Soak, soap and shower - tribunedigital-mcall

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Whirlpool tubs and cascades of water are becoming a bathroom favorite.

January 18, 2004|By Beth W. Orenstein Special to The Morning Call - Freelance

Seems homeowners are thinking outside the plain white box when it comes to choosing bathtubs and showers these days.

Whirlpool tubs are bubbling to the top of the list of favorites.

A whirlpool tub is ideal for soaking away stress or soothing aching muscles. Many homeowners are willing to make an investment in a whirlpool tub for that reason, area dealers agree.

"We're selling quite a few whirlpool tubs," says Ronald Laudenslager, a certified kitchen and bath designer for Yorgey Supply in Schnecksville. In a newly built home today, at least one of the bathrooms in the house will have a whirlpool tub.

Whirlpool tubs start at about $700, but can easily cost several thousand, depending on size, color, materials, mounting -- deck or recess -- and extras.

Yorgey works with contractors who build homes in all price ranges, Laudenslager says. The lower-end builders tend to use tubs made of gel coats or fiberglass while the higher-end builders will use acrylics, custom [solid-surface] panels, or ceramic tile.

Acrylic whirlpool tubs seem to be the most popular at Allen Supply in Allentown, says Tracey Stine, showroom manager.

Options for whirlpools include everything from lumbar supports, neck rests and grip bars to underwater mood lights and jets that provide champagne-like bubbles or rolling river currents. Some newer whirlpool tubs have a chamber in which to pour aromatherapy oils.

Jacuzzi recently introduced a whirlpool tub/entertainment system for two with a built-in 42-inch high-definition Plasma television and surround sound that upscale buyers are embracing.

Whirlpool enclosures can be made of tile, solid surface materials, teak, bamboo, or even stainless steel.

Whirlpools or jetted baths can be powered by a single-speed 3/4-horsepower pump or a 3-horsepower variable-flow unit or something in between. Some whirlpools can be programmed with different pulse rates and force.

It's more costly to install a whirlpool than a traditional tub because whirlpools need their own dedicated power line.

It is not typically a do-it-yourself job. "It gets quite involved to install it," Laudenslager says.

Antique-style bathtubs are popular among those renovating older homes.

Stine believes one reason they are not as popular with owners of more contemporary homes is that they are quite expensive.

"I don't see them being big because of the price," she says. Reproduction tubs start at about $1,500. Antique tubs range in price from $300 to $5,000.

Another reason antique-style fixtures aren't popular in new construction is people want larger tubs than are available in reproductions or restorations, says Daniel J. Lenner, a certified kitchen and bath designer with Morris Black & Sons in Hanover Township, Lehigh County. Today's master baths usually can accommodate a tub that is 6 feet long and some can accommodate whirlpools wide enough for two.

While whirlpools are growing in popularity, traditional bathtubs are not.

In fact, bathroom designers report getting more requests recently from aging baby boomers who want them to remove the traditional bathtub in their master bathroom and replace it with a stall shower.

The problem, Lenner says, is that as people age they may find getting into a tub more challenging than stepping over a shower threshold.

Homeowners who remove the tub from their master bath most likely have another bathroom with a tub. "So if they have grandchildren visiting they still have that option," Lenner says.

When it comes to showers, two trends are emerging: multiple, massaging body sprays and open designs without doors.

"Most people are looking to have several body sprays," Lenner says.

Once a luxury item, the hand-held shower spray also is becoming standard, Lenner says.

Lots of people like to hand-hold sprays so they can wash their pets in the shower as well, Lenner says. Handhelds also make the shower easier to clean.

The showers Stine sells often have five sources of water: a shower head, three body sprays and one hand-held spray.

The water doesn't trickle -- it either falls like a cascading sheet or jets with fire-hose strength.

All the sprays have water restrictors that limit the flow to 2.5 gallons a minute. "You don't have a choice. Everything is regulated," Stine says.

However, Lenner says, "If you have a showerhead and three body sprays, you have that many units times 2.5 gallons a minute. It's almost skirting the regulations having more spray heads."

And no more shower curtains: Some of the latest showers are built without doors.

The trend is so strong, Lenner says, more people probably would opt for door-less showers if they had the space. However, door-less showers require more space that most have..

Although different configurations are possible, homeowners generally need about 8 feet to get by without a door, Lenner says.

People also are opting for steam generators. Steam showers are growing in popularity because, like whirlpools, they soothe sore muscles. They also moisturize the skin and provide respiratory relief.