I used a 60x32 20"h tub with fairly thin sidewalls for a recent remodel, and though it's a bit more of a step into it, I don't find it that much more difficult than with shorter tubs (i'm 5'8"). It's easily worth it to have a deeper tub IMO, and it's good for showering too because the floor is wider, longer, and flatter than in most 5' tubs. I wouldn't fret about resale value; people moving into a small house may not have kids, or the kids may be over 8 y.o. who can usually climb into anything. Or the new owners may want to rip out a tub in favor of a shower. Changing to a shorter tub costs almost nothing compared to the cost of the house, so I can't imagine someone not wanting to buy it because the tub is too tall. I bought enough extra wall tiles so that if a future buyer wanted a shorter tub or a shower, it would be easy to retrofit one without having to retile the whole wall because the tile didn't come down far enough.

Is the five and a half foot Kohler Tea for Two an option? It is cast iron and has a wonderful 19 and 1/2 inch water depth. It has an optional tile flange so you can push it right up to the wall and perhaps use a small tile apron on the outside. The 5 foot Archer is acrylic but nice Kohler quality and available with an apron. It is 19 inches high with a 15 inch water depth. I've been fascinated by the cast iron Kohler Highbridge which is not a big tub but is displayed in the Kohler showroom with a small custom storage cubby under each end of the apron lip. More of a modern look. I mention Kohler because we live near the showroom and we have been testing out tubs (fully clothed, no water!) for our build. We do not work for them. Good luck with this. A bathtub decision is one of several that have slowed down our build. Hence too much time in the showroom. I hope you find something that you enjoy. Liz Here is a link that might be useful: Kohler Highbridge

Congrats on bath remodel! and on choosing cast iron - Kohler has excellent products and user friendly site to determine what they have that will suit your application I recently put in a Memoirs tub & am very happy with it I did a search on cast iron, 60" and alcove application (assuming that is what you are doing) - click link below & make certain to click on the SPEC portion of the tub you are interested in - this will give you the actual basin size, gallons used, dimension to overflow For instance their "Steeping bath" has a basin or bath area of 45" x 19" while the memoirs basin is 43"x23" I like having more width - Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: kohler cast iron

Yes, a cast iron tub is a lifetime tub. We are remodeling our upstairs bath and keeping the tub. Its 30 yrs old, because it still looks new, and its white, which is what we are going for anyway. Cast iron is made to last. When we first put the tub in 30 yrs ago, we were in our late 20's so we, with the help of a friend, hauled that tub up a flight of stairs and into place. No way could we lift that now. We could, and probably will order another cast iron when the time comes and have it put in place. Right now we are in the middle of our DIY upstairs bath renovation, so I haven't hit my DH with the idea of remodeling the other bathroom, I can imagine the reaction I will get. All in good time...............