stylish bathtub to age in place
Comments (14)
aprilneverends
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
Sammy
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Aging in place - what kind of bathtub?
Comments (35)Glad somebody resurrected this thread. We have chosen our tub, and I'm excited. We finally went down to the MTI factory in Atlanta – – they were extremely kind and pulled several for us to try out. The winner is the MTI Andrea 6, [which you can see here.[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/marmol-bath-remodel-transitional-bathroom-dallas-phvw-vp~16904294) Ours will look almost identical to this in terms of deck width for the undermount. This tub gives an awesome 46" of legroom in a 60" tub, is wide enough, and just deep enough. A little deeper would have been great, but we compromised for future safety. Cannot recommend MTI high enough. Awesome custome service....See Moredrop-in bathtub or under-mount bathtub
Comments (3)My bathtub has integrated grab bars. I would use the side of the tub or tub wall unless I was so decrepit I couldn't straighten from bending over without help. Then I would install more grab bars. But honestly, your well used gym membership is a better investment in aging in place at this point. The integrated grab bars are useful because the tub is so deep that I just about float in it. :) They make sliding down and up surprisingly easier. And unlike the elbow shelves in my Kohlers, they don't make cleaning a pain....See MoreBoxing in and tiling a vertical steam pipe in order to move bath tub
Comments (14)This long and narrow bathroom reminds me of the one I grew up with in Brooklyn. It had the same problems you are facing. I highly doubt there is a radiator in this bathroom. The OP can comment if it exists or not. The large diameter steam pipe in the corner is a typical set up for bathrooms in old buildings. There is probably one thermostat controlling the heat for the entire building. The apartment above does not get to set its own temperature. How warm you apartment is in the winter is determined by what floor you live on. I agree if this is the only bathroom then it should to have a tub. I am not sure if re-configuring the tub is going to lower the resale value on a $1M+ coop in NYC. Putting up the wall between the tub and the sink makes the shower more functional. But it will make the bathroom look smaller and block some of the light from the window. I still think if you are going to move the tub the something like this one at Home Depot could work. It is 6 inches shorter than a normal tub. You will need 54 inches from stud to stud which may be possible once the plaster and lathe are removed from the walls. You could install the tub 8-10 inches away from the window wall. A shelf could be built between the tub and the wall and covered with tile. That becomes a place to hold your shampoo bottles and soap dish. Most of the steam pipe would still be exposed and will keep the bathroom warm even with the shower curtain closed. The shower head and controls stay on the same wall. This will open the space to put in a 36 - 48 in vanity with a granite counter top and a wider medicine cabinets and better lighting. That will give you ample storage space. Something that was not an issue when this bathroom was laid out 100 years ago. Have you asked any of your neighbors if they have remodeled their bathrooms? It would be helpful to get ideas and see how they dealt with these challenges....See Moreshower/ air tub vs. soaking tub for seniors condo unit
Comments (14)If you want a tub and use a tub, then get a tub. As others have posted, you should have an excellent walk in shower - preferably with a bench - because that will almost certainly be needed at some point. My understanding is that if you want a whirlpool sensation, then the air tubs are the way to go since they don't have the interior pipes that get disgusting. You should probably get a tub that has a comfortable ledge so that you can more safely get in and out of the tub by sitting on the ledge and swing your legs in and out. Some of the tubs you have posted are more difficult and potentially dangerous so you have to balance yourself by having your leg go up and over the edge of the tub and that creates a lot of potential for a catastrophic fall. Presumably you are not considering resale as you plan to stay in this place for the foreseeable future so you should do exactly what you want. I remodeled with an view to aging in place and I removed the tub in the master and have a luxurious walk in shower - no tub at all as the second bathroom only has a smaller shower. ETA And you might want to rethink the large marble on the floor because that can be extremely slippery and hazardous if you or your feet are the least bit damp. I don't think that honed makes the surface of marble less slippery than polished as my counter is honed and it is slick and would be slippery when wet. As far as I can tell honed is more of a cosmetic choice as I wanted a softer look in the master bathroom. You should make sure that the COF is high enough so that the tiles aren't a slip hazard OR have a floor with smaller tiles so that your feet have something to adhere to. I had a tub/shower combination in my master and it was very slippery - when I remodeled I rented an apartment with 12" x 12" marble tiles in the bathroom and they were extremely slippery as well - I felt I was courting death or serious injury whenever I took a shower....See More
Sue Jackson
5 years agoSue Jackson
5 years agowritersblock (9b/10a)
5 years agoaprilneverends
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoMrs Pete
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoI'd say..no to free standing (they look cool and all. but)
Agree, though I agree they're lovely. Because the base of the tub is higher than the floor, you have to "step down" farther, and it's tricky for people who are young and healthy!
