affordable bathtub

[latebloomer]

My husband is re-doing our bathroom and I've been pricing tubs- WHOA!!

We'd like to spend not much more than $400- less, if possible, and are finding it tough going. Doesn't help that our bathroom is small and the tub needs to not be too wide- also, we'd like it to be a bit deeper than average.

Doesn't seem to be much answering that description at Loewes' or Home Depot. Any other suggestions- perhaps online?

Many thanks!

[NMDemDist2]

1. if you have a building salvage yard in your town, I recommend there n/t

[latebloomer]

5. Thanks- will see! n/t

[Longhorn]

2. I assume you're looking for new but if you don't mind a used store

you might see if you have a Habitat for Humanity Re-Store in your area. My contractor husband donates building materials and fixtures removed from jobs all the time -- some of them are quite new and only being removed because the new owner has different tastes.

I know my husband orders new fixtures online. I'll ask him where when he gets home (it's still light here -- he usually doesn't get home until dark-thirty. ;))

[latebloomer]

6. I'll give them a call

There's one about half an hour away- never knew they existed.

How are you feeling? :hi:

[Longhorn]

11. I'm feeling pretty well. Thanks!

I've had my sixth round and will get new scans next Tuesday. Then we'll decide what, if anything, comes next but I definitely get a break while we go on vacation.

Thanks for thinking of me! :hug:

[latebloomer]

12. Have a wonderful vacation!

Where did you decide to go?

We're gonna take our usual indolent week on the Jersey shore.

All good vibes on excellent scan results.

[Longhorn]

13. Oh, we've got a doozie planned!

We're flying to LA, then catching the Coast Starlight train to San Francisco, where we'll spend a couple of days. While we're there, we're doing a dinner/dance cruise on the Bay. Also, I'm hoping I'll feel strong enough to ride bikes from Fisherman's Wharf over the Golden Gate Bridge and down to Sausalito and taking the ferry back. Then we're taking the California Zephyr train from SF to Denver. That will take two days and a night. We'll spend a couple of days there with our oldest daughter and her boyfriend and all four of us are going to see A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO on my birthday. Then we'll fly back to Austin. So eight days in all. I'm so excited!

A relaxing week at the shore sounds nice, too, though our "shores" are too hot right now. :) I remember freezing my feet at Cape Cod several years ago so I suspect it's a little cooler at your beaches. Have a great trip and I'll take those vibes! :) I'll post an update in the Lounge and in my journal when I have the scan results. :hug:

[latebloomer]

14. Sounds great!

Exhausting, but great!

Be sure to pace yourself. Get those naps in.

[Dover]

3. Hi latebloomer!

Hope you are well.

A new bathroom sounds wonderful. I don't know how much time you spend in the tub, but I live for
tub time! And the deeper and longer the tub, the happier I would be.

I agree with the person above, if looking for a used tub I'd go to Habitat's store. They often have some real finds. Here are a few online options to consider as well:

http://kitchenandpantry.resultspage.com/kitchen/Deep%20Tub
http://www.nextag.com/deep-bathtub/search-html
http://www.premier-bathrooms.com/chester-walk-in-bathtub-and-bath-seat.php

If I weren't on a budget I'd probably splurge and get a wooden or built in Japanese soaking tub custom made for the space. But that's MY dream...lol! Here are some less traditional (fiberglass) types of deep soakers that might fit in a regular bathroom.
http://www.sanisystem.com/efuro.htm
http://bathtub.at-house.com/
http://www.cabuchon.com/soakingtubs.htm

[Dover]

7. One more...

http://www.kitchenandpantry.com/Product.asp?ItemID=9465

Devonshire 60x32x20 Bath K 1184 LA Full
On sale for $455 plus shipping
What dimensions are you needing?

[latebloomer]

10. Dimensions are good except

it's too wide for our teensy bathroom.

Oy.

[Dover]

15. Here's one that's a little less wide (31"), and very deep!

What is the width you're looking for?

Don't know the price on this one, though.

http://www.sanisystem.com/eyubune.htm


I'm doing well, but need to get going on my own home improvements. The extreme summer heat
has slowed me way down. I'm so glad to hear that your health is on the upswing.
:hug:

[latebloomer]

16. looks lovely

but I fear the price will be prohibitive.

