As a company in the business of bathroom renovations, we remove tubs or shower stalls and replace them with either a walk-in tub or an accessible shower for our clients.  We regularly renovate bathrooms in single detached homes, town homes, apartments, condominiums, and mobile homes, ranging from brand new construction, to older homes, sometimes over 100 years in age.  The vast majority of the demolitions involve the removal of tiled tub surrounds.  It is extremely rare we ever run into water damage.  A recent job we found damage to wall framing but it was due to an ants nest found between the walls in a basement suite in the tub cavity. The house was over 100 years old!  In all our demolitions, regardless of the age of the building, from brand new high end condos to all ages of homes, the tile was applied right over 1/2″ gypsum.  Seldom do we find approved shower backer board, flashing, and taped sealed seams.  All which is considered to be correct tile preparation, essentially making the shower stall water proof before the first tile is set. Still, in almost every case, tile will break before releasing from the gypsum during demolition, making is easier to cut the drywall out in large pieces to remove. The tile itself, in most cases is in good condition, and although the designs and size may be dated, if cared for still looks good. Our findings are similar to others in the industry.

We can’t say the same for the plastic showers we’ve removed, even though they haven’t been in use for near as long.  The majority of accessible plastic showers sold are constructed of gel coat fibreglass. After several years of regular use the gel coat will dull, begin to show signs of wear and because of the porous nature of gel coat, stains will start to show that are very difficult, or can’t be removed. Most anybody who owns a fibreglass boat knows the elbow grease involved in maintaining a gel coat finish to keep it new looking.  Avoid abrasive cleaners, the use of pricey gel coat cleaning products and regular wax and polish.  Waxing is fine for a boat’s hull, but should not be used for safety showers or tubs. …read more on gel coat maintenance.

You’ll need to greet your workers a couple of additional mornings, but a really attractive professionally installed built in tiled shower is stronger, has firm footing, is easier to maintain, and will last longer. Its more environmentally friendly, offers more options in style, colour, door options and will add value and beauty to your home, and contrary to what you may have been led to believe, won’t cost any more than plastic shower installations.

This question is asked occasionally but rarely is it asked by someone who really needs a walk-in tub!  Why?

Most of us wouldn’t wake up one morning, see an advertisement for a walk-in tub and go out and buy one, but it might get you thinking about it!  Have you ever taken a slight slip in the tub or tripped on a stair and kept yourself from falling and possibly being injured?  Young or old we’ve all experienced this, but the older we get the risk of injury greatly increases because of slowing reflexes and weakening stabilization muscles.

Maybe a slight mishap happens during one’s daily bathing routine or the news of friend falling and being injured starts one to thinking about a safer bathing alternative as well as other changes that may be needed. Hopefully these early warning signs won’t be ignored and  measures will be taken towards preventing avoidable unnecessary accidents that could permanently change a person’s lifestyle.

Walk-in tubs help people stay safe and offer them a higher level of independence and comfort. The question on whether a walk-in tub will effect the re-sale of a persons home is largely a matter of opinion. It could be argued that because there is a growing aging population a walk-in tub could be seen to be a selling advantage but it very unlikely it would  effect the value  or resale of one’s property.  In Vancouver and the surrounding areas home prices are very high as they can be in many places throughout the province and country.  If you were to look at your last tax assessment you’ll see the assessed value of the land in relation to the assessed value of the buildings are probably  separated by a very wide margin. Its doubtful a walk-in tub would make any measurable difference.

It’s your home, the one you want to remain safe in for as long as possible, and ultimately it’s your decision!

What determines the fill time more than taps, is a homes water pressure and bather size.  It is important when buying a walk-in tub to get the right size for your body.  A very small person in a bath to big, will wait longer for the tub to fill, compared to a much larger person using the same size tub.  This is due to the amount of water a bather’s body displaces.

Once your walk in tub has filled,  you’ll want to be able to enjoy your bathing experience as long as you like. Walk-in tubs equipped with only air jets (hydrovescent therapy), will tend to cool off the water faster than tubs without them. Walk in tubs equipped with hydrotherapy jets with in line heaters, will keep the water temperature constant so your bath doesn’t have to be cut short due to cooling water.

Depending on the tub and bather size and a homes water pressure, fill time will vary.  For a close approximation to know how long it will take to fill a tub.  Take a pale, (maybe a four gallon pale) place it under your tub’s spout and record the time it takes to fill.  Multiply the gallons of water you expect to use by the time it took to fill up the pale.

For an approximation of the amount of water your body will displace and the amount of water you will need, use one gallon of water for every ten pounds of body weight. For instance if the tub you are  considering has the capacity to hold 60 gallons of water and you weigh 150 pounds, then your body will displace approximately 15 gallons of water and you’ll need about 45 gallons to fill the tub to its limit.

