Good Questions: Small Tubs?

2005_1_3_question mark.jpg Hello AT,
I'm going to be remodeling my 6x5 bathroom here in Minneapolis where a bathtub remains important for resale.

I've been looking for some small tubs online, but unfortunately everything i can find is only made in Europe with no real shipping to the US.

Are you aware of any manufacturers or retailers in the US or that ship here that would sell a small tub? I'd prefer a semi corner tub so the room doesn't feel quite so small and have more room for storage as we don't have a closet, either. Thank you. Ryan

Ryan, we don't have a silver bullet for you, but here's a gaggle of links where we'd start:

Trendir - total bathroom weblog
Cool Japanese tub
Small clawfoots
call Waterworks and bug them for an answer

MGR

Comments (11)

Folks-- just because you have a small space does *not* mean you have to suffer. LineaAqua offers many smaller sized units such as whirlpools, soaking tubs and shower enclosures specifically for situations where space is an issue.

Bath tubs: We have smaller soaking tubs starting at 57 iinches.
http://www.lineaaqua.net/shop/Bathtubs-c-250.html

Shower Enclosures: we have many styles of completely enclosed shower enclosures starting from 32 x 32 and going up in size.
http://www.lineaaqua.net/shop/Shower-Enclosures-c-292.html

Steam showers with small soaking tubs: we have steam showers with small soaking tubs starting at 40 x 40.
http://www.lineaaqua.net/shop/Steam-Shower-c-269.html

Please feel free to visit our site and see the products specifically made for smaller baths.

Finding the right product is not easy.. as there are so many different bathroom configurations and layouts.

In europe -- things are *not* regulated.. so you can make a tub, shower or fixture any size.. in the states things are a little different. As there are standards and standard sizes.

I bought the Kohler 4' soaking tub. It's beautiful and has a small footprint, but I won't be able to use it. My contractor says that the downward curve around the edge of the tub, usually for drop-in installation, will be almost impossible to seal properly in my 3 wall alcove. It probably won't be within building code as well (I have a small apartment in NYC) and will probably cause water damage from water trickling down into the floor below. Has anyone else had this problem? I don't have an inch to spare to build out the walls as my bathroom is 50" by 77" and I can't extend into another room. I think my only option now is the American Standard which is not enough to soak in.

Check the American Standard Huron 4' Recess Bathtub at www.americanstandard-us.com

I just saw an old ad from the 1920s in a book called Classic Houses of the Twenties, a reprint of a Loizeaux floorplan book...they have an ad from the Wheeling Sanitary Manufacturing Co. of Wheeling West Virginia showing the "Combination Bath" which is a 44" long by 30" wide tub/shower...it has a lowered foot area where the drain is, looks like about half the floor area and is at one end...they show a kid with his feet in the lowered area and only water up to the top of this recess, but the overflow is up at the top of the whole unit, about a foot above the floor like a normal tub (the dropped foot/drain section would presumably be let down between two floor joists which could complicate plumbing for the trap if height in the floor is limited...easy for a basement below)...the ad has a funny testimonial from the owner of the Mira-Mar Hotel, 6222 Woodlawn Ave in Chicago who was installing many of these in space-saving bathrooms...maybe they could be had in salvage...they offered a china model in corner with left or right drain OR in recess (3 unfinished sides) and a cast-iron model in recess only, all the same dimensions

Have a look at http://www.bathsfromthepast.com/
You will find a huge collection of
Antique style Vintage Bath Room Accessories

This is a really interesting post!

My husband and I have a teeny tiny japanese style soaking tub in our UK home. I have a photo of it on Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/inteawetrust/2936735251/

It's only 28" across and 30" wide. When you sit in it, the water comes up to your shoulders. For the curious, it's not actually that uncomfortable. I'm about 5'7" and he's about 6 foot, and neither of us finds it too small. With the water being so deep, it is really relaxing.

Our only complaint is that our bathroom is a ridiculously small and awkward layout. (See flickr exhibit numero dos http://www.flickr.com/photos/inteawetrust/2936733803/in/photostream/ ) and there is no space for a step. (And zero space to expand the bathroom AT ALL.) You have to climb on the toilet to get in and out of it and we dislike that. We've been looking to replace the tub but nobody seems to sell them that tiny. We suspect it was custom work from France.

What we will probably do if we refinish the bathroom is to put in a luxury shower with a steamer and a glass door and call it a day. Still, I'm watching this post for any leads on totally tiny tubs!

(PS - don't make fun of our ugly bathroom, haha. I had only just moved in and hate the wood and white, too. It's blue now.)

What a great post. I too am shopping for a small tub. My bathroom is 57" wide, but tubs are 60" wide! It makes so sense! I am so frustrated!

I just bought a 54" arcylic tub from Lowes. It is the AquaGlass brand. It is not the most luxurious tub, but it was only $140. It was not on their website, but I called Lowes and asked if they could order it for me from AquaGlass since they carry other products from them....and they did. FYI, the first time I ordered it came cracked.

http://www.mascobath.com/products.php?product_id=172

For very small compact baths try here:

http://www.bathroomexpress.co.uk/acatalog/0806_mantaleda_compact_deep_soaking_bath_tubs.html

Not sure if they export but it's worth a try.

The manufacturer is in Yorkshire so it might be worth contacting them direct if you're really desperate.

Check out architectural salvage and other resale stores, like Habitat for Humanity's ReStore. I got a 54" tub and a larger whirlpool tub at one run by the city, where contractors take all kinds of replaced building materials. I love the Japanese and European tubs (and Kohler's Greek tub) but they are so expensive, I've even considered building my own or installing a stock watering tub. As for worrying about kids falling in: If you are bathing the kid, the solution is simple: don't fill the tub too full, and don't leave the kid alone for an instant. Those are normal precautions one should take, anyway. If you don't plan to leave water in the tub, why worry? (If you do, perhaps you could get a cover for it to keep the kids out. Make it sturdy enough and they can dance on it but not lift it!)