Goodbye Whirlpool Tub

New bathroom surface options abound

Living area in Ideal Homes' Galway model

In the past, outfitting a home with a vertical spa meant installing sophisticated and expensive plumbing fixtures, oversized piping, and even an extra water heater — but things have changed. Today, builders can offer buyers the spa experience without the exorbitant price. An array of multifunction shower heads, rain-shower shower heads, multiple body sprays and shower heads, and hand showers are now on the market — and can be installed in nearly any combination to provide a fabulous showering experience. And the only extra plumbing required is a few simple diverter valves.

It's an option that will be an instant hit with many home buyers.

"Gone are the days when whirlpool tubs spelled luxury," says Paige Rien, interior designer for the HGTV show, Hidden Potential. "These days, it's shower enclosures, and the larger the better. Shower plumbing options have exploded for this very purpose. It's becoming a must-have for the upgraded master bath."

The trend toward vertical spas started simply enough with home buyers who wanted two shower heads because of the differing heights of family members, says Rick Harrell, owner of DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen in Ventura County, Calif. From there, systems evolved to include hand-held wands and body sprays. But there were two drawbacks — all the elements were combined in a single unit and it only came in chrome. "People didn't want that," Harrell says. They wanted the ability to decide where to put the various shower heads and spray units and they wanted the finish to match the rest of their bathroom fixtures.

Manufacturers have responded with host of spa packages for buyers to choose from, in a fabulous range of finishes that includes brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze and even wrought iron. Harrell strongly recommends selecting a package from a single manufacturer rather than cobbling together a system of individual pieces from various manufacturers. "It's nice to stay within those packages as a designer because everything is set and regulated so the performance will be good," he says. "There are enough of them out there to find one that matches what someone wants." Moen offers builders two lines of spa products.

Another shower enclosure manufacturer that is popular with builders is Basco. http://www.bascoshowerdoor.com/

Vertical spas are so popular, says Harrell, that when buyers are given a choice many opt to get rid of their tubs completely in favor of a spacious vertical spa. "People are willing to sacrifice and do without in other places to have a really nice shower experience," Harrell says. "The shower is changing from a place where people have to go to a place they want to go. They really enjoy it."


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