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deep soaking tub for regular showering?

16 years ago

We are remodeling and lack room in the master bathroom for both a soaking tub and a shower. We take lots of showers, but bathe/soak fairly regularly too. For lots of reasons it makes sense to have a soaking tub that is used as a shower. We like the Kohler Tea for Two 5.5' tub w/integral flange, but I am concerned because the spec shows its depth as 24 inches. Would this depth make it too difficult to get in and out of for showering, or to bathe small children in? The Tea for Two 5' is "only" 18 1/4" deep but it has no integral flange and gives up a lot of soaking capacity! Also, what type of bathtub door/enclosure would you suggest given all these uses? We will have tile on 3 sides. Thanks!

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Comments (14)

oruboris
16 years ago
All I can say is it would be a little much for me.

Not in the sense of physically difficult, just too inconvenient.

If there isn't room in the bathtub, how 'bout a nice big shower stall, and a hot tub out on the deck?
gussied
16 years ago
I am planning to install a 23" deep Aquatic whirlpool with a shower. My reasoning is that if I can get into the tub to take a bath, I can also get into the tub to take a shower....

However, I think I would find it too deep to lean over and bathe small children. Perhaps a stool that you could sit on next to the tub would solve that problem, raising you up and extending your reach. Maybe there would even be less water on the floor :)
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It does (or will) have a service panel behind it in an adjacent room, at the back of a closet. The drywall isn't up yet in the room below it (which will be inside a closet in what's now an unfinished basement) - should we put an access panel there too to get underneath the tub drain area if necessary? (one of the two tubs will be in the lower level above the concrete floor of the house, so no way to put an access panel underneath that one, though the side panel will be easy to put in). How easy is it to change tub drain assemblies once they're installed? I've had pop-up drains fail in several homes I've worked in that couldn't be repaired from removing the overflow plate and drain flange.
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I wouldn't give up the tub because it really makes the bathroom. I think the Master Bath is more of a master with a soaking tub. I would never give up 2 sinks. It wouldn't be good for our marriage to be fighting over the sink. I like the privacy of the toilet area in your first drawing. I would go with the smaller shower with the tub. I have had a 36" by 36" shower for years. A 6'2' large build husband, who is comfortable in there. We are going to make our new shower 36" x 48" because we have the space. I agree with someone else don't put the bench seat in. I think tile also gives you more space as opposed to a fiberglass surround which adds a couple inches to the interior walls. I considered going into my closet for a 60" shower but I don't think it is worth it. I will make the smaller shower elegant and put top features in it.
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mpwdmom
16 years ago
I wouldn't put small children in a deep soaking tub. Even though you won't fill it too much I just think there's some risk there, albeit small, but it just isn't convenient.
shelacious
16 years ago
I bought a tub with an 18" depth. I'm taking the advice from another poster and buying a plastic "overflow" cover gizmo that will allow me to fill to full depth when taking a bath (which is pretty rare). I would have bought a tub with up to a 20" depth, but the ones deeper than 20" made it difficult to get in and out of the shower (for me) when I tested them. I'm in pretty good shape, by the way, but sometimes don't step up high enough and bang my shin.
galinphilly
16 years ago
I bought a 22" tub with integral tile flange for a tub/shower combo. I am not worried about stepping in at all, but I am very fit and do a lot of yoga, so it may be different for someone with different physical abilities.
nessas
16 years ago
galinphilly, what's the brand of your tub? Is it a good shape for using as a tub/shower combo?
mmqlsmom
16 years ago
Where do you find the overflow cover gizmo?
galinphilly
16 years ago
Nessas, I think it is a great shape for a tub/shower. It does not have all those weird contours that look very 80s to me. It is a Bains Neptune Zen. It is not installed yet, construction starts July 10th.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bains Neptune Zen
galinphilly
16 years ago
By the way, Nessas, it is shown as a whirlpool, but comes as a soaker. I got a soaker.
novice_from__ct
16 years ago
We bought the Sunrise Specialty cast iron tub and it's really beautiful. I think the 6 foot version is 22" deep.
knelly
16 years ago
mmqlsmom-

just ordered one of the drain covers (stacks and stacks via Amazon) and they do work. Was hoping the extra 3-4' of water would make my tub deep enough that I didn't have to rip it out and put in a new one--but looks like I still need more than 10' of water to cover me. Either that or there needs to be less of me!

Knelly

Here is a link that might be useful: amazon.com link
mmqlsmom
16 years ago
Thank you, knelly! We are putting in a Kohler Bancroft or Devonshire. They are not a bad depth (14 or 15 to the overflow), but that extra few inches would be really nice.
salbwil
16 years ago
I love thatc Bains Neptune Zen, but I don't see a tile flange on it. Does it come in other configurations that I am missing ?
salbwil
galinphilly
16 years ago
Salbwil, It is not pictured with the tile flange, but it is an option you can order. When you open the PDF document next to each of the sizes listed, you will see the tile flange listed as an option.

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