I love the look of freestanding, but the sticky damp dust and cobwebs that get behind it makes cleaning a pain. A built in is so much easier to clean.

I agree robandlyn. Freestanding against a wall (or 3) is just so unpractical. Make sure you have a handheld showerhead at the tub. Makes cleaning even easier.

We regularly do both. Did a survey about this a while back and it was very interesting. Pretty much 50/50 on people loving freestanding versus builtin. We have had both the client who doesnt want to clean around a freestanding bath and those that just love the style regardless of the extra cleaning. I think some baths in podiums can be made to look great if the bath is flush with the surface of the tiles for example. But it is obviously a very personal thing and specific to the space.

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How can I vote? Only way to go versus practical? Is it an either or question? Is there anything that is not practical about a freestanding bath, as long as it is FREESTANDING?

Freestanding is beautiful but impractical

I love the look of freestanding. So much more elegant!

I hate cleaning so built in bathtubs for me!

Totally agree with @robandlyn but I would make an exception for this freestanding beauty

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Is it still impractical if you have space to walk around it?

Cleaning would be way easier if you could walk round it - but practically very few bathrooms are big enough to accommodate that.

I happened to see an article on built-in versus free-standing yesterday which refreshingly talked about more than just how trendy it is but addressed the practical aspects. A previous article I saw a few weeks earlier, which I admit got my goat, dictated that built-in baths are old-fashioned and nowadays people should have freestanding baths. http://www.allhomes.com.au/advice/freestanding-bath-versus-a-builtin-tub-which-one-should-you-choose-20160727-gqevyx/

I still think it's not an either or question so I'm not voting. If I was building and could afford a large bathroom I might think about it but I might think about spending the money on other features instead, I really don't know. If I won the lottery and could afford to build a house in the tropics with a huge bathroom with sliding doors out to a private courtyard I can't imagine not having a sculptural free standing bath right in the middle. If I was looking to buy an established house where someone had renovated a standard sized bathroom and squeezed in a freestanding tub because they had been persuaded it's the trendy must have accessory for any bathroom renovation I'd look elsewhere.

Going back a few decades all we had were freestanding baths. Given builtins are "practical", but the main reason they came into common use is that they are cheaper and builders saved money. In most houses unless you have small children the tub rarely, if ever gets used. In which case who cares about practical considerations. Go for good style and what you like!

Thinking about what C P said, I think I'd rather have a long edge at both ends of a built-in bath than a free-standing bath. I suppose if you want somewhere to put things you can use a stool and personally I'm not enthused about the idea of cluttering a bathroom with furniture, although I have seen some pictures of very nice teak or ceramic bath stools. I love this one, quirky yet useful. [https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/master-bathroom-contemporary-bathroom-miami-phvw-vp~32921773[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/master-bathroom-contemporary-bathroom-miami-phvw-vp~32921773)

it still comes back to the look you are trying to achieve in your bathroom. Nothing is "old-fashioned" if you love it, use it. Its a personal choice. Just because someone decides its "old-fashioned", out of style, its your choice. I love both would depend on the style of my home & what I want in it. I do love the old claw-foot bath in the right place. the idea of a lovely green courtyard with the bath amongst the greenery would be awsome. Would be a lovely spot on a summers night with a glass of wine. So guess I will sit on the fence or in my bath on this one.

Love the look of free standing but have to consider access for old bastards like me.

I'm practical the less cleaning the better though the freestanding does look nice..too high a maintenance ..

put on the scale the other one wins

Obviously depends on the space and style of the property, but we do love how modern a free standing tub looks!

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Freestanding baths definitely have wow factor but built in are easier to deal with. A floor level freestanding bath needs to have the drainage dropping though the floor- that's tricky/expensive if you have a concrete slab!

Its fine if you are doing a new build or re-laying your slab and you're happy with the extra cost.

Builts ins are, as everyone said, easier to keep clean,. It's also easier to rectify any issues with the drainage should a leak occur in future. (break open a few tiles, fix the leak, re-tile).

Having said ALL that, I have a freestanding bath at our place and its really beautiful. I installed it so it sat far enough away from the wall to get a mop behind. I also put a long drain behind it so you can use the hose attachment on the tap to give the floor behind the bath a quick clean.

It depends on the size of the bathroom and the overall bathroom planning. If you have a large bathroom a free standing bath can add more interest whilst creating a sculptural feature to your bathroom. Built in baths are practical and good for smaller tighter plans and you can add interest by tiling around with mosaics or a natural stone tile creating a more in ground feel which can create simplicity if you have lots going on.

Depends on the size of the room, the budget and either the décor or outlook whether the freestanding bath will work I think. I don't understand why so many freestanding baths are either slap bang next to a wall making cleaning awkward or protruding from a corner cramping everything else and looking weird.

I'm not voting, both can be great.

I wonder what the next trend will be? Since becoming a Houzza I've found dating improvements is becoming an unfortunate side effect lol.

Oh ducks43 you're missing out on the very adult escape a bath provides, the therapeutic soak is divine. As long as there's a lock on the door, the music is loud enough to drown out the plaintive cries beyond, the book stays dry and the wine doesn't run out it's heaven. I assume your hot water tap is handy to prevent any chills.

I wouldn't dream of having a bath if the aim is only to get clean, and I always have a quick shower afterwards to finish. I've often wondered if that's a bit weird actually but it's what I do.

And a bath can be life saving! My very elderly Aunt 89, who lived in UK, had a fall in the bathroom during a freezing winter and couldn't get herself up. She pulled herself into and ran a bath to keep warm. It took 3 days for anyone to miss her but when they found her she was fine, except for the original injury, because she kept topping up the bath with hot water. We were told she'd have not survived had she not clambered into the bath. So there, baths are not just indulgent they're necessary lol.

I'd like a decent sized bathroom where I can turn a freestanding bath into a sculptural object..

Hi Joanna

We love both!

A common misconception we've found with freestanding baths and spas is that they're simply be too heavy to move around for cleaning purposes.

To make cleaning manageable, our 100% Australian made 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).

So one of our baths is typically around the 40-50kg mark which allows most people to easily slide the bath out from the wall for easy cleaning access.

Freestanding stone baths are a different story altogether!

Regards,

Brad
AQVA Luxury Baths & Spas

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Free-standing baths are very attractive and can create a beautiful feature, but cleaning behind them can be quite awkward. We install more built in baths than free-standing, but ultimately it is up to what the client prefers!

In the right space a freestanding bath looks great

Beautiful freestanding tub!

Freestanding looks better but can be difficult to clean around the back and sides if there isn't enough room allocated to get hands around. Something that needs to be well considered before final approval. Especially if the bath is next to a vanity or glass shower screen.

Very true - it's important to leave a sufficient gap between the bath and the wall or adjacent fittings. Free-standing baths actually require more room than an inbuilt bath of an equivalent size, so it's really important to get the measurements correct!

I adore the look of a freestanding bath but adore cleaning I do not! Has anyone had success with using a handheld shower want to rinse down the sides of the bath after use if there's ample space around each side and clean it that way?

We have a free standing bath and I love the look of it. We put a shelf at the front end of the bath in the wall to hold stuff. I can clean the front and back end but not the wall side. It is difficult to get out of when I am not fit or strong, but when the stars are aligned I love it.