Affordable Bathroom Updates (cont.)

ACCESS GRANTED. The growing demand for aging-in-place bathroom solutions—an approach that allows older residents to stay in their homes later in life—has triggered developments in the design of accessible bathtubs. Accessible bathtubs are high-walled (more than 3 feet) bathtubs that are designed for bathers to easily enter and exit the bathtub.

Three years ago, only two manufacturers marketed accessible bathtubs to consumers, and they were both walk-in models, in which the bather entered through a hinged door. Now, at least six manufacturers make accessible bathtubs, and there is a new style—a rising-wall bathtub, in which the bather enters and exits by pushing down or pulling up the side panel of the bathtub.

Rising-wall entry is beneficial, particularly for wheelchair users and their caregivers, who don’t have to negotiate the tight 3-to-8-inch threshold of typical walk-in bathtubs. Rising-wall bathtubs, in which the entire tub is about 2 feet off the ground, can be entered from a sitting position. Nicole Allis of Kohler likens the motion to getting into bed.

The good news is that because accessible bathtubs have virtually the same size that standard bathtubs have, accessible models can fit into bathrooms without having to reconfigure the room, although plumbing modifications might be necessary. But the prices of these models aren’t as, well, accessible as they are for typical bathtubs. You can expect to spend at least $2,200 for an accessible bathtub and at least $3,500 for a full-size model that can fit the same space as a standard bathtub.

Unlike on standard bathtubs, the bather must sit in the bathtub as it fills and drains. Because larger models hold up to 80 gallons of water, that could take time and make for a chilly experience. But at least two manufacturers tout different approaches that speed up draining the water. Safety Tubs has several models that start around $4,000 that use pump-assisted drainage, which the manufacturer says works up to eight times faster than do conventional draining systems, because the drain water is being pumped instead of relying strictly on gravity, Kohler’s raised-wall Elevance tub ($8,775) has two manual drains to speed up draining.

Such developments are welcome, indeed, because if you find yourself sitting in chilly water long after your nice, warm bath is over, that is “draining” in a whole different way.

Leslie Clagett is the former editor-in-chief of Kitchens & Baths magazine. She has written about home design for 20 years.