Choose a freestanding bath

Lie back and relax - we've taken the hard work out of finding your dream tub

Where to start

1. What are my choices? Acrylic is a popular material as it is lightweight and warm to the touch. However, cheaper models may creak and not hold heat well – look for baths with reinforced construction and double-layer insulation. Salvaged (or new) cast-iron baths are beautiful but heavy, as are those made from stone. Resin and stone composite baths tend to be lighter than cast iron – they can weigh around 60-100kg less than cast-iron baths, depending on the percentage of stone used. They come in traditional or modern shapes, are warm to the touch and strong.

2. What should I check before I buy? Ask in the showroom what volume of water your chosen bath holds and check the flow rate on any new taps. Freestanding baths are usually larger than standard baths (which are 170cm x 70cm), so once you've worked out the bath's capacity, check in your boiler's handbook that it can produce enough hot water to fill it. Contact a builder or structural engineer if you are worried about the joists being strong enough to take the weight of the bath and water.

3. Do I need any special plumbing? Unlike built-in or shower baths, freestanding ones – particularly those in a more modern shape – often don't come with a space around the rim for the taps, so you'll need to go for wall or floor-mounted taps.

Your options:

• Traditional - go for a roll-top or slipper bath, but remember that freestanding baths leave the plumbing exposed
• Contemporary - modern feet and taps can give a traditional roll-top a twist
• Spectacular feature - go for solid-block tubs in unusual materials such as stone, copper, wood or glass
• Child-friendly - opt for an acrylic rounded double-ended design with the taps in the middle
• Colour - Fired Earth's baths, for example, come in five bold colours or primed and ready to paint

Where to shop
B&Q
Antique Bathrooms of Ivybridge
The Albion Bath Company
Kohler
BC Designs

Click here to see our pick of the best freestanding baths for every style and budget

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