Dreaming of a Spa Tub at Home? Read This Pro Advice First

I have a love-hate relationship with spa tubs. In a bathroom nothing looks more appealing. Bathrooms with spa tubs always remind me of a luxury hotel room. But no other plumbing fixture causes me more grief than these tubs. Are you prepared for the maintenance and installation must-haves? Let's take a look at some common spa tub installations to learn more about these luxurious soakers.

A spa tub is any tub with air bubbles, heated water features or tub jets, all designed for a deep soak. There are many kinds of spa tubs. Some are round, some are square, some are oval and some are rectangular. There are freestanding tubs (like the one in this photo), corner tubs and tubs built for two or more people. The options and styles are off the chart.

Tip: Never buy a tub you have not sat in. If you plan to share it with your partner, both of you should climb in at the same time. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily slip off when you go to a showroom. Climb into every tub you consider. Many clients of mine have vetoed a tub after simply sitting inside.


This spa tub is a drop-in model. Unlike a freestanding tub, it's "dropped" into a custom surround. Both freestanding and drop-in tubs create unique installation challenges.

Most spa tubs come with a water pump, a heating system or an air system. Before installing any of those systems or the tub, make sure you test them out first. The last thing you'd want is to find out you have leaks or your spa jets won't work after installation.

Tip: Surrounds for drop-in tubs provide space beneath for things like the spa's heater and pump. With a freestanding tub, you need to place these elsewhere, and sometimes this just isn't feasible.

A surround also supports the tub. Before installing a drop-in tub and surround, consider building a temporary base to make sure everything works and fits correctly.


Freestanding spa tubs like this often require antitipping brackets. These keep the tub from flipping with extra weight. While they are important, these antitipping brackets are a royal pain in the backside to install. Because the brackets are installed on top of the finished floor with large screws or bolts, it is important to know the exact location of heating wires or pipes.

Tip: Talk to your builder and plumber about brackets — I've seen some installations where it was skipped because neither knew it was necessary.


Personally, I don't like tubs that are oversize. I find a tub longer than 5 feet hard to relax in — I prefer my feet to be able to press against the far side so I don't slide down when sitting. But everyone's different, which again is why it's important to sit in a tub before buying it.

Think about the view in your bathroom and how big your bathroom will be. Try to plan your layout so you can look out a window or into your bathroom, instead of looking at a blank back wall.

Tip: Avoid massive spa tubs if your home has a tiny hot-water tank, unless you're ready to replace the tank. Odds are, a small tank won't be able to handle a gigantic tub.


Jacuzzi-GAL6243 ALR 2XX W Gallery Oval Acrylic Tub - $1,437.15 » There's much more to a spa tub setup than the tub and the tub filler. The pump, blower, LED generator and more are all spa tub musts. When planning your design, consider where you will be able to access these items. I like to install them just outside the bathroom — maybe in a closet or adjacent room. However, some control units need to be close or even attached to the tub. Everyone is different (and designed to drive bathroom contractors insane).

Tip: Do your homework before having a spa tub installed. Ask about different plugs, switches, breakers and any and all electrical requirements. It's not uncommon for a new spa tub to require two breakers, which add to the cost. Sometimes new jet and heat options require added adjustments and expense to have them hooked up to code.


This soaker spa tub has jets, lights, loads of air bubbles, heat to keep the bathwater hot, a cleaning port and its own control pad. These features are all great, but each one had to be tested prior to installation.

Tip: These lights were custom designed. If you decide you want lights inside your tub, plan for four instead of two — the difference is amazing. If possible, try to make the front panel accessible so you can easily get to the guts of the tub. This installation has access from the glass panel in the front and a closet hatch behind the wall.


Whirlpool Tubs » With the added luxury of jets, you also get a few more installation issues. The bubbles and heat add to the vapor in the bathroom air, so plan to use great paint and have great ventilation. Many jetted tubs are rarely used after the first couple months. Buy a tub that self-cleans by blowing air out the lines with every use.

Tip: Know that the self-cleaning mode on these tubs can make some serious noise. The first time I heard it, I nearly dove for cover!


Choose your plumbing fixtures — filler, handheld sprayer etc. — after you choose your tub. A deck-mounted tub gets deck-mounted fixtures, and a freestanding tub usually needs a freestanding tub filler.

Tip: Consider where you'll be sitting in the tub and in what direction you'll be facing before having a handheld sprayer installed. I've seen sprayers installed at distances too far for the client to reach and also with the assumption that the client was right-handed when he or she actually was left-handed.

URL: Dreaming of a Spa Tub at Home? Read This Pro Advice First http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-18487.html