Long soak in the bath...

If you are looking to replace the bath in your home there are several different styles and materials to choose from. When choosing, keep in mind a few basic factors such as practicalities, deep baths take longer to fill, whether you use the shower more often than a bath and most importantly the size of your bathroom. To help you decide, here are the different shapes available and the materials they are made from:

                                   Choosing the Shape

Fitted Rectangular: the most commonly purchased shape. this bath comes in a variety of lengths. You can choose from single ended, where taps are fixed at one end or double ended which means the tap holes are either in the middle or are wall mounted enabling you to sit either end.

Freestanding: if your bathroom is big enough and you'd like a stylish looking bath, a freestanding one is the way to go. They can be very heavy though, more so when filled up so it worth asking a builder to check if your floor can take the weight. A roll top is a traditional style of freestanding bath but it does still lend it itself to a more modern bathroom - they typically come with cast-iron ball and claw feet but there are other choices available such as brass, chrome and gold.  

Shower Bath: if you are going to fit a shower attachment over your bath, it may be worth considering a shape that gives you extra showering space. These are usually bowed or are an L shape.

Corner Bath: if you are struggling for space because your bathroom is small, a good option would be a corner bath - however do bear in mind they require more water to fill up than a standard bath.

                                    Material Types

Acrylic: the most popular choice, acrylic is lightweight, very durable and can be made into a variety of sizes and shapes. This is a inexpensive option.

Copper: a copper bath makes for a wonderful style statement but they are expensive. They do retain heat for longer as they heat up instantly when in contact with warm water.

Cast-Iron: a bath made of cast-iron is very strong, heavy and is hard wearing but the water does cool quickly.

Wood: this is an inexpensive choice which has a finishing coat that strengthens the surface giving a durable finish.

Solid-Surface Mix: mostly a mix of resin and stone, baths made from this are very hard wearing. They are quite expensive but do come in many shapes and colours.

Steel: with an enamel surface that is scratch and impact resistant, these hard wearing and heavy baths are only available in a rectangular shape.

I hope this post helps you to choose what is the best choice for your room, if you need any advise or want to share your home renovation projects do please leave a comment :-)