Bath Tub

Many homes today have at least one bathtub included in their bathroom design.  The use of baths for bathing, relaxing and general well being has developed as part of our culture and these different uses have shaped the types, designs and materials that make up the bathtub.  The humble bathtub which first made it appearance on the scene many years ago as a small wooden tub lined with metal and filled by hand to becoming a fashionable addition to every bathroom.  When designing a bathroom there is a multitude of styles and designs of bathtubs which has made it possible to find the right bathtub for any type of bathroom.  Bathtubs are available in many forms and for many uses such as the following bathtubs.

Traditional bathtub is the most common type of bath that is installed in many bathrooms.  The general design of these baths is long in shape with relatively low sides.  The bath is designed so that the bather is in a comfortable lying position while in the bath.  These baths are used mostly for washing and can be used for relaxing as well due to the comfortable design of these bathtubs.

Bathtubs that are free standing are also quite popular especially in very modern bathrooms.  These baths are similar to the original claw foot free standing bathtubs but are made with modern materials and have modern plumbing to match.  Bathtubs that are free standing are great for larger bathrooms where the bathtub is the centre piece.  These tubs are shaped so that the bather is lying down in the bathtub.  These bathtubs are much like the previous traditional bathtubs as they are long to allow the bather to lie down when using the bathtub.

For the smaller bathrooms there are corner baths available which can fit into the smallest bathrooms.  Theses bathtubs are great for using space in the bathroom that may otherwise be unused.  Corner bathtubs may also be installed with water and bubble jets similar to indoor spas.  These corner bathtubs may also be moulded to comfortably fit more than one person at a time.

When choosing which bathtub is most suitable for your situation it is necessary to consider how much room you have in the bathroom and also what will you be using the bathtub for.  Many people choose the traditional style of bathtub as this is the most versatile design as it can be used for washing, bathing, relaxing and for therapeutic use.

History shows that the first personal bath tubs were used by the ancient Greeks. Many houses of wealthy Romans had a purpose build bathing rooms which were decorated in rich and ornate designs. A combination of marble, lead and bronze was used for the bathing areas and the plumbing of these bathing rooms.  The appearance of the clawfoot bathtub was in the United States around the 1800s when bathing had become more socially acceptable.  The clawfoot bath tub was the first commercially produced bath tub and the construction of the bath tub was cast iron.

The claw footed bathtubs that were produced in the United States came from two companies, the Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company which later become the American Standard and the Kohler Company.  Both of these companies actually sold claw foot bathtubs as horse troughs and hog scolders with their use as baths for people to wash themselves coming much later.

Once the use of claw footed bathtubs has gained popularity for personal bathing, the first people to privately own their own personal claw foot bath were the rich and wealthy part of the population.  Early bath rooms had the claw foot bathtub as the centre piece of the bath room and improvements in plumbing made it possible to have larger baths without the worry of throughout the house.

The design of the claw foot bathtubs has changed over time and was very much influenced by furniture of the time.  The most traditional forms of the Claw foot bathtubs was an oval shaped tub with a rolled rim and the feet or the tub reflecting the design of furniture in that specific era.  Many of the claw foot bathtubs had quite decorative feet which gave the bath a certain look.  These bath tubs were made at the time, exclusively out of cast iron.    This made the tubs quite heavy especially when the water was added so many of the bath rooms that had a tub were located on the first floor of the house on reinforced flooring designed to hold the weight.

The design of the original claw footed bathtubs were quite a large bath tub.  The size of the bath tub was designed so that an adult male could lie down in the bath and be covered by the water in the tub.

As the development of various materials progressed the cast iron claw foot bathtubs fell out of favour with most people due to the weight of the iron and the cheap cost of other types of baths.  It is only in recent times that claw footed bathtubs have had a resurgence with manufacturers offering the look of a claw footed bathtub but instead of the heavy cast iron they are available in acrylic and fibre glass

Japanese bath tubs have become more and more popular over the past few years for people who are renovating bathrooms and looking for fixtures and baths that are compact and offer something unique.  Using a Japanese bathtub can bring the benefits of a large traditional bath tub but without needing a large bathroom to accommodate the size.

A Japanese bath is more of a soak which is designed to relax the body after a day of stress at work.  The bath tub is smaller than most common baths and can look a little like a large bucket.  Before entering the bath a person must wash themselves thoroughly and enter the water only when they are clean.  Unlike traditional baths, a Japanese bath requires you to sit in an upright position rather than lying down which many baths and spas are designed.  Once the individual is in the Japanese bath tub they relax and basically let the stress and issues soak away.  Some types of Japanese bath tubs also include water jets or bubbles to make the experience much similar to a regular spa bath.

