Wow, thanks bumble doodle! Tt is great to know that the tub works well as a shower. We are tall too--at least most of us (two of my teenage daughters are twins and one is 5'2" and the other is 5'10", so maybe the short one complains a bit but that's ok, since she complains about everything!) We are getting the non-jetted version. Also, I am hoping that building the deck at the front will help with the water spray. I am pushing the tub back into an alcove under the window the long way (so we get into the tub at the 32" side rather than from the 48" side) and we are trying to go without shower doors in order to make the bath feel open. With a deck, we buy a few more inches of length to help avoid water on the floor. We may not succeed and will put a panel on if we have to. Any thoughts on this?

Wish I'd seen this link sooner but I'll post my 2 cents... The air issue is a biggie! We have the Bain Ultra Amma and it came with dual back heaters. When we installed it, the back warmers didn't heat and the air jets were cold. The tech support was fantastic and they immediately shipped me a new motor. Unfortuantely, It didn't help much. I guess remotely locateing the motor just has the air cool too much making the run?? I LOVE the chromatherapy. I generally don't use the air jets in winter b/c it cools the water in the tub too quickly. :-( So I basically have a beautiful large bathtub with really cool lighting. Their tech support is awesome but unfortunately the air is what it is... An inline heater is not an option with this tub b/c both ports are used up with the worthless back heaters... Here is a link that might be useful: my tub

Looking at your pic of the bottom of your tiles--your contractor botched that part of the job! The tiles (and the backerboard) should come all the way down to the horizontal surface of the tub. Again, I'm not sure that would change THAT much about your installation--though it might change it just the 1/4" necessary, if the backerboard truly does not sit in FRONT of the vertical part of the flange. So you SHOULD have a problem with the tile work, even if the tiles are straight and the grout looks good. The tiles were placed in the wrong place. Your tiler should have been saying, "Hey, why isn't the backerboard coming all the way down past the flange to be pretty much flush with the horizontal top of the tub?" Also, just to point out how much they let you down: "too lazy to read a manual" *IS* "incompetent." And "wanted to go home" *is* "incompetent." . . . So I could have done a much better job than the contractors we hired. Not because I'm so competent or they're so incompetent. But because they are lazy and did not want to read the manual and do a proper job. And I could have done some things better than the plumber, who was even less inclined to do a good job, because he started late and wanted to get home. I'm glad your rubber band is providing immediate assistance, but you seriously need to make these contractors readdress that--it's not correct. It looks funny, and having the backerboard in the right place might be just enough width to bring that spout back out a little bit. In the meantime, if you want to get away from the blue (because part of the problem *is* the spout's design, and you'll have the splattering no matter what gets done to the tile job), you might consider finding a plastic tube (even a clear drinking straw) that you can cut to the right height, then slit and slip around the stem. It won't build up as much soap scum, will be easier to clean, and won't be as noticeable.

Tonight DH and I discussed how we want the contractor to finish the tub and walk in closet bumpout. And to what degree we want it completed. DH is an itch about doing things so-so, therefore it will be better to add the tiles ourselves, and do the painting as well. BUT, the electrical, the plumbing, the windows, the removal of the old pair of windows in the bedroom to allow entry into the new closet, that will be framed and cut by the contractor. Also, drywall and taped, but we will finish with a skim of plaster--or so DH thinks. I am ready to leave the closet drywall plain. I am fed UP with DUST. In the tub bumpout, I've decided I want it all beadboard...roof and walls. I think there is a synthetic beadboard mfg by a company with a name beginning with "A"...am I right? That would be very very water proof or moisture resistant. Of course the contractor will do the foundation, the framing, the roof as well. Our windows will be up high near the little rafter "tails" that stick out all around the house. The clerestory "lights" will be NON opening, and made of Lexan. DH says that if you make them less than 24 inches (they will be about 16) you do not have to allow for expansion/contraction of the Lexan. So each small panel can be caulked in and screwed down. That will give us natural light all along our northern exposure, and require no window treatments. I want these Lexan panels in the walkin closet also. I already have the wire closet kit to make high and low hanging racks and such.In fact, I might even get the contractor to install them for me. The top shelf rack will come about the height of the window bottoms. The roofline will just extend at its current angle, and we will lose a little closet height near the outer new wall...but not enough to create a problem. Having the "lights" up high will really take advantage of ambient natural light coming from the north, which is true and consistent all year long, winter and summer. For closet doors, I plan to get two pairs of bifold with frosted glass in the top panels, and louvered fixed shutters in the bottom panels. They can be installed later by us, because the brand I want is special order from Lowes. I also already have the tub fixtures/plumbing stuff ready to be installed. And the two short sconces and one longer double ended sconce for the sink, and the towel bars and racks and ONE grab bar. I plan on more of these grab bars, and will ask the contractor to place a lot of blocking in the walls while they are open. I am so excited. I've tried not to get my hopes up, this might not work out, but OH BOY I"M READY TO TAKE A TUB BATH. If the man is a professional, this job should not take very long, should it?