I'd like to tag a question in here too. Have to start seriously looking for a new tub- think I want an air tub, but have never tried one. But being comfortable while soaking is the FIRST priority. Haven't had a bath for months during this remodel, but DH rigged it up so I could have a soak in our old tub (standard 5 ft length enamelled steel?), and boy was it hard on the neck! I felt like something was digging into my back between my shoulder blades. Guess I'm used to the hot tub and climbing in there and having nothing digging in. So, my question is, what shape of back is best for soaking? Should it be sloped? Guess I'll have to wear comfortable clothes and try and find a showroom that I can climb into tubs in. Glad I had the 'crink in the neck' experience though before shelling out $$$$ for a new tub!

" if you can deal with the AS logo on the face plate." Meh, I could make another faceplate. I do strange stuff like that. Today I measured the "Style Selections" tub at Lowes. It is 12 1/2" soaking depth, not 15" as stated online. (Which makes sense with a 16" overall heiaght). It is obviously a store brand made by Sterling/Kohler for Lowes to meet a lower price point. The Sterling brand acrylic tubs are molded in a single polymer. The Style Selections are fiberglass and coated with acrylic. Sometimes a coat over fiberglass is a POS, but I peeked underneath and found the Selections to be rock-freaking-solid. The front skirt and tub are very thick, rigid, and reinforced. The fiberglass may not look pretty under there but it really does the job. The tub has four points of contact with the floor, four short legs of plastic pipe molded into the fiberglass. I would rather bed the thing in mortar if the mfg installation instructions permit. The acrylic coating is quite thick over the fiberglass, it looks to be 1/8 inch instead of a millimeter. IMO, something that can gouge 1/8 inch into plastic would probably damage porcelain over cast iron. All in all, I think it is pretty good quality for a house brand. And it costs just $205 in 2013. The 12.5 inch soak depth is nowhere near a deep as the Mirabelle at 16" and we may still go with that. However, it is as deep as the top ledge of our current tub. We'll see if DW goes for it.

As someone said, are you absolutely sure that is your actual length? Have you removed the tub or surround, and taken the measurement from the framing itself? If you have the correct measurement, maybe if you find something that will work, you could notch or plane down the stud 1/4 or 1/2" to tub height to get you a little bit of room. I'm just an OCD DIYer, so not sure if that is "advisable", but I would consider it, if it were just a partition wall and otherwise appeared strong enough.

blond I see your conundrum - the Kohler site shows the Villager as 0 x34 1/4 odd - I purchased the Memoirs 3 yrs ago & LOVE it - I wanted a wider type tub for a small mbr - This really fit the bill - Make certain to look at the dimension & measurements PDF on each tub you consider - What was critical for me was the 'basin area or bathing well' # of gals, water depth Surprising how many tubs on first take give largish measurements but have tiny basin area - Good for going w/tried/true cast iron if you can squeeze a few more inches I would ck the Memoirs Good luck Here is a link that might be useful: kohler cast iron 5' tubs