Ask the plumber: Free-standing baths come in many styles

Q. My husband and I are now “empty nesters” and we’ve decided to turn one of our unused bedrooms into a big master bathroom. Since we’ll have lots of room, we want a separate shower and bathtub. We plan on putting in a corner-mount shower, but for the tub we were thinking something special. Do they make a bath that we can put in the middle of the bathroom? We don’t want to custom-build this. We want a sharp, finished, factory-fixture look. What do you suggest?

A. The type of tub I believe you’re looking for is a fairly new plumbing fixture, and it’s called a free-standing bath. Believe it or not, the basic concept for this tub goes way back to when the old claw-foot tubs first showed up. But today’s free-standing baths have taken that traditional design concept to a whole new level. Like the name says, free-standing baths are specially designed for installation away from any support structures.

Now, before you jump right in and buy this type of tub, let me tell you a little more about the construction and concept of a free-standing bath.

First, a very popular material used in the making of a free-standing bath is called lithocast. The solid-surface material can be shaped and textured in different ways, creating many style options for your bathroom. This material is strong, easy to clean and gives the look and feel of solid stone without the cold feel often associated with the material. Since it is a solid surface, both the inside and outside of the tub look finished. All this is what allows the tub to be installed out in the open, as opposed to being built into a shell or a wall.

Basically, you can describe these baths as big, beautiful vessel sinks that sit on the floor of your bathroom. They can also be shaped organically with curves and bends to become a natural focal point for a contemporary bathroom. Or, if your taste is a little more traditional, a free-standing tub can be bold and square to resemble a Roman-style bath.

As far as plumbing, most free-standing tubs do have overflow protection for the drain line, and custom faucets are available for connecting the water lines.

A couple of final notes: Usually you need a fairly large bathroom to consider having a tub like this, since you’ll have open space all around the bath. Also, since this is a high-end fixture, plan your budget accordingly so you don’t get in way over your head!

Ÿ Master contractor and plumber Ed Del Grande is the author of “Ed Del Grande’s House Call” and hosts TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com.

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