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:
Jay says
Soakers are not very appropriate for older homes with just one or two baths. I have a telephone booth sized shower in the master that I use. The hall bath still has its original blue porcelain over steel tub with two layers of tile surround. ikk! Just 5′, the width of the room. When and if the hall bath is replaced I would like cast iron but realize not many plumbers will install them. I don’t really want acrylic. Certainly not a soaker.
Jan says
Since showers are the venue in my house, I don’t have any use for a soaker tub, but I don’t really like their look anyway. That said, I’d kind of rather have a tub than just a shower – just like the way it looks, I guess. I love the Cinderella tub, and honestly, one of those might actually fit my bathroom – ah, someday! My current tub with shower, is a real mid-century tub, but is a good 4″ to 6″ shorter than a standard tub, and fits just right in it’s alcove. But yes, classic style bathtub for me!
tammyCA says
No soakers for me. I really don’t like taking baths, like extremely rare, I prefer fast showers & with this 4 year drought that’s a good thing. We have one normal size tub in one bath (kids take baths with shallow water, again the drought reason) & we have a shower in the other. Dh complains about the tub & when we redo the room wants a deeper one but I do not.. it’s the girls bathroom & I’m gonna do pink vintage & normal size tub.
Paula says
I have a feeling that “receptor” type tubs might still be available. I seem them in hotels quite often. We are not bath people and converted our tub to a double shower, which we love. We got strong armed into a soaking tub in our old place and I really regret that decision.
pam kueber says
hmmmm… I’d sure like to know the source!
Ed says
I’m curious as to which hotels. Then go up the chain to find the supplier. Perhaps the maintenance supervisor could offer an answer, or the corporate office. Hmm, off to Google and Bing.
Kate H says
I lived in a house built in 1928 that had the perfect tub. It was deep but narrow — so it filled fast. I am 5 “2 and it was the perfect length for me and it was easy to clean.
ineffablespace says
For a tub shower combo, I prefer a 5-foot, medium deep tub with a slanted back. Cast iron. (Pink if I could get one but I can’t)
A deeper soaker is okay if you have a separate shower. I actually liked the Kohler Greek tub which was a 4 foot for semi-seated bathing but very deep, sorta Japanese style.
ineffablespace says
Actually installing a Kohler Bellwether in Ice Grey. I got one of the very last Ice Grey cast iron tubs floating around. (I wanted Innocent Blush).
Serenity says
I grew up bathing daily using a clawfoot tub. I’m not that old and 4 other people were also taking baths. I HATE these common short tubs to the point I don’t consider using one as a tub. Just because a tub can hold a lot of water doesn’t mean you have to fill it that much. but it does feel good to lean back and your neck is supported
Ed says
I’m willing to let the wall around the tub support my head and neck, but it’s definitely nice to have your back supported when leaning back in the tub. The squared-off basins don’t really appeal to me for that reason. I generally go for a quick shower, but a soak occurs often enough that I’ll factor it into any remodel considerations.
Hey, while we’re discussing baths/showers, etc., can you direct me towards information regarding proper maintenance of tile surrounds? So many seams! So many places for water to seep behind and damage the supporting material! I’m in a rental, so I can’t really make any changes, but I want to avoid allowing any damage to occur. I’m kind of doubtful as to whether the correct materials and methods were used in the first place.
ElectraChime says
Not withstanding the water issue, where I agree less water is better, I believe the most important choice is the material. Cast iron with a porcelain coating is the traditional material however these have fallen from favor because they are so heavy. Today Aluminum with a porcelain coating mimics the traditional look and keeps the water warmer longer than acrylic. Having remodeled two mid-century homes now I chose white bathtubs from American Standard. They call their aluminum tubs Anericast. With a curtain they make fine showers.
I let the tiles, towels and shower curtain lend color to the bathroom.
LuAnn says
I totally agree with Pam on the tub issue. Our 1950s ranch had the tub replaced at some point with a very large tiled in soaker shower/tub. I am 5 ft. tall, and it can be quite scary getting in and out. From the floor to the top of the tub is over 20″. One good thing, we recently took out the shower doors and replaced with a shower curtain. This allows more space or even sitting on the edge of the tub and swinging legs over the top if necessary.
I’m not a fan of the huge tubs. They are harder to clean, hard to lean over to bathe a child, and dangerous for older people. If we ever decide to redo the bathroom, we will definitely go for a retro sized tub.
Carolyn says
A big tub may hold 110 gallons but nothing is mentioned about the water displacement once you get in (anyone good with algebra?) so you wouldn’t really be using that much water.
The thing about reclining in a tub occasionally…our former house had an old tub with the side and back apron which meant we needed 2 shower curtains overlapping to keep spray in the tub. At 5’6″, I could lay with only my knees exposed above water. Giving our granddaughter a bath was hard until we found devices for kneel-sitting.
What I have now allows me to either sit with my legs submerged OR lay with my feet up on the wall on either the faucet – pretty much negating whatever soothing was supposed to take place!
If I have the opportunity to install a big ol’ tub, I’d squirt some Great Stuff all around it to hold the heat better. Ain’t nuthin’ like a hot bath to sooth sore backs and legs!