When shopping for baths, there are basically four different styles that you can choose from, the corner, recessed, drop-in and the freestanding, all of which generally reflects the methods of installation. Aside from that, you also need to choose if you prefer the traditional baths or the whirlpools, both comes in a large variety of sizes, colors, shapes and materials. So in order to make a more informed choice, you need to have a deeper understanding of the different types and styles available.

Recessed Baths

This type is also popularly known as the three-wall alcove tub and has become a popular choice mainly because of its affordability, space efficiency, and availability. Only the front part of the tub features any decorative finish since the alcove walls will conceal the other end. You will usually find this type of tubs made of enameled steel, which is an inexpensive material and known to be relatively lightweight. However, the main downside of steel enamel is its tendency to create noise and prone to chipping after long use. A better alternative to this is the enameled cast iron, which comes significantly more expensive and heavy that might require your bathroom floor additional reinforcements to support the extra weight.

Corner Baths

Although, the term might have been specifically used to triangular bathtubs that features two unfinished sides and one finished part, it is generally used to tubs that come it any shape but installed in a corner with two sides backed against the wall.

Drop-In Baths

This particular style is largely available in a number of configurations and designs and is mounted on a raised platform, but is make to sink below the floor level. Some people prefer to overlap the decks, others want the undermounted varieties, depending on your floor area as well as your personal preference. This type of tubs is usually made with a lightweight fiberglass and reinforced plastic or acrylic, which may be probe to scratches and dulling. If budget is not a concern, then it’s best to choose the enameled cast iron, known to be resilient but may also require structural reinforcements.

Freestanding

As its name suggests, this bath comes with four legs with complete finished exteriors. Among the popular choices of this are the reproductions of the antique claw-foot bathtubs that are made with lightweight materials such as the reconditioned antiques. The authentic antique baths are usually made with cast iron materials and would require buttressing the bathroom floor.

Whirlpool Baths

Whirlpool baths are enjoying increasing popularity throughout the years, since it offers motorized water circulation jets that provide the users that wonderful soothing hydromassage. Whirlpools are also available in different installation styles, such as recessed drop-in, freestanding but the most people prefer the platform installation. This type of bath may require some special framing and extra dedicated water heaters or electrical circuit. Others feature the variable speed pumps that have electronic controls that can efficiently adjust the power of the massage. It also varies in sizes depending of course on your available space and personal preference.

Now that you have a better idea on the specific types of baths that you can choose from, you can now easily determine which one would best suit your bathroom.

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Freestanding or Roll-Top Bath

As its name suggests, this bath comes either with four legs or stands on the floor. It also comes with complete finished exteriors. Among the popular choices of this are the reproductions of the antique claw-foot bathtubs that are made with lightweight materials such as the reconditioned antiques. The authentic antique baths are usually made with cast iron materials and would require buttressing the bathroom floor.

Freestanding or Roll-Top bath sizes are normally slightly larger than the standard 1700×700mm and because the baths are very deep they tend to hold a lot of water - up to 250litres.

An important distinction amongst baths is how they sit on the floor.

Feet
The classic traditional cast iron ball and claw foot is the one the instantly spings to mind but there are many more styles, both traditional and contemporary, in all sorts of finishes including cast iron, chrome, brass, gold and paintable. Be aware that bath feet by different manufacturers are not interchangeable and you must have the right feet for the right bath, some manufacturers do however provide a wide variety of foot styles for many of their baths and you may have a choice of six or seven styles in two or three finishes. For some baths front and back feet may be different and you should always be careful to refer to the manufacturers instructions provided with the bath when fitting them. If in doubt ring us on 0131 669 1007.

Wooden Plinth
The wooden plinth is a more or less contemporary style often but not always associated with an Oriental or Japanese style of bath. We include in this category baths on four wooden blocks or feet. Wooden parts for baths are usually veneers of beech, maple, oak, wenge, cherry or chestnut on a wood composite or in some cases solid wooden blocks.

Metal Cradles
Another contemporary design is to have the bath supported by a metal cradle of one style or another. Good in a clean-lined ultra minimalist bathroom or wherever else your imagination can put it.

To Floor
Within the category of baths that go right down to the floor we also include baths that sit on single long plinths made of the same material as the bath, this includes many of the traditional boat baths. Most of the other baths the go right down to the floor without feet or plinths or cradle are more or less contemporary styles.

Drop-In Baths

This particular style is largely available in a number of configurations and designs and is mounted on a raised platform, but is make to sink below the floor level. Some people prefer to overlap the decks, others want the undermounted varieties, depending on your floor area as well as your personal preference. This type of tubs is usually made with a lightweight fiberglass and reinforced plastic or acrylic, which may be probe to scratches and dulling. If budget is not a concern, then it’s best to choose the enameled cast iron, known to be resilient but may also require structural reinforcements.

Corner Baths

Although, the term might have been specifically used to triangular bathtubs that features two unfinished sides and one finished part, it is generally used to tubs that come it any shape but installed in a corner with two sides backed against the wall.

Corner baths come in all sorts of shapes and sizes; from the extravagantly large corner baths to the cunning space-saving corner baths and some corner baths even offer the option of a bath shower screen for a really versatile bathing space.

One problem with corner baths is the lack of “lying down room”. They tend to offer a lot more width when lying down but considerably less length.

The smallest corner bath available is 1100×1100mm which should only be considered if you have no other option as these corner baths are very small. 1500×1500mm corner baths are available but you need a big bathroom to accommodate them. You also need to take into account the amount of water need to fill the bath. A standard size straight bath holds about 155 litres of water whereas a 1400×1400mm corner bath could hold as much as 210 litres, so you must be sure your heating system is up to the task.

Offset corner baths offer a good compromise as they have reasonable legroom and most take around 180lt to fill. Size wise, they normally measure around 1500×1000mm. Offset corner baths are “handed”, Left Hand and Right Hand. Make sure you see a diagram of the hand you require so that the terminology matches your equirement!

There are some occassions when a corner bath will work well in a small bathroom, but usually they will take up more floor space and offer less lying down space than a standard stright bath.

This type is also sometimes known as the three-wall alcove bath and has become a popular choice mainly because of its affordability, space efficiency, and availability. Only the front part of the bath features any decorative finish since the alcove walls will conceal the other sides. You will usually find these type of baths made of Acrylic.

Some are also made of enameled steel, which is an inexpensive material and known to be relatively lightweight. However, the main downside of steel enamel is its tendency to create noise and prone to chipping after long use.

Another alternative to this is the enameled cast iron, which comes significantly more expensive and heavy that might require your bathroom floor additional reinforcements to support the extra weight.