Shopping Around: 3 Things to Watch for When Shopping for a new Tub or Shower

Shopping Around: 3 Things to Watch for When Shopping for a new Tub or Shower

Bathtubs and showers are among the key elements of a bathroom. Whether you like a quick shower in the morning or a luxurious soak at the end of a long day, your choice of tub or shower will affect your daily life. With so many options to choose from it can be hard to determine just which fixture you need. Here are three things to consider.

The amount of space you have

You will have to shop a variety of bathtubs but before you get all excited about those with all the bells and whistles, make sure you know how much space you have. You may want both a tub and a walk-in shower but is there actually room for both? Measure your space and doorways to see what will fit. Note that not every tub allows for the installation of a shower so look into this before you buy. Also, be sure to identify the location of the floor drain to ensure it works with the tub you like.

The basic tub is 60 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 14 inches deep and not all bathrooms will be able to accommodate it. There are other options out there but if the room is really small, you may have to install a shower enclosure only. Sliding doors will help you make the best use of the space in such a situation.

What kind of bath or shower experience do you like?

Some people see baths and showers as simply functional experiences and want to get in an out as quickly as possible. If this is you, a simple shower enclosure with a basic shower head or a standard tub will suffice. If you are also short on space, a fixed shower head with a handheld option can be installed.

If you want to go the extra step and have a spa-like experience, you need a completely different setup. Maybe a whirlpool, air bath or waterfall shower head will be more suitable. You may want to have a tub arm or headrests, adjustable jets or even underwater lighting. Some fancy tubs also have aromatherapy features. Top of the line showers can have completely customizable body sprays.

How big is your budget?

Now you may have lots of space and a desire for luxury bath experiences but do you have the money? If you’ve already planned for an extravagant bathroom, and are going to get someone like American Eagle Plumbing (americaneagleplumbing.net/hutto-plumber/) to come in and do all the installation work for you, then by all means, go ahead and spend on a lavish setup. If you’re on a tight budget, then you need to consider which elements are most important. Perhaps you wanted both a tub and shower but now you can only afford one or maybe you can afford both but they can’t be too fancy. Spending more will usually get you a better-quality product but this may cause you to skimp on other items in your bathroom. Only you can strike the correct balance.

Once you’ve taken space, experience and cost into consideration, shopping for a new tub or shower can be an exciting experience. And just think about how much you’ll enjoy your new bathroom experience!

Catherine Avatar