If you enjoy soaking in the bathtub to relax and relieve stress and washing under a steamy shower, then having a tub and shower seems like an excellent solution. However, limited bathroom space can hinder your plans, but that’s where the deep soaking tub shower combo will be of service.
Deep soaking tub-and-shower combos are among the most widespread bathtub installation today, found in around 65 percent of houses. They provide a superb space and aesthetics balance, are reasonably priced, reliable, and simple to install, and help efficiently utilize the little bathroom space.
You don’t have to pick between a shower and a bathtub when you can have both. However, there’s plenty to consider before installing a deep soaking tub shower combo, and I’m here to help.
Keep reading to discover the deep soaking tub shower combo benefits, materials, and how to combine a deep soaking tub with a shower.
Deep Soaking Tub with Shower (Benefits)
Here are some benefits of a deep soaking tub with a shower:
1. Multi-functionality
You won’t have to pick between the two if you have a bathtub and shower combo. Any bathroom that features a bathtub and a shower has unique benefits.
Firstly, a tubless restroom will become a three-quarter bath if you replace it with a shower stall alone. However, it may diminish the resale value of your house when you decide to sell it.
Furthermore, the National Association of Home Builders reports that 51 percent of households want the main bathroom with a bathtub beside a shower. Even if you have little money or space for bathroom renovation, the deep soaking tub with shower offers a 2-in-1 option that allows you to have both a tub and a shower in the same place.
2. Family Friendly
The deep soaking tub and shower combo are ideal for families of all sizes since it fits adults and children who need a shower stall during shower time. If you have kids of varying ages or are seeking a long-term fix for children, a deep bathing tub and shower combination is a terrific option.
You can incorporate a handheld showerhead into the mix for more bathing options.
3. Cost-effective
If you want a bathtub and a shower, the deep soaking tub with shower is the more economical choice since installing a bathtub, and a separate shower enclosure is more costly. A soaking tub and shower combo will save you bucks and allow you to commit more cash to other bathroom purchases.
For instance, plumbing for the bathtub and shower combination is easier and less expensive to install than separate entities. Choosing this two-in-one piece might also enable you to buy one higher-end tub and shower combo instead of two distinct lower-quality pieces.
4. Saves Space
The combination helps homeowners guarantee that their modest restrooms count as full bathrooms instead of half baths, which increases their commercial value. You can take advantage of having a deep bathtub and shower in the same spot while creating room for other bathroom fittings, such as shelving, a vanity, and a toilet.
5. Offers Occasional Bath
Individuals who shower more frequently than bathe may prefer a separate shower enclosure. However, the tub-shower combo permits you to take an occasional bath whenever you like, making it an excellent addition to your bathroom.
How Deep Is a Tub Shower Combo?
Tub-shower combination sizes are changeable. For instance, a typical 3-wall alcove tub averages 60 inches long by 36 inches wide by 14 inches deep.
Some common tub/shower combinations are 30 inches deep instead of 36 inches deep, making them ideal if you have a tiny restroom.
Deep Soaking Tub Shower Combo Materials
The material used in the deep bathtub and shower mix will impact its quality, pricing, and overall aesthetic. Soaking tub-shower combinations feature the following materials:
- Acrylic
- Fiberglass
- Cast-polymer
- Porcelain-enamel on cast iron
- Enameled steel
- Composite materials
The weight of the soaking tub also depends on the material used to construct it. For example, acrylic and fiberglass are pliable, light materials, while cast iron and enameled steel may weigh between 350 and 500 pounds.
One advantage of a composite tub is that it is strong and about half the weight of a cast iron soaking tub. The cost of different materials for the deep soaking tub shower combination will differ depending on labor and installation process.
For instance, composites cost $600 to $1,200, fiberglass costs $300 to $750; and acrylic costs $300 to $700.
NOTE: The price of a composite deep soaking tub/shower combo also depends on the frame material, which is often brass, aluminum, or chrome. Integrating a tempered glass shower door into your tub shower combination raises installation costs.
