What is a Soaking Tub?
The latest fad in baths is a soaking tub. A soaking tub with or without a heater may be installed. What sets a soaking bathtub apart from a regular bathtub is its depth. Soaker tubs, especially extra deep soaking tubs, can accommodate a full body soak in shoulder deep water. A soaking tub is a perfect option if you want a tranquil relaxation.
What is a Japanese Soaking Tub?
Japanese soaking tubs are much smaller than its Western counterpart, making it a perfect soaking tub for small bathrooms. It features built in seats and mostly resemble a large barrel but are deeper. This design helps one sit and soak comfortably.
The unique design helps it retain heat longer and withstand high temperatures. The Japanese never wash themselves in the soaking tub. The washing is done before entering the tub and the tub is mainly meant for rejuvenation by way of soaking.
Soaking tubs take inspiration from Japanese designs. The Japanese tub is known as Ofuro and is often installed in a large open room. Like most Japanese rituals and customs, bathing is an elaborate affair. It has always held a special significance in Japanese history. It was part of a special Buddhist cleansing tradition which required the use of a special tub. With time these tubs, known as soaking tubs, became immensely popular.
Different Types of Soaking Tub
The general idea of soaking tubs is that it offers unadulterated type of bath-- with no whistles, blowers or jets included. Nonetheless, it can melt your stresses away and can accommodate whatever your bathing and relaxation needs may be.
Freestanding Soaking Tubs
Freestanding or standalone soaking tubs are designed to stand outside any walled enclosure. They can further be categorized according to the type of their feet or base: whether they stand on claw feet or pedestal.
Clawfoot Soaking Tub
Freestanding soaking bathtubs can come with vintage style claw foot. It's basically a freestanding tub with either a classic or modern claw foot, with the same pure soaking experience.
Pedestal Soaking Tub
As opposed to clawfooted tubs, pedestal styled tubs are freestanding tubs that are raised by either a plinth or pedestal. Like all freestanding tubs, they can be placed anywhere in your bathroom. If you opt your pedestal tub to be a soaker, no additional jets or hydrotherapy features will be included.
Drop in Soaking Tubs
Drop in soaking tubs are designed for enclosures. They are literally "dropped in" an existing platform in the bathroom. Drop in soaking bathtubs can have rectangular or cornered exterior but rounded interior, hence a shape that can comfortably accommodate the body.
Corner Soaking Tubs
Most corner soaking tubs are dropped in a tub surround, which also serves as the bathtub's skirting. Corner soaking tubs are, of course, meant for bathroom corners and are usually placed near or by the window.
Alcove Soaking Tubs
An alcove soaking tub is typically enclosed by three walls. Alcove tubs have apron fronts or skirts, and thus can perfectly fit tight nooks and walled spaces in your bathroom. They also tend to be more affordable due to its unfinished sides (meaning less material used). Alcoves which have only a soaking feature are even more economical since they are not equipped with additional hydrotherapy accessories.
If you plan to build a shower and tub combination in one of your bathroom areas, this is the tub to go. You can simply place the shower on the wall where the alcove tub is enclosed. (As long as the plumbing allows it).
Walk-in Soaking Tubs
Walk-in soaker tubs, on the other hand, feature an outward or inward opening door. This is best for senior citizens or anyone who needs assistance when taking a bath. Walk-in soaking tubs are usually designed with an ADA compliant, chair height seat, allowing its bathers to sit upright while soaking the rest of their bodies.
Walk-in soakers may have no whirlpool or air jets but they are sometimes equipped with other spa-like features such as heated seats, neck and back pillow, and even foot massagers. They are generally supported by a metal or wooden frame, so you can assure that the unit is durable enough to last for years.
Soaking Tub Features and Materials
Materials used also vary often such as wood, stainless steel, copper, tiles or porcelain. Elongated, curvy soaking tubs are more conventional. It depends on you whether you opt for a round soaking tub or a small soaker tub which are usually more suitable for modern homes. An oversized bathtub or a spa bathtub is more appropriate for a property that can accommodate the same.
Soaking tubs usually provide relaxation by way of aroma or massage therapy and modern tubs come equipped with all sorts of features such as temperature control and even Chroma therapy.
Soaking tubs may also come in an assortment of sizes. A 60 inch soaking tub is just the starting length and go up to 72 inches typically.
Small Soaking Tubs and 2 Person Soaking Tubs
The 60 inches or less, small soaking tubs are perfect for small bathrooms. Meanwhile, there are large soaking tubs (more than 60 inches) and even a soaking tub for two which make a perfect bathroom centerpiece for large bathrooms.
An average tub holds up to 250 gallons of water, and single or two person variations are available. They are plumbed for standard bathtubs and installation is pretty simple so relax and remember to leave all your worries outside the tub.
Soaking Tubs for Sale
Buying a bathtub, whether a soaking tub or not, is one of the vital decisions you’ll make for your home, more so for the people who will use it, so it’s definitely important to know the nitty-gritty of it.
For more questions and concerns, email us at: sales@bathtubsplus.com or reach us here. Your bathtub needs matter and BathTubPlus is always happy to assist!
