor might need some reinforcement to be able to support the bathtub. A bathroom design company will most likely be able to advice you on this and suggest a different type of bathtub if it becomes too costly or time consuming.
Freestanding Bathtubs
Freestanding bathtubs are ideal if you have a lot of free space in your bathroom. A freestanding bathtub can add a classical touch to your space and also create a luxurious look for your bathroom. It is usually seen as the focal point of bathrooms that have one and it can be made of different kinds of materials, from acrylic to cast iron. Imagine how good in must feel to cuddle in a nice, freestanding bathtub with your significant other and enjoy the skylights while relaxing in hot water.
There are many models, sizes and shapes available and you can really exploit your creativity and design skills when and where you choose to install one. Generally, a freestanding bathtub is more expensive than a standard bathtub, so if you are looking for a cheap option it’s better to stay away and look towards an acrylic, steel or fiberglass bathtub.
Bathtub & Shower Combo
If your bathroom is not the biggest and you want to make the most of the space you have, then maybe a bathtub and shower combo is the option you should be looking for. These units are usually very affordable and can actually make your bathroom look more spacious, they are quick and easy to install, and you’ll have both a shower and a bathtub for your bathroom.
If you are trying to create an elegant or minimal look for your bathroom, then this is definitely the right choice. We suggest installing a glass shower door rather than a curtain to make your bathroom look bigger and more elegant. A bathtub and shower unit is also easy to clean and maintain and it gives the option of choosing if you want the wall to be on your left side rather than your right side, making it a good fit for most bathrooms.
Alcove Bathtubs
If you are looking for the cheapest option on the market, alcove bathtubs are the right choice. It’s probably the most famous type of bathtub and most likely we’ve all seen one at least once in our lives. They are also the easiest bathtubs to install but the downside is that they are not very big since the average size is about 152 cm in length (60 inches), give or take 20 centimetres. It’s perfect to fit horizontally between two walls and if you have an adjacent window, it looks fantastic and makes for a better experience! If you have tiles in your bathroom, then an alcove bathtub will look very stylish. An alcove is a good choice if you don’t have a lot of space available in your bathroom but you still want to give up bathroom the wow factor.
Those were the main types of bathtubs you can find on the market, they possibly fit any design you have in mind for a new or refurbished bathroom and you can definitely find one to suit your style and budget. It can be a difficult task to find the right style and type so we advise that you consult a professional bathroom design company before making any final decisions since they can easily and professionally help you find the best suited bathtub for your bathroom. We hope this guide and short explanation outlining the main bathtubs was helpful and if you would like to know more or have questions, contact The Landlord Bathroom Company.