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Do you have a tub with interior armrests?

12 years ago

I'm reposting this question in a different way in hopes of attracting more replies :-)

We are about to order an Americh Madison tub. We want a soaking tub (reasonably deep) that can also be our primary shower, so it shouldn't be so tall as to be difficult to step in and out of. The Madison is 15 3/4" to the overflow and 22" high, so it seems to fill the bill.

Now we are wondering whether we should get the 36" or 34" width. Because the tub has internal armrests (which we want), it is narrower inside than the overall width would suggest. The spec sheet says the 36" tub is 22" wide at the bottom and the 34" tub is 18" wide at the bottom. We are leaning toward the 34" tub but wonder if it will feel cramped. On the other hand, when I sat in the 36" tub, I thought it was a little wider than ideal.

If you have a tub with armrests, would you mind letting me know what the interior width is at the bottom and whether you are happy with that width or whether it feels too tight (or too generous, for that matter)? Thanks very much.

Featured Answer

Kathy Seiwert

3 years ago

I am looking for a free standing tub with arm rests. I can't find any. Help!

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Comments (8)

annemouse
12 years ago
We have a Kohler whirlpool that we use for bathing only. It is 22" at the narrowest bottom part. The width feels comfortable but could certainly be a little less, maybe 20". I do not know about 18" though.
helenab
12 years ago
We have the Fiji (J-12) tub by Jetta. It has been installed but is not hooked up yet. It is 60"x 32"x 22" with internal armrests. The narrowest bottom part at the botttom is 20" and it feels very comfortable so far.
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> We would love a tub that allowed us to face the same direction as well as each other, but in terms of freestanding tubs, that just doesn't really seem to be an option. Now this is more like it: It's freestanding (though I don't care for this particular surround) and the backrest is what I find the ideal shape for two people side by side, with good back and shoulder support for both. Most tubs with this shape are like 5 feet wide which is not what I want; this one is just wide enough for two. The taper at the other end helps preserve water without getting too crowded, but is still wide and sloped enough to lean against when you want to face opposite directions. Still, it's the side by side configuration I like best. Two-person tubs where you face each other look great in pictures and in the showroom. Then you use one in real life only to find you have to SCREAM AT EACH OTHER to be heard over the roar of the jets. Although air jets may be a bit quieter than the water jets I've used. I could do without the huge ledge at the end of this tub though - what's that all about? I too can't find a tub that gets everything right.
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Uh-oh. I swear I searched for this message before posting an almost identical one moments ago (so the same question three times in two days). I am sorry. I don't mean to be spamming the group. If someone will tell me how to delete my postings, I'll get rid on this one.
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k9fan
Original Author
12 years ago
Well, we took a chance and ordered the Americh Madison in the 34" width. It's narrower than yours by two inches at the narrowest point. I find the office chair I'm sitting in is 18" across the widest part of the seat, so I guess that's some kind of a standard. We hope for the best :-)
kendog2
12 years ago
Our tub is a Kohler with jets and inside armrests. It is 18" wide. In the nine years that we've owned the house, I've sat in it maybe 4 or 5 times and my husband has used it even less. However, we have no complaints that the tub is too narrow. It seems fine. With five kids we just don't have time to take baths.

For what it's worth, I'm 5'41/2", 120 pounds. My husband is 6' and 190 pounds. I would expect that the 18" width would be uncomfortable only for a much larger than average person. I'm guessing you don't weigh 300+ pounds or you would have taken that into consideration and ordered the wider tub:)
k9fan
Original Author
12 years ago
kendog2, thanks for your reply. Sounds like you and your husband are not as much bath fans as we are, but your post is reassuring. My husband and I are are smaller than average people, so at least for us, the 34" Americh Madison should be comfortable. We have already ordered it, so we'll soon find out how it fits.
Mrs Pete
3 years ago
Back when my husband used to travel for work, he used to come home saying how much he loved the tub at a certain hotel -- loved it so much that he wants to get such a tub for our house eventually. Finally I got a chance to accompany him on a trip, and I brought along a tape measure.

- The tub had built-in /molded interior arm rests, which we both liked very much.

- That tub was 40" wide, which I hated. It was too wide -- I like to read in the tub, and I could only use one side or the other. I decided that I am 100% happy with the SIZE of a builder-basic tub (though I want a deeper tub). So I'd probably lean your direction and go with the 34".

- The tub in question was very deep -- maybe deeper than is ideal -- and because of that I was glad it also had built-in grab bars (and I'm far from old).
Kathy Seiwert
3 years ago
Did you purchase a tub with arm rests and a size and depth you wanted?

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