Which Bath is Better: Freestanding or Built-In?
This heated debate shows no signs of cooling down – are freestanding baths best or are built-ins the choice for you?
Joanna Tovia
15 August 2016
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
Dilemma, dilemma. As if you don’t have enough decisions to make for your bathroom renovation, the range of bath designs available is mind-boggling. The choice between freestanding and built-in is one that shouldn’t be undertaken lightly – get it wrong, and you’ll have to live with it for many years.
Freestanding baths can be a scene-stealing feature, but are they practical? Built-in baths may be practical, but can they add enough wow-factor? We asked Houzzers and the experts to weigh in on the debate and help make choosing a bath easier.
Freestanding baths can be a scene-stealing feature, but are they practical? Built-in baths may be practical, but can they add enough wow-factor? We asked Houzzers and the experts to weigh in on the debate and help make choosing a bath easier.
Practical concerns
When we asked you to tell us about your bathing preferences in a poll on freestanding versus built-in, the results confirmed what we already suspected – cleaning concerns took the shine off standalone tubs… despite a widespread love affair with the stylish impact they can make.
“I love the look of freestanding, but the sticky, damp dust and cobwebs that get behind it make cleaning a pain,” says Houzzer Robandlyn.
Find a local bathroom designer and renovator on Houzz to redesign your bathroom
When we asked you to tell us about your bathing preferences in a poll on freestanding versus built-in, the results confirmed what we already suspected – cleaning concerns took the shine off standalone tubs… despite a widespread love affair with the stylish impact they can make.
“I love the look of freestanding, but the sticky, damp dust and cobwebs that get behind it make cleaning a pain,” says Houzzer Robandlyn.
Find a local bathroom designer and renovator on Houzz to redesign your bathroom
One way to get around the cleaning issue is to position a bath with room around it, if you’re lucky enough to have the space.
“Cleaning would be way easier if you could walk around it – but practically, very few bathrooms are big enough to accommodate that,” says Robandlyn.
Hagan_38 agrees: “Freestanding do look impressive but for practical purposes (ie. cleaning) you need to be able to walk around them”.
“Cleaning would be way easier if you could walk around it – but practically, very few bathrooms are big enough to accommodate that,” says Robandlyn.
Hagan_38 agrees: “Freestanding do look impressive but for practical purposes (ie. cleaning) you need to be able to walk around them”.
Houzzers didn’t hold back from voicing their opinions, with the practicalities of built-in baths making them slightly more popular than freestanding. “I hate cleaning, so built-in bathtubs are for me!” says Sushiiphoto.
“Freestanding are for large bathrooms or reality TV shows only,” agrees C P.
“Built-in are low-maintenance and suit most bathroom sizes,” says Hagan_38.
“Freestanding are for large bathrooms or reality TV shows only,” agrees C P.
“Built-in are low-maintenance and suit most bathroom sizes,” says Hagan_38.
Appearance matters
Iris Spittle is about to find out whether she’s made the right decision – she’s in the middle of a renovation. “I’ve chosen to install freestanding – it’s gorgeous and there’ll be space to walk around. I’m willing to put up with any inconvenience – that’s what I’m saying now! The look is hard to beat.”
How to Design a Self-Cleaning Bathroom (Well, Almost!)
Iris Spittle is about to find out whether she’s made the right decision – she’s in the middle of a renovation. “I’ve chosen to install freestanding – it’s gorgeous and there’ll be space to walk around. I’m willing to put up with any inconvenience – that’s what I’m saying now! The look is hard to beat.”
How to Design a Self-Cleaning Bathroom (Well, Almost!)
Macymacmaples says it depends on the home, and your budget. “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 freestanding bath right in the middle.”
But… “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.”
But… “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.”
In-the-trade opinions
The experts added their views to the debate too, saying clients tend to be split down the middle about which is the best way to go.
