A new bathtub is an important purchase and there are a few things you should know before you dive into it. A quality bathtub should be easy to clean and low maintenance. The bathtub is something you’ll be using everyday, whether it’s for a quick shower or a long relaxing soak after a long day at work. If it’s installed poorly, it can also become a source of mould or water damage that will be expensive to fix. Make sure you’re getting the right bathtub for you and your home.
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To help you find the perfect bathtub, here’s a quick checklist of everything you should know before you commit:
1. Drain Placement – Get this one wrong and you’ll be hauling your tub back for a return. You need to know your plumbing and whether or not you need the spout and drain on the right, left, or in the middle. No problem if you’re replacing an old tub, but if you’re buying a bathtub for a new construction house, double check your drain placement.
2. Durability – The average lifespan of a fiberglass bathtub is 10 to 15 years, though they can be refinished to extend their lifespan. Refinishing a bathtub often costs about the same as buying a new one, but you save on the costs of installing a whole new unit. You can increase the durability of your tub by opting for better materials than fiberglass. For example, an acrylic surface will have a longer duration than fiberglass while cast iron can last up to 50 years.
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3. Weight – Always check how much a bathtub is going to weigh. Unless it’s in a concrete foundation, it matters. Bathtubs can weigh up to 500 lbs. (although that would be a cast iron whirlpool tub), though they may weigh as little as 60 lbs. Make sure the floor can support the weight when it’s full of water.
4. Rim or Ledge – Are you a soaker? Do you have young kids? Your bathtub is going to need a ledge. Even if you strictly shower, the lack of a ledge will mean you’re going to need an alternative solution for storing soaps, shampoos, and other toiletries. It’s easy to overlook the ledge of the bathtub but you’ll regret forgetting about it after it’s been installed.
5. Volume – Another important factor to consider is the bathtub’s volume. A shallow unit may not be very satisfying but think about hot water when you get a large bathtub. You may need a new water heater to keep from running out when you’re ready for a relaxing soak.
Buying a new bathtub is a great way to reinvigorate your bathroom. It should be part of any bathroom renovation. Just make sure you’ve double checked your measurements, you know where the drain placement is, you’re careful about the materials you choose, and you know how much weight your floor can support. Once you’ve checked everything off this list, you should be ready to buy a new bathtub.
June 17, 2018
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