It’s easy to appreciate a freestanding bath – they are often the focal point of the room, and are inherently attractive and beautiful in their own right. If you have a freestanding bath in your bathroom, you can instantly transform the look of the room and benefit from all the conveniences a freestanding bath brings. But it’s not that easy to choose a freestanding bath – after all, you can’t go with looks alone. Some practical factors need to be considered as well. Here’s how best to choose a freestanding bath.
Styles
First of all, there are many different freestanding bath styles from which to choose. The most easily recognisable is the claw-foot style, which is raised from the flooring of the bathroom with ‘feet.’ Some claw-foot styles are more modern, with geometrically-shaped feet rather than claw feet.
Another style is the pedestal style, where the bath sits on a platform or base. The corner or wall-backed freestanding bath style, on the other hand, is just as its name implies: it can be placed in a corner of the bathroom or against the wall, and it can be a good choice for smaller bathrooms. Some freestanding bath styles are also just made to stand directly on the bathroom floor, and these types of freestanding baths are noticeably chic and modern.
Materials
You also have some choices when it comes to materials. Acrylic is one popular choice in material as it is strong and light-weight. It can also be made resistant to fading and scratching, and it’s also easy to maintain. If an acrylic bath is lightly scratched, all it needs is some buffing to repair the scratch. Solid surface is another common material for freestanding baths and known for being strong and sturdy. It can also resist scratches and stains, and can be repaired through professional polishing and sanding. Another material for freestanding baths is cast iron. Although this material is long-lasting, it can be quite heavy and may require additional floor support.
Other important considerations
When choosing a freestanding bath, you have to make sure that you can bathe comfortably in it – in other words, that you and other members of your family will fit. To determine this, look at the measurement of the bath’s bottom, especially the width and length of the bath floor. You also have to make sure that the freestanding bath will be able to fit through your home’s hallways and doors. Installing it in the proper manner is also a major consideration, so have it installed by professionals. The drains should also be chosen carefully, as you have the option to have it either hidden or exposed. The same goes for the taps – you have three main options: a freestanding tap, a deck-mounted tap, and a wall-mounted tap. Make sure to choose the best one for your needs and according to the recommendations of a professional plumber.
