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Garden tubs, who really uses them?

User avatar
Nuke | Posted in General Discussion on June 5, 2005 03:57am

I have to ask this because it seems that for the past decade cookie-cutting homebuilders push these as a luxury item, or something that every non-starter home is suppose to have to distinguish them from starter homes.

I’ve been in my home 4.5 years and I have never used the garden tub, and the wife ‘maybe’ has used it twice. I know she has used it once, but I cannot remember a second time. It just sits there consumer floorspace in the master bath.

Polls are a wonderful thing, but unfortunately I do not think they are something that this forum supports. So, a general survey of readers would be nice to know if the wife and I are an anomaly, or if rare-use of the more commonality for gerden tubs?

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Replies

  1. Piffin | Jun 07, 2005 04:24am | #1

    Part of the purchase price of every home is buying into your favorite fantasy.

    Buy it without the fantasy and what have you got?

    A box

    kinda like a coffin

     

     

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    1. User avater
      Nuke | Jun 07, 2005 02:34pm | #2

      How many coffins have windows? :)

      Do you have a garden tub and do you use it?

      1. danlott | Jun 08, 2005 09:43pm | #3

        We had one in our last house.  Wife used it several times a week (3 to 5).  Plan on putting one in the new remodel in the current house we are in.

        With that said I believe there are a few things may prevent people from using them.  The first would probably be the amount of time it takes to fill them.  Most people do not have a water heater big enough to fill one, so they have to slowly fill them.  I am not sure the way to resolve this problem, larger water heater or tankless water heater.  I also think that the tub needs to be sized to how many people will be using the tub at the same time.  If only one person plans on using the tub, then you do not need a tub for 2.  A smaller tub would not take up as much space and use less water, while still looking good.  This would also probably allow for a larger shower, which is more likely to be used by 2 people at the same time.

        Another problem is keeping the jets clean on a jetted tub.  This was a big problem for us.  We never used the jets and they would build up with algae if we did not flush them out each time after taking a bath.  Our next tub will be a soaking, non jetted tub. 

        And another problem for us was that once you got the tub full, the water started to quickly cool off.  The choice in tub construction materials will impact how fast the temperature drops and I have seen tubs that have heaters built in to maintain the temperature.  This will be an option that I look into more when I am choosing a new tub.

        Dan"Life is what happens when you are making other plans." - John Lennon

      2. Piffin | Jun 09, 2005 04:53am | #4

        no and noBut I've buiilt one and it gets used.I have a relative also who loves his 

         

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        1. User avater
          Nuke | Jun 09, 2005 04:44pm | #5

          Coffin? lol

  2. BryanSayer | Jun 14, 2005 07:46pm | #6

    Personally, I think hot tubs are much superior to any of the fancy tubs inside the house. Hot tubes have heaters, and more depth. If you want one inside, build a conservatory or florida room.

  3. florida | Jun 20, 2005 08:55pm | #7

    Saw a Kohler survey that said the average owner used theirs 3 times a year.

    1. User avater
      Nuke | Jun 21, 2005 03:37pm | #8

      That's like seeing a Coke survey showing people only drank ... Coke. :)

      I would rather see something along the lines of an independent survey.

      BTW, do developers (cookie-cutter builders) actually research to see what new home buyers are actually looking for, or do they just take a lesson from their mutual competition and go from there?

  4. dwp66 | Jun 28, 2005 12:20am | #9

    I have three young kids, they love taking baths together in the "big tub".

    Ours gets used at least twice a week by adults, and probably 3-4 times per week by the kids.  We have dual water heaters to fill the beast.

     

    $.02....

  5. fredsmart48 | Jul 07, 2005 03:03pm | #10

    how about 18k gold tub?   1m cost each there is one hotel in japan is putting 6 of them in. 

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