I'm renovating my second-floor full bathroom and trying to pick the right bathtub. I'm leaning towards acrylic models from Kohler: the 14" Elmbrook, the 18" Bellwether, or the 21" Underscore. The price ranges from about $400-500 for the 14", $800-900 for the 18", and $1k-1.1k for the 21".
I'm curious if anyone has tried comparing these tubs and if the extra depth of the 21" is worth the jump in price. We don't have mobility issues, so that's not a concern, but I am thinking about future home buyers when we eventually resell. Also, I'm not much of a bath person; it's been years since I've bathed, but if the tub is clean, I might use it occasionally—maybe once a month. I'm mostly considering going for the 14" or 18". Any thoughts?
2 Answers
Good points to consider! Make sure your floor can handle the weight of a full tub— a deeper tub full of water is much heavier. Also, check if your water heater can fill it up properly; I've seen people get big tubs only to find they can't even fill them halfway. The $1,000 tub can end up costing you way more if you need to upgrade your heating or flooring.
If you're planning to mostly shower and not really bath, the 21" might be overkill and kind of annoying to step into daily. The 14" is perfectly fine for washing kids and is much easier to get in and out of. If you ever decide to take a bath, it won't be very luxurious, but that’s okay if you’re not a bath person. The 18" could be a nice compromise though, giving you a bit more depth if you do want to soak occasionally.
That's a solid point! The previous tub was a cast iron model about 14", so the floor should have some support. But I guess figuring out the total weight with an 18" acrylic tub plus the water is something I need to look into.