| Plumbing an Extended Bath |
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When it comes to extended baths, your imagination and your budget are the only limits. Extended baths can be homes unto themselves with relaxing jetted tub, waterfall, garden, sunroom, large lavatories, lots of storage, mood lighting, and even a TV-music entertainment center and refrigerator. That means selecting components and fixtures can be daunting. Actually, if you have this much space and money you’re probably opting for a professional decorator who can help you narrow the choices to a reasonable list. Following are some guidelines. A jetted tub is an aerated bathtub. That is, air is entrained in the warm water that is circulated within the tub. The bubbles and the water streams have a soothing effect on muscles. The water streams, passed by jets, can be adjusted for direction and intensity. Jetted bathtubs are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, power levels, and features. For example, you can buy a jetted bathtub that will exactly fit where you removed that 5 ft. bathtub. Or you can get a jetted bathtub up to 46 in. X 56 in. in size. Actually, you can buy larger jetted bathtubs, but they are then considered spas built for more than one. Jetted bathtubs larger than the standard bathtub are intended to sit inside a frame built on-site. Once the frame is constructed and the new plumbing installed, the jetted bathtub is lowered into place and connected. When completely installed, the frame is covered, typically with ceramic tile. Jetted bathtubs can be recessed into the floor, but this requires structural remodeling. More homeowners opt to install the jetted bathtub at standard 12 in. to 14 in. rim height or to raise the tub on a platform. If the rim is higher than 16 in. off the floor, make sure you include a step for safely getting in and out of the tub.
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