Thanks everyone - I am sold on retaining the tub. I am a nomad - this is home number 7 and whilst I fantasise about a forever home, I have declared it before only to get itchy feet.. Ellen you sell the soak really well. The 21 year old son (who usually uses this bathroom) promises he is leaving home soon. I might create a seriously girly bathroom /laundry which might make a long bath appealing rather than a gross prospect. I can mediate to the sound of the dryer tumbling around.

Hi Annie We get asked about the weight of freestanding baths all the time as people assume they will simply be too heavy to move around for cleaning purposes, which may be the case with a solid stone bath. To make cleaning manageable, our baths and spas are manufactured using Gelcoat composite construction which is extremely strong yet not overly heavy (5mm thickness to ensure structural rigidity and increased thermal properties). This allows most people to easily slide the bath out from the wall for easy cleaning access. I hope that helps with your dilemma! Regards, Brad AQVA Luxury Baths & Spas

Bathroom renos can be daunting as there are many things to consider and usually the space can be limiting. Free standing baths are stunning and come in many shapes and sizes. You have mentioned that you and the boys will use the bath, ensure you factor in the "users" height as this will determine the bath size and depth. Firstly is the plumbing remaining in the same position? Floor mounted bath mixers can be installed with a concealed under floor box or the above floor connection method. The concealed box method is advisable before the flooring is installed, and has the benefit of a lower profile floor plate, which is preferred. The above floor method may be done where the first approach is not possible. Free standing bath mixers visually create an impact when paired with the freestanding tub, ensure you have enough room around the tub as it will be difficult to clean if it sits too close to walls and or vanities etc..many freestanding bath mixers offer functional hand showers as well as the spout, ideal for washing soap out of kids hair. Would love to see a lay out of your bathroom to assist with tap ware placement. Good luck with your bathroom renovations, always happy to assist you. Carmen Collaborative Interiors

It's not a simple debate between what you want/need more or less....understand that this a regulatory thing.........if you are dealing with a building permit then it's pretty cut & dry - as the BCA reads, a separate trough is technically required to consitute a laundry....happy to be corrected in my interpretation in this regard but we have had to deal with this exact issue on a few occasions....... But if you are doing just an under the radar laundry reno/refit (no permit) then potentially you can get away with none, but you'll of course need to practically connect the washer into the drainage somehow, which still requires an isolated trap set-up, that technically will be illegal. No you can't just connect straight into a sewer waste as if the connection fails and their is no water trap it would be hazardous (not to mention unpleasant) to have exposed sewer gas. If it's in a kitchen an can connect a washer to a sink waste (similar) to the dishwasher) then arguably that could be passed. The easiest way is to fit a small trough next to the washer that even if you develop a cover for so you can use the area as bench space. It then keeps flexibility and everything above board/compliant for future resale.....