Garden Tubs

A water garden tub is an aesthetic addition to the homes exterior space. As with any garden, there are several considerations to consider:

1) Where to place the water garden tub?

In order for the flowers and plants to thrive in water with six hours of direct sunlight. 

2) What size is adequate for your garden water tub.

Contrary to the popular belief that smaller garden water tubs are more manageable, the opposite is true. Due to the evaporation of water, diminutive containers require extra maintenance..

3) Which flowers to grow in the water tub?

 

Are there any special garden tub plumbing provisions for the winter? Are the pipes of the garden tub susceptible to freezing? How do we winterize our garden tub? 

QUESTION ABOUT: Garden Tub Plumbing

We just installed a gorgeous garden tub in our master bathroom. Every year, we leave Naperville, IL to head to Arizona for the winter.  Our neighbor, who used to be an auto mechanic, told us that we should find out what the special instructions are for  “winterizing” our garden tub. When we contacted the manufacturer, they said they did not have any literature about preparing our garden tub plumbing for the winter. Also, we found little information on the Internet. What should we do?

 Needing wintering garden tub plumbing advice in Naperville, IL

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ANSWER

Although outdoor hot tubs require winterizing, it does not apply to the garden tub. While your neighbor may be an expert at winterizing automobiles, there’s no truth to winterizing the garden tub before you leave for Arizona. Nonetheless, remember to take the proper steps to protect the garden tub plumbing – pipes from freezing:

1)    Always disconnect the outside water hose  to prevent any pipes, waterspouts or the garden tub faucet from freezing and breaking.

2)    If your home is configured with an interior shut-off valve, close them. Don’t forget to drain any remaining water.

3)    For an added measure of protection, especially if the pipes from the garden tub faucet are housed in an unheated area of the home, insulatepipe.

Garden tub plumbing do-it-yourself (DIY) tip: Purchase a thermostat-controlled heat cable or heat tape. Next, apply the tape until the exposed pipes are completely covered. This will insulate the pipes, leading to the garden tub.

Finally, before you leave for the winter, make sure the thermostat is not set any lower than 55 degrees. This ensures that your garden tub plumbing does not freeze with the rest of your home’s piping.

Refer to this list of questions to ask before ordering a garden tub plumbing Installation.

While the decision to add a garden tub is a no brainer, several factors influence the type, brand and garden tub plumbing and other specifications needed for proper assembly. As with any other home installation, garden tub plumbing is for the professionals.

While many do it your self manuals tout the simplicity of replacing a standard tub with a  garden tub, the best way to prevent any plumbing disasters  is to delegate the responsibility to a contractor, who specializes in bathroom plumbing. Regardless of how straightforward the project is be sure to pose the following questions, prior to purchasing a garden tub:

Find out the size of the garden tub.     

Ask for professional advice on the brand, size and most suitable garden tub plumbing for your requirements.

For those who have a tankless water heater or plan to buy one, inquire about any garden tub plumbing.  

Ask for a detailed list of the needed parts.

How easy will it be to add an adjoining shower to the garden tub in the future?

What types of garden tubs are low maintenance?

Are acrylic fiberglass garden tubs better?

How many hours does the typical garden tub plumbing installation require?

Are there any provisions to take (such as turning off the water)

Ask for an itemized quote on parts and labor for the garden tub installation.

Prior to purchasing the garden tub, inquire whether the contractor has relationship to any manufacturers or dealers. Aside from saving on the garden tub, a contractor can direct the homeowner to the best quality product for the money.

Subsequent the garden tub plumbing installation, find out if it needs to settle before being used for the first soak.

Is a brass alloy  garden tub faucet  safe? Do faucets release lead? How to maintain a garden tub faucet without ruining the finish?  Garden tubs, soaking tub or a  roman tub revitalize, enhance and accentuate the design qualities of the bathroom. However from the installation to the actual materials of the garden tub faucet, a cornucopia of  safety issues are vital to avoid injury and maintain well being.

Use these facts and safety tips to clean, install and maintain  the garden tub faucet:

Did you know…A garden tub faucet manufactured using  leaded brass alloy has been found to release miniature deposits of lead into water. Brand new garden tub faucets contain the most substantial traces of lead. The byproduct of brass and water renders lead.

• Although, lead poisoning from soaking in a garden tub is not documented, there are three tactics to reduce the chances of contracting lead poisoning: 1) Run water for 30 to 45-seconds prior to drinking or using the water to prepare food. Never consume hot water from a brass alloy faucet.

Certain garden tub faucet manufacturers (ie. Moen)  engineer plumbing products to last a lifetime.