Walk-in Tub Drain Time

If at all possible your first choice should be the company you have purchased the walk-in tub from if they offer installation in your area.  Not only are they familiar with their own product, but they install walk-in tubs regularly and will take responsibility for their product and quality of installation. Your second choice is either a subcontractor or a contractor who specialize in bathroom renovations.  Even if they have never installed a walk-in tub before, they should have the skills and the trades required to do a proper installation. Walk-in tub installations are a two man job so if you have the above skills you’ll want help if you plan to take on the project yourself. Keep in mind manufactures will warranty their product providing licensed trades persons were employed to insure proper installation.  Always visually inspect and water test a walk-in, or jetted tub prior to installation.  Have a question on installation?  Be happy to answer it for you, contact us.

Soakers are just like a regular tub that doesn’t have jets,  you simply fill the tub to the desired depth and bathe.

Walk-in tubs with air jets are tubs equipped with a small electric motor that blows air drawing only about 3.6 amp. This blower delivers air through small air hoses to as many as 16 small jets placed throughout the tub.  When the air passes through the jet it is broken up into smaller air streams creating smaller bubbles.  This is called Air Jet Therapy or Hyrovescent Therapy.  The air is released into the tub and agitates the water assisting in cleaning.  Its like being in a washing machine for the body and can lend a helping hand to a person who is mobility challenged and perhaps has difficulty reaching hard to get body parts. This blower motor is not a heater and contrary to what some companies will lead you to believe, it will not maintain water temperature but have the opposite effect. That being said, the benefits of air jets make them worth having.  Air jets are also offered in combination with Hydrotherapy jets  and in-line heaters.

Water jets or Hydrotherapy Jets, as they are referred to, take bathing to the next level! Powered by a whisper quiet electric water pump drawing about 8 to 9 amp, the bath water is drawn from the bottom of the tub, circulated through the water pump, then through a separate stainless steal in-Line Heater which draws about 13.5 amp maintaining bath water temperature. Some manufacturers try to make use of the little heat generated by the water pump for this purpose, but it’s not effective in maintaining bath water temperature.

A separate stainless steal in-line heater is the only way to maintain bath water temperature for as long as required! Heated water is directed out massage jets located in areas of the tub where they offer the most benefit, focusing on the lower back, legs and feet. Each jet’s water flow is adjustable from 0 – 100% flow and can be directed to pinpoint just the right spot.  These jets also have an aerator (mixing air with the water) which gives a soothing relaxing sensation and helps increase circulation.

The health benefits of hydrotherapy are undisputed and is used regularly by physiotherapists.  When a individual becomes less mobile, circulation becomes an issue. Being able to relax, stretch, and have your muscles massaged in a warm heated bath offers many health benefits...read more.  Air jet therapy, sometimes referred to as  hydrovescent therapy, was the first jet option offered on walk-in tubs, but today almost all manufactures have reinvested and retooled so they can they meet the growing demand for the optional hydrotherapy whirlpool water massage  jets.  The very few companies not offering hydrotherapy massage therapy jets with in-line heaters are direct sales companies looking to cut costs where they can, and will make up false health related accusations to grab your attention. Don’t buy into it! As you know, whirlpool baths have a long history having been on the market since the late 1950′s. They continue to be very popular and sold worldwide by leading bath and sanitary manufacturers, with excellent credentials.  By following a simple maintenance schedule, hydrotherapy water jets are very easy to clean,…read more.

If a walk-in tub has electrical components, you will require GFI’s (ground fault interrupters) to be installed. If the tub only has a small blower motor used for air jet therapy (referred to as hydrovescent therapy) it can be plugged into a GFI receptacle, and because the blower motor doesn’t draw much power, this circuit can usually be borrowed from an existing circuit in the bathroom. If the tub has a water pump or in addition has a separate in-line heater, then one or two 15 amp GFI’s will need to be installed into your electrical panel. Your not saving labour costs to install one GFI as apposed to installing two GFI’s because the time it takes to fish one or two lengths of wire to the electrical panel is the same.  The additional costs would only be the second GFI and the wire. Most existing electrical panels will have room for a couple more breakers, but if they are all used up then a small sub panel will need to be installed for them.

Always consult and employ a licenced electrician when installing a walk-in bathtub.

Tub Measurements:

Width ( measuring  end to end )

Depth ( measuring side to side)

Height (measuring floor to top of tub)

There is a number of things to keep in mind when choosing the size of a walk-in tub. The most popular sizes in walk-in tubs do not hold any more water than a standard tub, but unlike a standard tub a walk-in tub fills while you are inside of it.  This is an important factor in choosing the appropriate size tub.  Walk in tubs generally are shorter in width than a standard size tub, but higher to allow the bather to sit down as if in a chair but still get a deep soak.  If a tub is too wide, not only will it take longer to fill using more water than is necessary, but drain time will be longer.   This has to do with the amount of water the bather’s body will displace.  A tub too large can also put a strain on a hot water tank and an upgrade may be required.  For a close approximation of water displacement use one gallon for every ten pounds of body weight. For instance, lets say a walk-in tub has the capacity to hold 45 gallons of water.  If the bather weights 150 lbs then he or she will displace approximately 15 gallons of water, therefore it would take about 30 gallons of water to fill this tub to have a full soak bath.

