Question of the day: If you have only one bathtub in your house, should you make it a deep soaker tub? My two cents: No.
This issue — which I’ve run into personally before — came up when Elishia commented with a question on my 2010 story Choosing a bath tub big enough to soak in — I change my Kohler recommendation.
Elishia asked another reader, Patti, about the American Evolution bath tub (shown above – update: link now gone) she was considering. Elishia asked:
Patti, how are you enjoying the Evolution bathtub? I’m just about to buy the same one. I’m debating between the 72 and 60″ at the moment. The 72″ says it takes 110 gallons to fill up! That seems like A LOT Of water and might make me way less likely to take a bath. So I’m heading towards the 60″ which fills at 87 gallons. That is still a lot of water, but I’m guessing it’s at least 10 gallons less since I don’t need to fill it all the way up. I was also thinking that the 72″ might be too long for me at 5 7″ and that I’d slip down into it without my feet touching the end.
It will be in our second bathroom with a shower over. I’m guessing it would feel too deep to want to shower in there daily, but on occasion wouldn’t be a big deal. Are you showering in yours too? How is the depth for stepping over?
Sounds like Elishia has a normal-sized tub in her other bathroom.
That said, I wanted to spotlight this subject because I have two good friends who installed deep soaker tubs in bathrooms where daily showering was the norm — and they deeply regretted it.
Install a soaker tub — or a “normal” tub?
Disclaimer: I am not a professionally trained bathroom designer. But here are my thoughts based on my personal experience with this issue:
- I have two friends who have used soaker tubs in their bathrooms. Each of the two bathrooms were used daily by two people — but almost always to shower, rarely to soak. These friends both reported that the tub was a real hassle to get in and out of for showering. They both told me they would never ever do it again. About 10 years later, one of my friends actually gutted the bathroom and started over again because installing that soaker tub had been such a mistake.
- One of the two bathrooms was initially installed for two children, when the children were young. This also became a regret. The soaker tub was too big, too deep, too difficult for the parents to reach in and out to help their young children bathed. So instead, the family hauled the kids two stories down — to the basement bathroom, where there was a normal-sized tub to bath them in. Later, when the children were old enough and wanted to shower on their own — well, see the first bullet in this list, wrong product for this use.
- I definitely think it’s good to have one tub in the house — specifically, for children to use or, if you don’t have children, in case you ever sell your house to someone who does. But as per the bullet above, for children, you want normal-sized tubs, not soakers.
- All that said: Heck, soaker tubs are great — if you (1) already have one normal-sized tub in the house and (2) have one bathroom large enough for both a walk-in shower and nearby, a stand-alone soaker tub. My aunt Mary Anne has a soaker tub in the corner of her master bathroom. When I was staying with her a few years ago, I used it. It had jets even. It was heavenly.
Finally: Important safety advice to consider: Consult with your own professional about installing safety grab bars. This is an important piece of advice for all tubs and showers, but I would surmise, all the more so the deeper the tub.
Room for only one “normal” sized bathtub — but want to make the water fill deeper for occasional adult soak time? Try one of these thingies; I have a similar brand and it helps:
Ree says
I live in a house built in 1955 and it has a receptor tub with seat in the master bath and a large bathtub (55″ long by 18″) in the other bathroom. Both are cast iron and original to the house. The large tub is so much better than the standard shallower tubs that many new houses have today, and I love the receptor tub. It is a perfect tub for showering and you don’t have to worry about water splashing onto the floor. When my grandson was a baby, it was excellent for his baths and he loved it. The corner seat on the receptor tub is perfect for shaving legs and for sitting on while showering when I had a severe back issue last year. They both have been resurfaced and look great. I would never remove them to install anything else.
Elle Marie says
When we bought our house, there was an existing tub with shower surround in place that was recently put in (likely within the previous 5 years) so we felt no need to replace it. We did wind up replacing the shower walls, as the walls selected by the previous owner had a textured fake grout surface that was very difficult to clean, and the drywall above the surround was not the correct type and had to be replaced as it soaked up residual moisture from the shower.
At any rate, the tub is a deeper tub – this is the one we have: http://www.homedepot.com/p/STERLING-Ensemble-33-1-4-in-x-60-in-x-75-1-4-in-Bath-and-Shower-Kit-with-Right-Hand-Drain-in-White-71220120-0/203016834?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal1_rr-_-205218505-_-203016834-_-N
I love this tub, and this is our only shower so both my husband and I use it every day. I take baths usually 2 times a week or so – and I’m 5’10”, and not a slight person. I love that I can get in the tub and actually get a good soak in. The only recommendation I have is to have a properly installed grab bar (or bars) available – it makes getting out of the tub after a long soak much easier, and gives something to grab onto if you slip in the shower. We had our contractor install one when the shower walls were replaced.
One thing I will say – both my husband and I are taller than average – he’s 6’3″ and I’m 5’10”, so people with shorter legs might have issue with the 18″ apron (height from the floor to the top edge of the tub) when getting in and out of the shower. But I wouldn’t trade this tub for anything! My husband has even, on rare occasion, been able to soak in the tub, which he hadn’t been able to do in a standard tub in many, many years.