 

• Garden tub faucet installation safety: In order to prevent an accident or other hazards, use the following instruments when replacing garden tub faucets. These include:

 

• Working goggles
• Flashlight
• Screw driver
• Wrench
• Plumber’s putty
• Thread seal tap

• Garden tub faucet maintenance safety: As for cleaning a garden tub faucet, abrasive cleaners may ruin the finish. A non-abrasive wax similar to car wax reserves any metal garden tub faucet’s finish. Finally, the best way to prevent calcium build up is to clean the garden tub faucet between baths.

Maybe a rose garden was never part of the agenda. However, a bathroom garden tub filled with floating rose petals immersed amid a luxurious basin full of air balls is an intoxicating reprieve in diminishing the stresses of the day. Just because the garden tub is tucked in the corner of the bathroom, does not detract from its aesthetically appealing features. 

 

Commencing with a fragrant floral bouquet, opt for flowers with significant staying power. Lotus flowers, lavender and calla lilies have an enduring shelf life.

• Next Arrange flowers in a tall vase and fill in with eucalyptus leaves or other odiferous bouquets.Position the arrangement in full view of the bathroom garden tub.

Design Idea: Give a small bathroom the illusion of a larger space, by adding a 5 to 6-foot  pedestal mirror adjacent to the bathroom garden tub. 

• Dried flowers are another decorating option. In a bowl, snip off the buds of any dried flowers and then arrange with the buds facing up. 

• A basket full of towels exudes a welcoming means for introducing color and texture. 
• A natural accessory for the bathroom garden tub is the teak stool. Whether its used for safety to climb into the depths of the bathroom garden tub, to display a fresh bouquet of flowers or to serve as a shelf for periodicals and the beverage at hand, a teak stool is the ultimate marriage for the bathroom garden tub.
• For additional design ideas for the bathroom garden tub, please visit House Plans and More.com 

A garden soaking tub conjures a respite where lingering, daydreaming and bathing in a pool of bubble baths are the requirements. On the Internet, few resources list the do’s and don’ts of the garden soaking tub. From the purchase to the installation, we’ve garnered a list things to never do in the garden tub:

• When shopping for a garden soaking tub, don’t neglect ergonomics. Since the concept of the garden tub is to linger and soak, comfort is a vital prerequisite. Think in terms of the buyer’s height, weight, how the tub will be used (single  or double occupancy, et cetera).

•  Don’t overlook the architectural elements. For example, if the bathroom is designed in a European-style, shop for garden tubs 18″ in depth. The same applies if the space exudes Japanese design features. 

• Don’t let the garden tub stand on its own. Complement it with a wooden table, equipped with drawer space.

• Never buy a  high flow tub filler with less than a 15-gallon per minute capacity. By the time it takes to fill the garden soaking tub, the water is probably tepid. Instead, select tub fillers with a 25-gallon per minute spout.

• Don’t let an obsession with design cloud the judgement to affix a safety grab rail or bar next to the garden soaking tub. A little safety goes a long way in accident prevention.

• Don’t plug or place electrical cords and electronic items in close proximity to the garden soaking tub.

• Never fall asleep while drinking libations and soaking in the bathroom garden tub.

• Don’t let grime build-up in the garden soaking tub. Instead to maintain its finish and perfect condition, use a non-toxic cleaner after each bath.

Q:

We’re celebrating our second year anniversary and recently we had a new garden tub installed to upgrade our bathroom’s design. Do you have any recommendations for turning the bathroom into a romantic respite?

A:

Starting with a garden tub that comfortably fits two, fill a basket with the following objects:

• A bouquet of varied sizes candles (optional floating candles)
• Eucalyptus leaves
• Lavender
• Two over-sized towels
• Two-fiber glass drinking flutes
• A bottle of wine, champagne or other  favorite beverage
• Petals of flowers
• iPod / CD player
•  Miscellaneous — (any other items needed to spark the mood)

Sensuous scents

In an ornate vase, arrange eucalyptus leaves and lavender, lily of the valley. Position the vase in close proximity to the tub.

Pathway to the Garden Tub

Using flower petals from a rose or daisy, create an outline of a path from the restroom’s door to the garden tub.

Palate Pleasure

Fill the champagne bucket and with ice cubes. Move the glasses, serving tray, and beverage in the restroom next to the garden tub. Be sure to include any other victuals fit for garden tub consumption.

Auditory Stimulus

Selecting favorite music on the iPod or other music technology, set the audio to a comfortable decibel. (Make sure that the plugs, cords or battery operated products are far enough so that it cannot fall into the garden tub).

Lay towels in close proximity to the garden tub.

Fill the tub with hot water. Add bath salts. Next, stir in the bubble liquid and watch the garden tub turn into a large basin filled with bubbles. Light the floating candles and drop in the tub.