[Dover]

17. I've got a similar issue with my bathroom

It's 5 x 8 (the width of the room is exactly the length of the tub), and my tub is 29" wide from wall to front edge and just 15" deep (at least that is the width that's showing...it may be 30"). I'm not sure what that standard size is supposed to be. And I too have had a fantasy of replacing it with a deeper tub.
But then I'd think, well....why not spring for an outdoor hot tub instead and leave the bathroom as it is. No one else cares. My body needs to soak....PERIOD!
So I need to make a decision and go with it.
If that second extra-deep soaker tub is affordable, that would do the trick for me. I have about six inches to play with between the tub and toilet so could even go with a 32" width if necessary.

Anyway, your question stirred up that nagging decision....thanks!

lol!

[latebloomer]

8. Thanks, Dover!

I'm doin quite well- energy level could use some improvement but I'm getting better all the time. How are YOU?

Thanks for the links!

I want that bathroom!

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Sterling Ensemble, made of a material called Vikrell, and available at Lowes for not outrageous bux.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=149724-7-71121820-0&lpage=none



The only downside is that the finish dulls if you use even mildly acidic cleaner on it. However, it dulls evenly so it isn't all that objectionable.

Easy to install and easy to carry. The only advice I have is to set the bottom in mortar. The instructions say this is optional, but I have one with and one without. The one with feels solid. The one without flexes ever so slightly.

[latebloomer]

9. That's funny!- I bookmarked that very tub!

Husband says it's too wide for our 6X6 bathroom, though-- he and our rapidly growing teenager have barely enough room to plant feet between tub and toilet, and our current tub is little narrower than that one. It's deep enough, tho- maybe I could talk him into it.

[Stinky The Clown]

18. Yeah, its about an inch and a half wider than a 'standard' tub

The 'standard' is 29". These are nominally 31", but are actually a little narrower.

[Longhorn]

19. Here are some links to sites that our company uses to order plumbing fixtures

courtesy of one of our daughters who works for us:

www.homeannex.com

www.faucet.com

www.homedepot.com

www.faucetdepot.com

www.irawoodinc.com

Good luck! :hi:

[Dover]

20. There are some great items at those links!

I have a question that maybe you can answer. Are the toilets that attach to the wall
any more problematic to work with, use, repair, than the floor mounted kind?

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

21. Try your phone book

for suppliers in your area. Kitchen& bath. That's where contractors buy. Even if they only sell to contractors the show room is open to the general public. Measure the tub you got and have those dimensions written down . Call the supplier and tell them what dimension tub you desire ,you are in the right price range ,and let the sales rep. do the search! Also, your old tub can be refinished!It can be made to appear brand new. As far as a standard tub goes, there are two sizes. Anything else may be special order.

Example ,as a contractor where it is kitchen cabinets, I buy mine from the same supplier that supplies Home Depot or Lowe"s ! But those stores mark the price up more than 100 per cent! Not to mention the kitchen designers commission! But those stores don't want you the customer to know that your contractor can get you those very same cabinets for far less! Isn't that odd? !

You will also find suppliers that sell just bathrooms and specialize in bath tubs of every kind. Let your fingers do the walking!

[Longhorn]

22. "That's where contractors buy."

Well, my husband is a remodeling contractor (30 years) and he is increasingly buying online for several reasons. One is that many of his customers prefer to browse for products online. Another is that he can often get the supplies more quickly ordering online than going through his local supplier, though he does still use them. Price is an issue but since he is cost-plus, it's not so much an issue for him as his customers.

Also, he recently had a customer price out appliances at a specialty store and then she went to Lowe's and they matched the contractor's price! There was some advantage in using a Lowe's credit card so she got them there.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

23. Ask your husband about this.

I did a remodel the whole house ,many things were ordered on line, light fixtures , so on. We got to the kitchen and granite was the choice . I sent the client to the suplier show room and she choose what they wanted. The supplier cound not sell to them direct ,they had to go threw me. The client gave them my contractor registration number and placed the order where upon she was told they would confirm the order threw me. When they called I told them to place the order on hold until I am ready to do the kitchen. I did not tell the client I put it on hold.

