Bathtubs

New layout, new equipment or new decor... Whatever the scope of your project, redoing the bathroom is both motivating and stimulating, especially when you consider that the bathroom is one of the most frequently used rooms in the house.

But before you let your imagination run wild, it is important to devote particular attention to the centrepiece of any bathroom – the bathtub - since the rest of your project will revolve around it: the location of the cabinets, of the toilet and of the shower, etc.
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Location
Users
Types of Bathtubs
Bathtub Materials
Whirlpool and Therapeutic Bathtubs
Faucets
Accessories
Maintenance

Location

The first question you should ask yourself: How far are you willing to go? In the case of a renovation project for example, are you willing to transpose your plumbing and cabinets, or tear down walls? If so, your imagination may be the only limit.

If you would prefer not to touch the plumbing, you must be sure to choose a bathtub that is easily adapted to the existing installation, with little or no modification. If, for example, the drain is located at the end of the tub next to the faucets, as it is in most installations, you will not be able to choose a bathtub with a centre drain. If your existing tub is set between three walls (alcove style) with faucets on the right, you will not be able to choose a bathtub with faucets on the left. These considerations may seem painfully obvious but if you don’t address them prior to selecting your tub…

And if you would prefer not to disturb the walls, you will not only have to ensure that your new bathtub fits perfectly in the existing location but you will also have to make sure that it fits through door frames and staircases.
During the development of new constructions, people all too often accept the bathroom plan as proposed - which typically includes a standard bathtub - without invoking their right to choose. And yet, no plan is etched in stone! Simply ask your constructor for the exact bathroom measurements, shop around to get an idea of the various types of bathtubs available (see below) and browse through interior design magazines and brochures from the different manufacturers. Then, draft a layout sketch on a piece of graph paper and evaluate the various potential layouts. Once you’ve made your decision, relay the changes to your constructor.

This method is also useful when planning your renovation projects. To help you with your bathroom projects, RONA developed the “Renovating the Bathroom” planning Guide (PDF), which can be an extremely useful tool.

Finally, it is important, regardless of the type and shape of the bathtub you choose, that the unit has at least 1.5 m (5 ft.) of accessible sides and that your installation provides a minimum of 90 cm (3 ft.) of clearance space. For example, avoid installing bathroom cabinets within 90 cm of the bathtub ledge (or of the platform casing for platform tub installations).

Users

Although taking a bath is much more than a simple act of hygiene, and is considered by many to be the ultimate moment of privacy and relaxation where comfort reigns supreme, we often overlook the needs of the users. Who will use the bathtub? Are there any elderly people or children in the house? If so, bathtub accessibility will be an important consideration (elevated steps and the need for long strides to access the tub should be avoided, for example). Will the bath be shared on occasion? Or do you consider bath time an occasion to be savoured in solitude? An oversized bathtub may look impressive but filling it requires significant time and energy ($), and it has to be worth the effort. Are there any members of your family who are taller than average? They too might appreciate the opportunity to immerse themselves completely underwater, without becoming a contortionist in the process. Take the time to consider the needs of all your bathtub users before making your choice.
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