I wanted to share information here in case someone else searches for something similar, so here it goes: First, if you live in the SF Bay Area, go to TUBZ in Fremont. They have tons of tubs and really nice people working there. The prices are good too. I've been researching the deepest soaking tub for a 66x32 tub size. (For the most part the information is the same for the 60x32 versions.) Many tubs do not list the water depth information, but I found that to be the most important number (that and gallons). I don't understand why some manufacturers don't provide this info. Below is the water depth for the following models based on my own measuring with a tape (might be off by a fraction): Maax Pose 14.5" Maax Rubix 12" Hydro Systems Sydney 19" Hydro Systems Lacey 17.5" Kohler Underscore 1821 18" Duravit Stark 17" Vero 6632 C 17.25" Another issue is that I'm installing the tub into a corner and will be using it as a shower too. So I need a tile flange on 2 sides which is not standard (they all either have 3 sided alcove style or none). There are some nice tubs available that are curved on one corner, but those won't work for my installation because my drain is on the rounded corner side, not the wall corner side. HOWEVER, I learned it's possible to have a flange custom installed onto the Hydro Systems or Kohler tubs prior to delivery. For me this is the best option. This added on flange is not 100% as waterproof as a factory molded flange, but I'm going to live with the slightly higher risk of leak. It's going in our master bath and we are tidy. I promise to maintain my caulk and grout! Skirts: Maax and Hydro Systems are available as alcove tubs with tile flanges and skirts. Hydro Systems can do custom orders (2 flanges/2 skirts). Maax tubs are a noticeable step down in quality IMHO. They look a little more builder grade/extra shiny and the textured bottoms look like they would be a PITA to keep clean. Maax is less expensive so you get what you pay for in quality I think. The Maax tubs also have feet so they can be installed on top of the floor -- so even though the tubs are 20 and 22 inches high, the bottom of each tub is about 3 inches off the ground, so that takes away from the depth of the tub.

The above drawings are super! A tile flange is a really good idea if the bathtub will also be used as a shower, as it prevents the water from seeping down behind the bath (over time). I had great difficulty finding a contemporary looking bath that was deep enough to use as a proper soaker, but also came with a tile flange so that it could be used as a shower... I eventually found some great options by Zuma Collection. Factory installed tile flanges (like the integral one shown in the above picture) are available as an extra option. Some of their tubs do have the same contemporary look of Duravit too! It the bath is to be used as a shower a LOT, I would be a bit worried that the add-on tile flange would eventually leak a bit. But I am a bit paranoid about this sort of thing! :-) Good luck with your project!

Lovely! This is just the problem I have. Before I ordered my expensive cast iron jetted tub, I contacted Kohler. Kohler reps stated my cast iron tub could be used in a 3 sided alcove. They even have a pic of it installed in a 3 wall alcove as a shower tub combo, on their website. The tile lip/flange they sent is rubber with a ridge that fits between the backer board edge and top of the tub, held down with a putty. Had I known this was going to be so messy and undesirable I would have never bought the tub. I have been dissappointed with Kohler's lack of into on their products and recommendations that are unrealistic. I already had this tub installed long with my installation of expensive glass tiles as the surround. I will now have to worry about leaks at the rubber inserted flange. I picked the tub based on its use as a 3 wall alcove. Had I ordered quartz or some kind of deck over the tub, perhaps this problem would not be so apparent. I do realize that I will now not use this as a shower and use the hand held sprayer as a tub rinse spray rather than a shower.

Well, it's a 100 yr old house. The cast iron wc is not supported at the flange, though it's very rigid. Perhaps there's a horizontal arm that is braced between the joists, and the whole thing is resting on that, but I can't tell. Anyhow, it's rock solid. As for flange extender... there's no gasket or anything that came with this thing, and I got it at a plumbing supply house (Oatey white extender). I just got back from HD to try to get one. They didn't have gaskets nor gasketed ones of any sort. The "master plumber" who had been at this house also left an extender there which also is just black hard plastic - same thing. So I'm thinking of either applying some wax between the flange and the extender, or maybe even plumber's putty (what do you think of that?) Perhaps some silicone is another option. One more thing: HDepot had a fluidmaster product for low flanges that was a "wax-less" gasketed assembly that fit's into the drain, which also has a thin rubber gasket at the top. The toilet just sits on this thing, and they claim that it's for low flanges and uneven or tiled floors. Anybody tried this thing? BTW, the ones they had on the shelf were apparently returns (retaped shut), and you could tell that most buyers couldn't figure out what to do with the extra O rings that came in the boxes - the directions on the box don't even mention how to use them (it's not at all obvious with this contraption). Thoughts on this "waxless" thing? I'm afraid to try.