Robin, NV says
I never really gave this much thought but I think Pam’s opinions are spot on. I also concur with those that mentioned the waste of water. 110 gallons!! Youch. I have a better option – the private pools at Carson Hot Springs in Carson City, Nevada. For a once or twice a month soak, the 3 ft. deep pools of natural spring water can’t be beat – especially in the winter. 🙂
pam kueber says
I want hot springs nearby!!!!
Robin, NV says
😛
Allen says
They need to bring back receptor tubs for water conservation sake!
Steve H says
Wow, 110 gallons. That seems like a real waste of water, especially considering the water shortage problems in many areas of the country. My personal feeling: Who really has the time for a leisurely soak? It’s one of those things that sounds nice, but that you end up never using.
1964Crazy says
I agree about the water waste. And all waste, esp gutting perfectly lovely older and old houses that can be restored, and wasting all those well done baths that will last as long as anyone wishes to live there for the most part.
I’m all about preservation, recycling and saving resources. You couldn’t give me one of the vinyl-clad monstrosities they’re building today, no matter how fancy they try to make them with the cheap-looking fixtures. And the flippers are no better.
At 5’1″ and shrinking (haha) and with a short height-gened family, soakers just wouldn’t ever do anyway. It would be too much like trying to get up into my granddaughter’s Suburban which is a real exercise!
pam kueber says
Ya know, for bathrooms that need to be made over, I definitely understand why folks might go for acrylic or fiberglass. Such an install is likely going to cost much less in both time and money than doing a cast iron tub with tile surround, and that may be what some folks can truly afford.
Rick S says
Pam,
The other reason is the acrylic one is about 250-300 lbs lighter. when we replaced the cracked fiberglass tub/shower unit the Kohler Archer is what we chose. It was available in cast iron too but to carry 360 pounds up a flight of stairs and turn it around in the hallway and fit and refit it 3-4 times would be hard.
We did follow plumbers advise to have it set in mortar and the bottom does not flex or move at all. Feels like iron.
It is in the hallway bathroom and we have one of those “phone booth” showers in master bath. As long as my wife can soak every so often she is happy.
rick
pam kueber says
There ya go!
1964Crazy says
Actually, I was talking about the new house builds in this area, not particularly the tubs, but should have been more specific. Those who are looking for smaller, brick-built houses are just of out luck unless they go for older homes, which is what we did. Much better construction in the long term as well, although many could use extra insulation.
No, I get it about the tubs, but I’ve had one of those fiberglass ones and didn’t like it–they never seemed to come clean, no matter what you used or how much you scrubbed, and they don’t wear well over time.
Lynne says
A very timely post as we are in the midst of a total bathroom gut/remodel. ( Farewell, green bathroom, you served us well.)
I chose a standard, regular old bathtub to replace a poorly installed modern telephone booth sized shower. We wanted a tub in the house for EXACTLY the reasons you pointed out. Plus, the fact that the bathroom in our 1955 ranch is small. A big old tub was going to be so out of scale for the room.
With the advice of our plumber we have chosen the Aker TO3060
http://www.akerbymaax.com/en/products/bathtubs/rectangular/to-3060. I haven’t seen it yet, too early in the project. I will admit, I am nervous.
I’ll let you know how it goes, and if it’s a winner, you may want to add this model to your list.
Dan says
The folks who had our house just before us put in a soaker tub – in fact, the one pictured at the top of the story. If we had the money, we would rip it out and put in a shower stall. They are a pain in the tuchas, especially when we try to lift our 40 pound dog in for her “spa” treatment. Besides, even on the rare occasion you might want to fill it, it is so big that the water never stays as hot as it would in a smaller tub.
Orginger says
I agree – I know a lot of people who remove them for showers. When I did a bathroom renovation recently, I wanted a regular tub and actually found it hard to find much selection. The soaker tub trend is going strong – I think, as people get older and the climbing in and out to shower gets hard on the knees, they will see.
That said, I have both – a regular tub and a soaker tub. My kid prefers the regular, it’s cosier. Also takes less time to fill.
1964Crazy says
When we lost the first choice of a 1941, we subsequently found this 1964 house.
No plans to take out the aqua tub or sink w/hudee and all that beautiful 4×4 tile..
Never, ever. Not even for a free soaker.
Robbie Kendall says
As someone who is 6′ 1″, I would definitely go with the standard depth 72″ tub of which Elisha speaks. The previous owners of the home we bought this summer gutted and expanded the pre-WWII bathroom 🙁 They moved the toilet so that it is right by the extra large window over the front door (talk about bad feng shui), and added a modern longer tub with jets. The length of the tub is fine and at the same time, it is a royal pain to keep the jets clean and mildew-free. When we re-do the bathroom, finding a vintage longer tub, if possible, that has a standard depth with no jets will be our first choice.
On a side note, we moved into this house from a 1920’s Hyde Park apartment building which still had one of it’s original tubs. I wish that I had known about your Deep Water Bath overflow cover then as the bathtub’s overflow drain was located at exactly half way up the tub making soaking impossible.
jeanne says
I agree about the royal pain to keep the jets clean. My last home had a deep soaker tub with jets. When we first bought the house, I thought “cool.” But, ended up never using it (maybe once to try it out)…it was difficult to climb in and out of for showering and the jets were a MAJOR pain to try to keep clean.