Shane Windsor of Civic Steel Homes says about half of his clients love freestanding baths, and the other half built-in. “We have had both the client who doesn’t want to clean around a freestanding bath and those who just love the style regardless of the extra cleaning… it is obviously a very personal thing and specific to the space.”
The experts added their views to the debate too, saying clients tend to be split down the middle about which is the best way to go.
Shane Windsor of Civic Steel Homes says about half of his clients love freestanding baths, and the other half built-in. “We have had both the client who doesn’t want to clean around a freestanding bath and those who just love the style regardless of the extra cleaning… it is obviously a very personal thing and specific to the space.”
There’s no reason built-in tubs can’t be pretty, of course. Continuing a feature tile up the side of the bath can make it a thing of beauty…
Secrets of Success: Tile Cleaning
Secrets of Success: Tile Cleaning
…even if colour isn’t your thing.
“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,” says architect Richard Cole.
10 Top Design Tips for an Ergonomic 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,” says architect Richard Cole.
10 Top Design Tips for an Ergonomic Bathroom
But on the other hand, “If you have a large bathroom, a freestanding bath can add more interest while creating a sculptural feature in your bathroom,” says Cole.
How Do I… Choose a Bath?
How Do I… Choose a Bath?
If maximising light and views is important to you, Robin Bristow of Bristow Design says the choice is clear cut. “A freestanding bath allows for floor-to-ceiling windows,” he says.
Jaw-dropping bathscapes across the globe
Jaw-dropping bathscapes across the globe
Installation and repairs
And let’s not ignore the realities of plumbing. “Freestanding baths definitely have wow-factor but built-in are easier to deal with,” says Darren Clancy of Pipe Perfection Plumbers.
Clancy says a floor-level freestanding bath needs to have the drainage dropping though the floor. “That’s tricky/expensive if you have a concrete slab, but fine if you are doing a new build or re-laying your slab and you’re happy with the extra cost.”
And let’s not ignore the realities of plumbing. “Freestanding baths definitely have wow-factor but built-in are easier to deal with,” says Darren Clancy of Pipe Perfection Plumbers.
Clancy says a floor-level freestanding bath needs to have the drainage dropping though the floor. “That’s tricky/expensive if you have a concrete slab, but fine if you are doing a new build or re-laying your slab and you’re happy with the extra cost.”
If you opt for a built-in bath, Clancy says it’s also easier to rectify any issues with the drainage should a leak occur in future.
“Having said all that, I have a freestanding bath at our place and it’s really beautiful,” he says. “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.”
“Having said all that, I have a freestanding bath at our place and it’s really beautiful,” he says. “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.”
Problem solved?
“The ultimate solution is to get the best of both,” says Jean9diener. “We installed this gorgeous bath recently and love it.”
The Urbane Back-to-Wall Bath by Caroma “solves those hard-to-reach cleaning issues, has a ledge against the wall for putting ‘stuff’ on, but still has the look and beauty of a freestanding tub at the front and sides,” she says. “What’s not to love? It’s practical and pretty!”
“The ultimate solution is to get the best of both,” says Jean9diener. “We installed this gorgeous bath recently and love it.”
The Urbane Back-to-Wall Bath by Caroma “solves those hard-to-reach cleaning issues, has a ledge against the wall for putting ‘stuff’ on, but still has the look and beauty of a freestanding tub at the front and sides,” she says. “What’s not to love? It’s practical and pretty!”
Your turn
Add your vote to our freestanding vs built-in bath poll! So far, it’s neck and neck!
More
Need more bathroom renovation inspiration? Don’t miss How to Choose Your Bathroom Vanity Lighting
Add your vote to our freestanding vs built-in bath poll! So far, it’s neck and neck!
More
Need more bathroom renovation inspiration? Don’t miss How to Choose Your Bathroom Vanity Lighting
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japanesebath Gembrook Victoria
Hi Mizjane, do you have a photo of your tub? I would love to see how it looks
Hi Cath, our building is still at the stumps stage, so no bathroom, actually no floors, walls or roof as yet. I will post a pic in about 6months hopefully.