Next, let natural bathroom garden tub bliss take its course.

Garden tub dimensions vary by shape and manufacturer. From oval, square to the corner unit soaking basin or garden tub.

The American Standard Reminiscence Slipper Soaking garden tub exudes sheer style and safety. This white textured bottom has a height that accommodates tall garden tub soakers (72″ x 37-1/2″ x 28-3/4″) Made of acrylic with a reinforced DuraBond construction to prevent wear and tear, it also manages to be ergonomic with rests to accommodate head and arms. While this garden tub’s dimensions are longer than the average features a sculpted rim. (Costs: $2800+)

For under $1 K, American Standard’s garden tub dimensions of 6’ X 42 is an average size. What makes this tub feel larger is that dual faucets are situated in the center of the tub. Made of acrylic with a fiberglass reinforcement, this garden tub is rigged with dual backrests and molded armrests.

The average length of a garden tub ranges between  6’ to 6’5” feet with the height depending on the shape of the garden tub.

For a novel garden tub that can be placed right in front of the bathroom window, overlooking the landscape, Arturi’s Round Acrylic soaking bath tub redefines  the shape and normal garden tub dimensions. The size is 61” in diameter by 26” inches in height. Although the tub does not have an overflow, it has a waterproof remote control where the bather can control the water’s temperature and speed. (Even though the water is sourced from a separate standing unit, it has a blower with a variable speed of 750 watts. It also includes an air heating element of 300 watts).

For additional details about the garden tub dimensions and plumbing, please click Bath Tub Plumbing.

Really, a fiberglass garden tub? Who would think that a water basin designed to be a soaking respite would be fashioned from the same material as certain surfboard brands? It’s true. Certain garden tubs are manufactured from fiberglass. Nonetheless, interior designers and bathroom modeling experts recommend the fiberglass for the following reasons:

• Pricing is among the top three reasons to consider the fiberglass garden tub. While standard bath tubs cost between $100 and 300, there’s something to be said about a garden tub requiring little maintenance, saving water and starting as low as $300.

• Lightweight. Compared to the cast iron tub, which weighs anywhere between 300 – 500 pounds, the fiberglass garden tub is a real lightweight 60 to 70 pounds.

• Flexibility. Most bathroom designers agree that the fiberglass garden tub features the most scalability. It conforms to any shape and size. With its insulation features, the fiberglass garden tub also keeps the water warm so there’s no need to run excessive loads of water.  

Drawback:  Despite the fiberglass garden tub’s resistance to nicks, chips and dings, it does not take too well to abrasive cleaners, which can be detrimental to its finish.
 

Fiberglass garden tub buying tips:

Before you buy, compare the cost and features of a fiberglass garden tub to that of the acrylic garden tub, which generally costs more, offering better durability.

• For the best permanence, opt for fiberglass reinforced polyester
•  Also, compare tubs with and without the outside step/seat.
•  To reduce the chances of accidents, consider a fiberglass garden tub with a slip resistant, textured base.
•  Investigate what other plumbing parts are needed for the garden tub. Some require a P-Trap, drain, swivel adapter, flange.
•  To protect your investment only opt for fiberglass garden tubs with a 3-Year Manufacturers Warranty.

Garden tubs are not dirt and stain resistant. Just as contemporary bathtubs require regular cleaning, garden tubs have similar maintenance requirements.

For those cleaning the garden tub for the first time, refer to the manufacturer’s guide to determine if there are specific cleaning products, and instructions. If not, use the following steps.

Ingredients

Sponge or soft rag

Non-abrasive bathroom cleaner (in example all purpose cleaner)

(Optional: Natural cleaner: vinegar and baking soda)

The upkeep for the garden tub is quite simple. Regardless of the color, different rules do not apply. However, depending on the finish, different household solutions work on specific materials.

For instance, garden tubs finished in porcelain are not stain resistant. As an eco-friendly alternative and to avoid scratching the surface, add vinegar to the water every 4-6-weeks. The acid contained in vinegar works as a residue and stain remover.

Taking a clean sponge or soft cloth, use a non abrasive cleaner to remove any dirt or scum from the garden tub’s surface. Rub the basin, the sides as well as the fixtures of the garden tub.

After bathing and for hygienic and health reasons, the garden tub should be cleaned on a regular basis. A five-minute investment keep the garden tub in pristine condition. Either use an all-purpose cleaner  or the manufacturer’s recommended solution. Remember that different garden tubs are comprised of different materials and finishes, which may require different cleaning solutions. For instance,  some acrylic and fiberglass tubs have different maintenance requirements.

In the end,  a regular cleaning schedule not only assures healthy skin but extends the life of the  garden tub, hopefully circumventing the cost of refinishing the tub in the future.