Stand alone tub OR Built in?

6 years ago

Updating everything in bathroom except cabinets (in really good shape). Currently there is an outdated jacuzzi corner tub, would like to make it more modern. Any and all suggestions welcome. Thank you in advance!

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Mrs Pete

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I love the look of a clawfoot tub, but we're going with a built-in for three reasons:

- As someone else said above, the built-in tub is easier to get in /out. The tough thing about a stand-alone is that when you step out, you step over AND down ... down lower than the tub. It's an uncomfortable step.

- I don't love cleaning, and a stand-alone tub requires cleaning all around /underneath.

- The stand-alone is more expensive ... more expensive to buy, plumbing is more expensive, and you need more tile, which is not cheap.

I had an oval tub on the small side in that space in my last house. I
really liked it. It used a lot less water than what you have.

That's exactly what we're planning -- a smallish oval tub in a deck. We're going with an oval because it requires less water, and our body parts don't go into the corners anyway. A slightly smaller tub is fine for us 'cause we're not big people ... and a smaller tub fills faster and requires fewer gallons to fill.

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Comments (6)

B Carey
6 years ago
What is your preference? I prefer the look of a built in tub. Seems many here prefer the standalone or claw foot tub.
L H
6 years ago
Also, depends on budget. The stand alone can be very pricey. The least expensive one I could find that I liked was between $1500 - $2000. I couldn't see spending that on something that I never use so we just eliminated a tub altogether.
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"It depends." The catch-all answer, eh? But it does. It's a case where you may need to open up some of the structure and do a little exploratory investigation. The rough plumbing for your existing drain lines (traps and pitched drain lines) may very well already be contained within the depth of the floor's joists bays, and the added elevation of the tub/shower was simply for design. That would be a good thing. If for whatever reason your traps and drain lines could not be placed in the joist bays and that is why the entire system is elevated, that could be an issue. Unless this is a first floor (it's not) or on a slab (it's not) you should be able to accommodate your proposed changes. Without doing any demolition, about the only thing I can offer is to go downstairs in the room underneath your bathroom. Check out that ceiling. If you have a stud finder, try to map out the joist pattern in the first floor ceiling. They will be the same as the floor joists in the bathroom floor under the tub and shower. If you find a pattern or regularly sized and spaced joists, with the edges roughly 1-1/2" wide and with the joists spaced 16" or 19+" on-center, all should be well. If wood I-joists were used in teh framing, their flanges might be wider than the standard 1-1/2" width of the edge of a joist. If you find something substantially wider, say 4-1/2" or 6" wide, there may be a beam buried in there. And as a remote guess, also look for air conditioning or heating registers. Perhaps there is a duct installed in one of the framing bays. That's a wild card though. It's very common for tubs to be elevated on a platform pedestal, it can be for nothing more than design, or it can be for improved sight lines out a window when sitting in the tub. But it's not common to elevate a complete shower. Good luck!
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ck_squared
6 years ago
We got rid of our corner whirlpool and put in a stand alone tub. Best decision of the whole bath! Looks so much better. Ours was not that expensive - we were going for looks rather than superior quality as we don't use it all that often but wanted it for future resale way down the road (even though everybody says remodel for how YOU live!).
Karenseb
6 years ago
I had an oval tub on the small side in that space in my last house. I really liked it. It used a lot less water than what you have. I like the the ledge on the built in tub to sit on to help getting in and out of the tub. It certainly seems easier to clean around a built in tub. Also I can put shampoo, etc on the ledge.
MizLizzie
6 years ago
I think a stand alone tub is for looks or for resale. If you really use the tub, I think you will want a drop in tub, or an undermount. We went with an undermount. We are both tub people, and bathe rather than shower 90% of the time. Good luck.

Stand alone tub OR Built in?

Mrs Pete

Comments (6)

B Carey

L H

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ck_squared

Karenseb

MizLizzie

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