What is a Soaking Bathtub? 2024 Soaking Bathtub Guide

Author : xk

Update time : 2022-03-22 14:48:39

Buying a new tub can seem like a daunting task with countless questions to answer: How big do I want my tub to be? What material should it be made of? What style of tub do I want and how much am I willing to spend? Fortunately, these answers are easy to solve over time, and with proper research, you can easily find the right tub for your needs. Today, we'll take a deep dive into the properties of a soaking tub to see if it's right for you.

●What is a soaking tub?
●Common soaking tub materials
●The average depth of the soaking tub
●Soaking tub vs drop in tub
●Common soaking tub vs Japanese tub
●What is the cost of a soaking tub
●Who are soaking tubs for?
●Are they hard to install?

What is a Soaking Bathtub?

A soaking tub is a freestanding bathtub that is typically oval in shape with enough water depth to allow for total submersion. The purpose of this is to cover your body with water, which means that your knees or arms will no longer be exposed to the cold compared to more traditional tub designs.

As such, these tubs offer a more therapeutic and almost medicinal soak that relaxes your muscles like a hot tub or jacuzzi when your entire body is fully submerged in water. The difference between a soaking tub and a regular freestanding tub is the depth of the water, as a regular freestanding tub is about 1 foot deep, while a soaking tub can be as much as 3 feet or 36 inches in some cases.

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Common Soaking Bathtub Materials

Soaking bathtubs come in four primary materials; Acrylic, Enameled Cast Iron, Stone Resin, and Wood.

Acrylic is a flexible material that comes in many different shapes and designs, and it has the disadvantage of not holding much heat compared to other materials like cast iron or stone resin.

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Enamelled cast iron is another popular material due to its excellent durability, easy-to-clean surface, and excellent insulation, although it has the disadvantage of being fairly heavy, increasing installation pressure and floor weight when filled with water.

Compared to other materials, wood is a material that does not hold heat very well, but it has unique properties such as a more natural aroma when exposed to hot water that is said to have medicinal properties. Due to its unique and more natural appearance, bathing in a wooden tub is said to be more relaxing and calming than other materials. Since wood is so malleable, it also means that wooden tubs can be in almost any shape and size you want.

Aesthetics don’t come cheap, however, which is why wood is often the most expensive material, requiring twice as much maintenance as other materials on the market to prevent deterioration. Lastly is Stone Resin, which enjoys a good medium between the other three materials listed, offers excellent insulation, a more natural look similar to polished stone, and comes in a variety of designs and shapes to suit your bathroom.

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What is the average depth of a soaking bathtub?

The average depth of a soaking tub is around 2 feet or 24 inches.

On a small scale, they can start at about 1.5 feet, which is very similar to a regular bathtub with water depth. More personalized Japanese-style tubs or soaking tubs start at about 2 feet or 24 inches, and the tubs allow you to fully submerge while lying down.

On the high end, you have large, almost jacuzzi-like tubs that are 72 inches long, 72 inches wide, and have a water depth of 30 inches or 2.5 feet.

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Soaking tub vs Regular Drop-In tub

A normal drop-in bathtub provides more of a utility role as it can be very flexible for your bathing needs. Since the water depth is about half the water depth of a soaking bathtub, a drop-in bathtub isn’t designed for long soaking sessions. They can be fitted with a shower combination, giving you a more flexible use of your bath space compared to a soaking bathtub which is primarily only for soaking or long bath periods.

The size is also going to vary as soaking tubs are typically taller in height whereas drop-in bathtubs are usually larger in length than soaking bathtubs are.

The extra height provides more water depth. Finally, with installation, the recessed still needs a groove or deck to install, as the soaking tub can simply be placed anywhere in your home as it is a freestanding tub.

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Common Soaking Bathtub vs Japanese Soaking tub

While very similar, there are some subtle differences between a regular soaking tub and a Japanese soaking tub. Regular soaking tubs are designed for the occupant to lie down while bathing, so these tubs are usually oval in shape with an extra length similar to a regular freestanding tub. Japanese soaking tubs are designed in a seated position so the water covers the body while the user sits comfortably on the seat sculpted in the tub itself.

The result is a different bathing experience, as one lies in a traditional soaking tub and the other sits in a Japanese soaking tub. This means that Japanese soaking tubs are much deeper, almost 3 feet, compared to 2 feet for regular soaking tubs.

Japanese bathtubs are also taller in height, while regular bathtubs are longer, most Japanese bathtubs are round or cylindrical in design, and regular bathtubs have a similar appearance to other freestanding bathtubs on the market. Since they are both freestanding tubs, their installation method is the same.

Round Japanese Style Acrylic Bathtub With Integrated Seat XA-122

Cost of the average soaking tub?

The average price for a soaking tub is about $900.

At the lower end of the spectrum, there are models ranging from $600 to $800, but more popular models start around $900 and easily climb into the tens of thousands. Even on the low end, this price point is more expensive than any other tub on the market — at least $200-$300 more.

This is due to the actual tub size itself, which ends up being large to accommodate the extra water depth. In the long run, this price will rise as increasing water depth means a lot of water consumption, leading to higher water bills and additional maintenance in the future.

Who are soaking tubs for?

As the most expensive bathtub on the market, one should consider their household before purchasing one. Due to the high water depth, it is ill-advised to let children bathe in it due to the danger it poses. As such, this makes an excellent bathtub for adults and seniors as it can relax the muscles and the deep soak can soothe any joint or muscle pains.

For older people, it is also great for their joints and muscles, prolonging their health, as many of these tubs can be fitted with aromatic steam and salt. However, as water consumption increases, these tubs are seen more as a luxury item than an everyday bathing appliance.

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How hard is it to install a soaking bathtub?

Since soaking tubs are freestanding tubs, they are probably the easiest to install. Just make sure your area can handle the weight of the tub when it's full before putting it in your bathroom space. Depending on the size of the tub, you may need extra assistance to move it to your desired location. Once placed, simply connect all necessary plumbing to the tub and you have a fully functional tub.

Probably the biggest difficulty during installation is getting it to where you want it, as these are also the largest and heaviest compared to other tubs on the market, so extra help is recommended.

As tempting as it may be, a soaking tub isn't for everyone. Since it is the most expensive bathtub in overall size and maintenance, it is recommended that you consider your family's needs before purchasing.

It has many great benefits for one’s health, but its function is limited to adults and seniors, making it not so friendly towards younger children. As always, consider your budget and your needs before selecting the right bathtub for your home.

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Finally, if you need to buy soaking tubs wholesale, you can contact us, we are a bathtub manufacturer with 20 years of manufacturing experience.

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What is a Soaking Bathtub? 2024 Soaking Bathtub Guide