Sunken Tubs
A sunken tub adds a special touch to your bathroom. Have you ever been to a five star hotel or stayed in a villa in some far off exotic land? What do you remember most about the bathroom? Was it the ambience of the expansive room or perhaps it was the sunken tub? How glamorous it must have seemed, like something straight out of a romantic adventure novel. I bet the whole bathing experience made you feel like a princess or movie star as you stepped down into the gleaming white whirlpool tub sunk into the floor. To the everyday home owner, sunken tubs are rarely seen or enjoyed mainly due to the extra work, space and money needed for its construction and installation. For most people, sunken tubs are considered romantic or glamorous because these tubs usually conjure up images of movie stars or expensive multimillion dollar mansions that come with a butler and a lady-in-waiting. To a certain extent these images are true, in the right situation; a sunken tub can transform an ordinary master bathroom into a personalized elegant retreat.
"Summary: Sunken tubs can transform your boring bathroom into a sumptuous personal spa. Making sure your sunken tub is installed properly requires the special skills of a contractor. The placement of your sunken tub is extremely important especially if you have children or elderly family members."
Installing a sunken tub requires careful planning. One of the most important considerations when thinking about putting in a sunken tub is space, both below and around the tub area. Before you set your heart on transforming your mundane bathroom into a sumptuous personal spa make sure you have plenty of space in your bathroom and enough money in your budget to possibly hire both an architect and a properly qualified contractor with specialized skills to make sure you tub is properly supported. Even more specialized skill is needed if your sunken hot tub has water jets, since the whirlpool jets in the Jacuzzi will need extra power to propel the water and for heating so an electrician and plumber may also be needed. Also don’t forget about accessibility for maintenance when installing your tub to ensure that the mechanisms work properly.
Remember you will be cutting into your bathroom floor to install your sunken tub. Where you place your sunken tub is also very important. One important consideration is where the load bearing beams in your home are located because having to cut through one or having to relocate a beam or wall may not justify the time, effort and costs involved just to install a sunken tub. Not to mention how this may affect the integrity and stability of your home.
Another consideration about the placement of your sunken tub is whether or not you have children or elderly individuals who may accidentally fall down into the empty tub in the middle of the night when they are still half asleep. Placing your sunken tub in an alcove offers a private retreat and places the tub out of the way when performing daily bathroom activities. A good rule of thumb is to leave the light on in the bathroom or to install light sensors so that no matter who is in the room the light always stays on until they leave the chamber. You also need to make sure that you buy a non-slip bathtub and that the area around the tub itself is clutter free and safe. Handrails or grab bars make it easier and safer when you get in and out of the tub. Installing sunken tubs in a small bathroom is usually not a good idea.
If your bathroom doesn’t have the ability to install a sunken tub you can still create the illusion and feel of a sunken tub by raising the floor space around your tub such as in a basement suite. A classical sunken bathtub usually had a tiled surround with the rim either flat or slightly above the floor level. The more modern sunken deep soaking tubs now have a higher rim. A custom built tiled tub or slatted wood floors around a sunken tub will give your bathroom a simple but gracious atmosphere dedicated to relaxation.
Installing a sunken tub in your bathroom can create an exotic retreat in your home. But a word of caution is required. If you are an aging baby boomer, in a couple years having to step down or crawl out of your tub may become a problem. While sunken tubs may be glamorous you really have to weigh the extra cost, time, effort and safety concerns involved in installing one.
Index of related categories about the ultimate bathroom renovation sourcebook, practical bathroom design checklist, decorative treatments for bathroom remodelers, bathroom personal spa trends and bath product review source guide for a glossary of bathroom information online. Here is some more practical answers on bath tub trends and treatments you can use.