I like to have a generous surround if possible ..so one can sit on the edge while going into/out of the tub
Yes, I agree. I'd say something like this drop-in-tub set in a deck. You can sit on the edge and swing your legs in at your leisure.
I'd suggest placing the faucet in the middle of the back wall ... this would allow you to easily reach the controls while you're in the tub (for adding more hot water). On the subject of faucets, I'd go with a faucet that includes a spray hose (they probably have a better name than that) so you can wash your hair in the tub ... or rinse out the tub itself easily.
I also like that this tub allows a nice ledge for bath bombs, candles, books.
if you can have these..thingamagics lol that you can put your elbows
on while in the tub, that's something to consider. They can be
non-offensive too, and not take from how a tub looksMy husband and I both like a tub with integrated arm rests. They're not particularly common, but you can certainly find them. You can get integrated grab bars too, which aren't as visible as those above the tub's edge.
No, don't get a walk-in tub. They are really not all that great, because you have to sit there and shiver while the tub fills and while it drains.
Yes, this.
Other thoughts:
This past weekend we were in a hotel (moving our youngest into college), and we were assigned to a handicapped room. The tub was a study in grab bars, and when I saw your post, I googled and was able to find a picture of it online:
I think ours actually had five grab bars. It seems like overkill, but I suppose once you need them, you'd be glad of them. My thought: If you don't need them now, at least install the solid plywood behind your tile so you could add them easily /inexpensively in the future.Note, too, that the wooden slat seat slides in/out on a metal guide. My husband was first in the tub, and he removed this /set it aside. He said it was very easy.
My mom has a "seat" in her shower that folds up /rests against the wall ... I think that might be superior. If nothing else, you wouldn't have to find a place to store the seat slats when not in use.
I want a deep tub, but I agree with others that the step-over is a concern.
Test out the backrest in your tub ... a gentle slope is best, but people have different opinions on just what that means. I dislike a straight-backed tub, which gives no support.
Think twice about getting a large tub ... given that you're tall, sure, you want a longer tub, but wider tubs just take more time to fill. Once we stayed in a hotel with a WIDE tub, and I literally couldn't put my arms on both arm rests at once, which annoyed me because I am a tub reader. Consider the size of your water heater ... you want to be sure it can handle your hot water demands.
Sue Jackson
5 years agoeinportlandor
5 years agowritersblock (9b/10a)
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoForgot to say that several years ago I was considering a fold-up teak seat for a small shower, but the people I spoke to who actually need them all told me they prefer a movable seat, even if they aren't pretty.
Also, grab bars are a great idea. You might also want to look into the new lines that include grab bars built into things like the toilet tissue holder and towel bars. Many of them don't look like grab bars at all.
For example, in this photo both are grab bars, from Delta's decor assist line, which comes in different styles:
User
5 years ago
Nancy in Mich
5 years agoIf I were going to get a tub today, I would get one that I could slide out of, like this one. More options for getting in and out than those tiny-door walk-in tubs, and you can move more in it, too. It can come with heat and bubbles, but that costs $1000 more, taking the price to $7500! I have no idea how fast it drains.
60"x32" Walk-In Ada Compliant Bathtub, Right, Air Massage System · More InfoThat door locking mechanism looks like a stick shift!
PROMissi Smith Design Co.
5 years ago
writersblock (9b/10a)