Whether your bathtub’s primary purpose is for cleaning, splashing or simply stress relief, choosing a new bathtub is undoubtedly an important decision when undertaking a bathroom renovation. 

The bathtub can be a beautiful focal point, supporting your bathroom’s overall look. The right bath can improve the appeal and functionality of a bathroom renovation, and if well maintained, will last an entire lifetime. 

In this month’s Journal we are turning the spotlight on baths. Here’s our expert guide to choosing a bathtub for your next bathroom renovation.

The Team at Balnei & Colina

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1. Easy Maintenance

Select a bathtub with a durable hard wearing surface. Some bathtub surfaces lack quality, making them susceptible to external damage, less durable, difficult to maintain, and can even affect the ability of water to retain heat. 

Dedicate part of your bathroom renovation budget to the bath, especially if your family regularly use a bath over showering or if opting for a shower/bath combination. 

Design Tip: Baths made of sub-grade materials are often not durable, can hold grime, or even chip, and once they do, cleaning becomes extremely difficult as the material deteriorates and replacement becomes the only viable option.

Image credit: Trevor Mein

2. Factor In Weight

Materials used in manufacturing bathtubs vary in weight. A bathtub made of cast iron weighs about 130 kg which may impact your sub-floor especially on an upper level, as the extra weight can affect the floor's structural integrity.

A heavier bath can also make it more costly to install, particularly in a second floor bathroom. To avoid the extra expense you can opt for a bathtub made of acrylic or fibreglass, which are much lighter materials making them easier to handle and install. 

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3. Standing the test the time

Another essential factor to take into consideration when choosing a bathtub is its longevity. If the bath isn’t something you will be using every day, you may choose to inject a little personality with a splash of colour or out of the box design.

Proper care is crucial. A good quality acrylic tub can last for years if you maintain it well. Enamel coatings can prove useful in improving the longevity of an acrylic or fibreglass tub. It’s best to ask yourself how often you will be using your tub, before selecting the best option for you.

A good designer will consult with you regarding your specific needs and requirements for your bathroom renovation, as well as walk you through the pros and cons of each type of material. 

Image credit: Sharyn Cairns

3. The Shape Of The Tub

This point is largely a matter of preference. Always choose a bathtub that suits your size, height, and personal needs. Things like, how much time you spend in the bathtub, whether more than one person will be using the bath at a time, if young children will be using the bath, are all factors that will affect your ultimate purchase decision. 

Renovating your bathroom also presents you with an opportunity to change your existing bath style and shape or even opt for completely different design. Rectangular bathtub designs are more traditional, while oval and round tubs are on trend for more contemporary style bathroom renovations. 

Design Tip: Don’t be afraid to jump into some tubs at your local store to get a feel for the shape you love. The assistants have seen it all before, trust us! 

Image credit: Sean Fennessy

4. New Heights & Depths

Take the height of the tub from the floor into consideration. A deep tub can ooze luxury, but may not be the easiest to step into. An inset tub can be installed in the floor, which makes it much easier to step into and can also save on space. In some instances, you may require an elevated tub. This is where age and any access issues can come into play. 

If you have specific requirements for your bathroom space, our Balnei & Colina designers can create a custom bathroom design, tailored to suit your exact requirements and style preferences. 

Image credit: Chris Warnes

5. The Core

Modern bathtubs are commonly made of acrylic or fibreglass, which is light as the interior is hollow. Acrylic tubs are popular because they are lightweight and hold in the heat. Fibreglass, on the other hand, is prone to scratches and does not retain heat as well. 

The heavier tubs are made of metal and enamel and are much more durable than fibreglass. Concrete and natural stone are also used to construct modern bathtubs. The sturdier the tub, the better it will resist damage. The following is a quick guide to material selection for your bath. 

Choose from the following for your next bathroom renovation:

• Acrylic - Widely used for baths, and a budget-friendly choice. It is easy to care for. It’s light, so if often the first choice for a second storey.
• Solid surfaces -  For eg Corian are easy to mould into almost any shape. They are quite durable, easy to care for and retain heat well.
• Cast iron - Common in traditional style freestanding baths. Hard wearing and easy to clean, it will retain heat well. It’s a heavier material, so you’ll need to check whether your subfloor will require reinforcing prior to install.  
• Stone baths - Attractive, however more expensive than other materials. Being heavy it may add more to the cost of your renovation as the sub floor will likely need strengthening.
• Steel  - Not our preferred choice, is a very hard-wearing material for a bath. The enamel coating may chip, but can be repaired. It’s colder to touch than other bath materials, but will retain heat better.

Design Tip: Installing a mortar setting under the tub can stop the bottom from flexing. Ask your installer or manufacturer about using a mortar setting. 

For any more information on our custom bathroom renovation solutions feel free to contact Balnei & Colina at 1300 450 320. You can also send us your project details via this Contact Us form. 

Visit us at balneiandcolina.com.au or connect with us via Facebook or Instagram to stay up to date with the latest bathroom and design trends.

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