Japanese style bath tubs have a few advantages over spa or regular bath tubs including a saving in water and electricity.  Japanese Bath tubs use much less resources than regular baths as the water is not let out after each bathing session as the person using the bath has cleaned themselves before using the bath.  The other advantage of the Japanese style bath tub is that the actual bath tub size is quite small so it can be installed in even the smallest bathrooms.

When using a Japanese bath tub the water is kept at a higher temperature than a normal bath which aids in the removal of toxins from the body by opening and cleansing the pores in the skin.  The bath is generally designed for one person at a time and they sit either on a small bench or on the floor of the bath tub in an upright position.  The water in the Japanese bath tub is filled so that the top of the water covers the individuals shoulders with only their head above the water.

The act of cleansing the body of toxins by bathing is an important part of Japanese culture and originates from ancient Buddhist practice.  Cleansing Japanese bath tubs may also have such things as green tea added to the bath to help with the cleansing process.

Corner baths have become increasingly popular especially with people who want to have a bath but do not have much room in their bathroom.  Corner baths are a lot smaller than the regular size bath tubs and also comes in a large range of designs, styles, materials and colours.  The most common types of corner baths are the small one or two person soaking bath, the corner spa bath and the regular corner bath.

The most popular of the corner baths is the corner soaking tub.  Many people have installed these types of baths as they are small enough for even the tiniest bathroom.  These baths are much deeper than regular baths and are designed for people to relax and soak in.  These corner baths are designed with either one or two seats and are generally filled so that the water fully surrounds the bather.  These types of soaking baths may also include bubble or water jets which can be turned on and off to enhance the soaking and relaxation effect of the bath.  When shopping for this type of corner bath go to a show room and try the baths out for fit and comfort.  Corner baths that are made for soaking have different contours and styling from regular baths so it is important to get the right one.

Corner baths are also available as an indoor spa.  The corner area of the bathroom can in many cases provide a larger area for the spa so a bath that uses this space can be of a larger size without taking up too much of the bathroom.  Corner baths and spas make a great addition to the bath room as they can have a multitude of uses such as bathing and relaxation.  As with the soaking tubs these corner baths also have options such as bubble and water jets to increase the relaxation effect for the bather.

Regular baths are also available as corner baths and they also come in a large variety of designs and styles.  Regular corner baths are quite shallow when compared to the soaking baths but these baths are longer and take advantage of the little bit of extra room that the corner of the bathroom offers.  These corner baths also come with options such as storage in the corner section for things such as body lotions, shampoo and soaps.

An outdoor spa can be a great addition to any home.  They create a sense of fun and relaxation and also provide health benefits that can be an advantage for the whole family.  Developments in equipment and materials has made owning an outdoor spa bath a realistic and affordable option for many families.  The multiple uses of outdoor spa baths are also a consideration when deciding on style and the type of outdoor spa suitable for your situation.

Outdoor spa baths are a popular choice by people who do not have room for a swimming pool but want the entertainment, relaxation, therapy and fitness that a pool can provide only smaller in size and less expensive.  Outdoor spa baths come in many different styles and designs as well as the choice of above ground or inground spas.

Choosing the right outdoor spa bath for your place is all about what you want to use the spa for.  Spas come in different types and designs depending on whether you want to enjoy relaxing in the spa or if you want to exercise and swim in a purpose built swim spa.

Outdoor spa baths came in above and inground designs.  Choosing an inground spa bath can be slightly more expensive than an above ground as there needs to be more planning and preparation.  Inground spas are generally made of concrete and can be a spa on their own or attached to a swimming pool.  Preparation for building an inground spa includes digging the whole, running the piping, pouring the concrete to form the spa walls and bottom and the finishing off such as pavers, decking or other landscaping.

The choice of an above ground outdoor spa bath can be much cheaper than the inground equivalent as many of the above ground units are preassembled and just require placement on solid ground, filling with water and attaching the included plumping and power.  The great thing about above ground spas is that the set up is not permanent and can be moved around the yard or even taken with you when you move.

Once the decision on whether you will have an inground or above ground spa has been made you then need to decide on the style of the spa which is generally determined by why you want the spa.  There are many different types of spas which have different uses such as swim spas, therapeutic spas as well as portable spas