Size is also very important during installation.  Most walk-in tubs are installed into existing bathrooms. This requires the existing tub, generally  installed during contruction before most of the finishing and possibly some interior framing was completed, to be removed and the walk-in tub to take its place.  Walk-in tubs have always been offered in different sizes but some manufactures are starting to increase the width to near standard tub size measurements and they are not  practical for retrofitting an existing bathroom. Here is some things to consider concerning the installation of walk-in tubs.

Industry standard size tubs are 30”X 60” but are lighter than walk-in tubs, and easier to maneuver.  The height of a standard tub is around 15-16 inches, so although a standard tub is just under 60” in width and 30” in depth it can easily slip through a bathroom door on it’s end and sideways.  Walk-in tubs are much heavier and are more difficult to move around. They come in depths starting from 26 inches up to 35 inches, heights  starting at 37 inches up to 42 inches, and widths  from 47 inches to 60 inches.

Lets consider the depth measurement first.  Unless wider doors were installed in a home, the standard interior door is rough framed to a 32” width but can be narrower. Then the door jams, or a pre-hung door is installed and the width is reduced to about 29.5 inches or less.  Removing the casings and door jams or a pre-hung door, then replacing them is a simple procedure.  However, if removing 2X4′s or steel framing is necessary to allow a tub to pass through, it could mean dry wall repair and painting, or worse wall paper could be damaged. The moving of electrical switch boxes may be necessary. The bathroom vanity might be in the way and be required to be temporarily removed along with mirrors. A  closet or pocket door may complicate things, all adding to the time and cost of installation.  Framing out to accept a wider door may be less expensive than trying to put things back like they were, but this may not be possibe.

The width of a tub can also add to the difficulty of installation.  A tub too wide is harder to get through hallways, turn into a door openings, and much more difficult to fit into place and plumb into the existing drain due to lack of work space, particularly when a bathroom is the same or only  slightly wider than the tub being installed!  Important: If you have to turn a tub end to end inside the bathroom during installation, you’re bathroom must be wider that the diagonal measurement of the tub.

Walk-in tubs are designed to offer more bathing room and are like older style standard steel or cast iron tubs in this regard. For instance, an older standard bathtub with an exterior  depth measurement of 3o inches will be a full 23 inches inside, and this measurement would continue down to the bottom of the tub giving the bather plenty of room.  Newer standard tub designs tend to be narrower and taper in towards the bottom of the tub.

There will be bathers who will require walk-in tubs 32 – 35 inches in depth and 55 – 60 inches in width, but walk-in tubs up to 30 inches or less in depth and 52 inches or less in width will be more than adequate 90% of the time, and if you feel you require more space think about adding height first.  Happy Bathing!

Some companies sell fast drains, 2″ drains, or dual drains with their walk in tubs in an effort to convince buyers their tubs have an advantage on speeding up draining time, but how effective are these features? Multiple drains in the bottom of a tub regardless of their diameter, or the use of a pump still requires the water to go through the standard single 1 1/2″ floor drain, and there is a limit to how much water can flow through it!

It takes some time for a persons body to cool off after bathing for 30 minutes in warm bath water, especially tubs equipped with In line heaters that keep temperature constant.  So a bather busy rinsing off soap with warm water will be quite comfortable during the 2-3 minutes it takes for the bath water to drain. You’ll have to decide if the slight improvement you may or may not gain by adding a second drain or another electric pump is worth the extra expense.  Having experienced both types, our installers have not seen any difference between them.

The most recognized safety certification markings are the Underwriters Laboratories of Canada ULC, or the Canadian Standards Association CSA. Walk-in tubs are manufactured in number of countries and the very few walk-in safety tubs that are said to be made in Canada have most of their components made elsewhere. The letter C should be displayed on the safety marking to indicate a product has met Canadian Safety Standards.  Walk-in safety tubs may only have the certification for the countries they were first manufactured for, such as the UL certification for the USA, or CE certification for Europe.

If you have purchased a walk-in tub with electrical components not having the letter “C” to signify Canadian safety certification, it normally does not pose a problem.  An electrician can still be contracted to run the wires from the main electrical panel into the bathroom, make the electrical connections to the outlet box and install the GFI’s(ground fault interrupters). However, it will have to be the company installers, or the home owner, who plug the electrical components into the electrical boxes or make the final connections because of the electrician’s liability insurance.

If a walk-in tub company installing a tub has an electrical clause somewhere on their contract stating the homeowner is responsible to arrange and pay for the electrical.  There is a very good chance the electrical components on their tub may not be certified for Canada and they do not want to be held liable.  In addition, there is no reason for companies not to post their products safety certification markings.

Links:  Underwriters Labratories   Canadian Standards Association