Splish, Splash I Was Taking A Bath...

Rub a Dub Tub

You have been thinking about a new bathtub but don’t know where to start. First, you
have to decide what is important to you in a tub. Do you want a longer tub and is there
room for one? Do you want a deeper tub for those long soaks? Do you want a whirlpool
tub with water jets to massage your back and aching muscles? Do you want a Yugo tub
or do you want a Cadillac tub? The material you will use to finish the walls around the
tub also affect tub selection.

Enameled steel bathtubs

Constructed of sheet metal with a thin porcelain glazing, these are very easily chipped.
My advice on steel tubs is you better put the for-sale sign out front before you even
install one. We have not installed a steel bathtub in the past 20 years and probably never
will. Most brand new homes today, even in the $500,000 range, have a cheap steel tub.

Fiberglass bathtubs

Fiberglass tubs can be both good and bad. It all boils down to quality and the right
selection of tubs. The undesirable fiberglass tubs are made with a gelcoat finish. This is a
thin colored layer of fiberglass that is soft and easily stained or scratched. The better
fiberglass tubs are made of pressure and heat-molded material with the color throughout
and no layers to chip, crack or peel. This results in a hard fiberglass that is very resistant
to stains and mildew. The fiberglass tubs we use carry a 10 year warranty. Average life
span is around 20 years. These tubs lend themselves to matching wall surrounds that are
very practical and low maintenance. We highly recommend and use Kohler Vikrell
bathtubs.

Acrylic bathtubs

These tubs are vacuum-molded from sheets of colored acrylic and reinforced with
fiberglass. Acrylic sheets are made of pure plastic. Plastic is that ‘nasty’ stuff that will
still be in the landfill 1000 years from now. That particular feature of durability is it’s
strong suit. High-gloss acrylic tubs are resistant to mold, mildew and chipping. The color
goes all the way through and therefore scratches and chips can be sanded and buffed out.
Acrylic tubs are offered in deeper styles for those long, hot soaks. They can also be set up
with whirlpool jets to ease those aches and pains. Acrylic tubs are noisier than cast iron
but there are ways to quiet them. These tubs usually have a 1-2 year warranty and a life
expectance around 20-30 years. We favor Jacuzzi and Kohler acrylic tubs and whirlpools.

Porcelain cast iron bathtubs

Cast iron tubs are the ‘Cadillac’ of tubs. They offer a rock-solid feeling of strength and a
rich, glossy surface. The porcelain finish is very durable and easy to clean. Cast iron tubs
are the heaviest in weight and therefore, the quietest. They carry a lifetime limited
warranty and life expectancy should be in the 50-75 year range. We highly recommend
and use Kohler cast iron bathtubs.

Remember, always use a soft nonabrasive cleanser and your tub will thank you.
Happy soaking . . .


 

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