Philadelphia Weekly

REAL ESTATE

No shortage of bathtub choices

Space-optimizing homeowners may fancy cornermount variety

By Inman News Feed

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Jan. 5, 2012

Walk-in tubs have a door in the side that opens into the tub, allowing easy access without having to step over the tub's side. Once inside, the door seals against the inside of the tub, preventing leakage. Seat heights of 14 inches and an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant 17 inches are both available. Walk-in tubs are designed to fit into a standard 5-foot tub alcove, and are available in both jetted and nonjetted versions. Look for more styles and options of these tubs in the future as their popularity increases.

Sizes and materials

Once you have a better idea of where your new bathtub will be located, you can narrow down the choices of sizes and materials. Steel and cast-iron bathtubs are still available, but most of today's tubs are made from durable, lightweight acrylics.

The standard size is still the 5-foot-long tub, but 6-foot tubs are certainly popular, as they give a lot more soaking room -- especially if you're tall. If you have the room, consider a 6-foot tub, as the cost difference usually isn't too great, and you'll gain a lot in comfort, appearance and resale value.

Remodeling and repair questions? Email Paul at paulbianchina@inman.com. All product reviews are based on the author's actual testing of free review samples provided by the manufacturers.