How To Combine a Deep Soaking Tub with Shower
Having a deep soaking tub-shower combo is possible and can be done in several ways, including:
1. Free Standing Tub with a Wraparound Shower Curtain on a Circular Shower Curtain Rod
This is possibly an undemanding technique to create a deep soaking tub/standing shower combination. If you dislike the “clawfoot” style, there are numerous contemporary free-standing tubs with bases, with some having an exquisite appearance.
2. ‘Drop in’ Tub with Square Corners
You may install the combination in a spot where you can bring down tiled walls to the lip of the soaking tub, eliminating any horizontal areas where stagnant water from the shower can pool. You may need to move the wall closer to the tub.
Assume your allotted area is 80 inches long, but the soaking tub is 70 inches long. Pull one wall 10 inches nearer (or even both walls, 5 inches nearer) the end of the bathtub and make cubby shelves in the walled area for towels.
3. Install A Drop-in Soaking Tub in the Typical Manner
You can set up a drop-in bathtub in the standard way, but you can incorporate a round shower curtain rod over it and set the shower head over the middle of the tub. If not, hang it right above the tub, facing directly down from your ceiling.
However, it may look too traditional. So, you can add a stylish ring to keep the shower curtain away from the soaking tub while not in use and buy a nice-looking circular shower curtain ring for a stunning design.
Furthermore, you can install a tile-covered horizontal beam along the ceiling to conceal the shower curtain ring.
4. A Wet Design
If you tile the flooring and slope it towards a floor drain, you may pair either a drop-in tub or a claw-foot-style tub with an overhead shower without using any shower curtain. Also, use a drop-in deep soaking tub, and slant the horizontal tiled surfaces around it slightly to drain free-standing water to ensure water drains onto the flooring and into the floor drain.
This approach can be a DIY process because you have a tiled, gently sloping, horizontal floor.
Do Soaking Tubs Fit in Small Bathrooms?
Soaking tubs can fit in tiny bathrooms. It is characteristic of the Japanese soaking tub, which features a considerably shorter profile than other tubs yet provides more soaking depth.
However, always contact a skilled contractor regarding the size of the bathroom to guarantee that your preferred tub will fit.
FAQs
1. What Is a Standard Size Tub Shower Combo?
Since the average bathtub is 60 inches long and 32 inches wide, most tubs and shower combinations are 60 inches long, 36 inches wide, and 72 inches deep. Some measure 60 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 72 inches deep.
2. Can You Have a Soaking Tub Shower Combo?
The deep soaking tub and shower combination makes excellent use of limited space in a small bathroom, besides giving you the option of taking a bath or a shower.
3. How Much Does a Tub Shower Combination Cost?
Installation of a walk-in bathtub shower combo ranges from $2,500 to $6,000, depending on size and labor costs in your location. However, oversized walk-in baths or ones with several add-on amenities are often more expensive.
4. How Much Does It Cost to Add a Bathtub to a Shower?
Converting a shower to a tub would cost you between $4,000 and $6,000. Nonetheless, depending on the size of the room and the amount of labor needed, a simple addition may cost as little as $1,900.
5. What Is a Good Depth for a Soaking Tub?
Soaking tubs are deeper than standard tubs since they offer extended, relaxing baths. Regular tub depths allow for around 12 inches of water; soaking tubs should have at least 14 inches or more to cover most of your body.
6. What Is a Bathtub Shower Combo Called?
The combination is called tub/shower. The set includes a bathtub and a shower unit, which allows you to bathe or shower within the same room.
Final Thoughts on Deep Soaking Tub Shower Combo
It is possible to have a deep-soaking tub with a shower, and the upside is it is cost-effective, space-saving, and offers occasional baths, among other benefits. You can install them using some of the techniques described here, but it takes creativity to have a stunning, deep, soaking tub/shower combo in your bathroom.
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