Two weeks went by and the client calls my supplier wanting to know where is her granite , there was no order placed in her name.! So she gets mad and tells them to stuff it. She goes to home depot and talks to a nice lady at the kitchen remodle desk. Home Depot tells her they can have it for her installed in two weeks. She is happy! Until the price quote of eight thousand four hundred eighty nine dollars and some cents! Suddenly she became disinchanted!

She came back to me sadly and confessed that she had gone to home depot behind my back thinking she could move her kitchen project forword because she could not wait ! Her fear was that my supplier would not sell to her because she was irate over the phone with them. Then she told me home depot wanted over eight thousand dollars for her kitchen counter tops! I said well home depot buys from a supplier up the street from the supplier I sent you to! I sent to that one because they have a more interesting line of granite than the other,my price is the same no matter which supplier I use!

I told her not to worry because my supplier will not sell to her under any circumstances. And in three weeks when I am ready for the counter tops you will have your granite installed by my supplier at a cost of fourty one hundred dollars tax included. Unless of course you would rather have someone else do it! Or I can start your kitchen now and the rest can wait! Or I can void the kitchen out of the contract you have one more change order comming anyway!

She laughed and said, I'll take the deal! The supplier manufactures the counter tops on location and installs the product. You choose what you like from a slab-very large slab! On that kitchen the whole slab! But home depots displays are all set up so pretty and all! How can one refuse!

By the way home depot buys so much more from the supplier that their price on the buying end is far less than mine!

[Longhorn]

24. Here's what he says:

First, he agrees that he would never send a customer to Home Depot or Lowe's for granite because of price and selection, among other reasons. He wouldn't send them there for cabinets either, mainly because he has his own cabinet shop -- he can build better cabinets for less.

Second, he usually sends customers to a showroom for plumbing and electrical fixtures and appliances but many customers prefer to shop online and have either already picked out their fixtures or they ask him for sites. He recently sent a customer to a local appliance showroom and the contractor's price for all of their appliances was $25,000. The customer then found a supplier in New York who priced the same list of appliances at $20,000, shipping included, delivered to their home! He'd like to remain loyal to local suppliers but he can't advise a customer to ignore a 20-percent savings!

He has had both online and showroom orders lost or screwed up, though he has gotten the run-around more from local suppliers than online -- partly because he can so easily monitor the order online or through email.

The business is definitely changing! :shrug:

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

25. It is and I agree

In Seattle we have much of most anything in city. I deal threw cabinet shops myself. I call that supplier ! Cabinet makers are adored by my clients by the way! Customers can shop on line to their hearts content ,my clients will have benefit of my price. Being a working contractor I do not have time for shopping. Besides I cost too much! I mean hell,I don't shop for free you know~ ! All supply houses have a web site these days and as it is, on line shopping is the thing. Although I have found that on specialty items Plumbing fixtures ,oh say like the brushed nickle affect ,you know where they want to go all out on the remodel ,they still want to see it close up before they buy. Essentially it's not aways about saving the buck .
Also on a major remodel you will tend to have things flying back and fourth in the mail because, (it's)not what they expected or they changed their minds. That will throw the project off.

None the less as you say, business is changing ,it has changed and we must keep up.

[Dover]

26. Have you ever used the new Design Center in Austin?

I'm very curious about it, and wonder if contractors send clients there?
It looks like they've tried to put several sources under one roof.

http://www.designcenterofaustin.com/

On edit: Never mind. I just looked over the whole site and it's all VERY high end.
I had picked up an Alno kitchen brochure on a home tour and that's what led me
to the design center. I guess I should have figured it out. The home where
I got the brochure was 1 mil. or thereabouts. Of course I liked it! :P
Or at least I liked the kitchen.

[LiberalEsto]

27. Habitat for Humanity ReStores

See if there is one anywhere near you.


Ours sells doors, tiles, windows, tubs, sinks, appliances, furniture -- whatever people donate. Contractors who have leftover materials donate to the ReStore, so sometimes you can find brand new materials.