Bathroom tub question

I have this big tub in my master that has cracked and need to be replaced. I don’t want a jetted tub and don’t know if i should replace with a free standing tub or go with a corner tub that is not jetted. The problem is that i don’t have enough tile to fill the area if i replace with a free standing tub. Any ideas or suggestions are welcome.

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Judyjudyjudy

Is it both the wall tile and the floor tile that there is not more available? In the case of the floor tile, perhaps you could stencil or paint some yourself, if you were able to find a coordinating background tile. If the issue is the wall tile, could you add plywood over it, down to the floor (you may have to strap it all to make a level surface) and then find a new tile to cover the entire area.

I would think a to scale floor drawing would help determine which tubs may look best - I believe I would tire cleaning around a free standing tub, but it is your tub, in a great bathroom so personal preference prevails.

user1972459

You can get creative with floor tile in that space to give the appearance of a rug under a free-standing tub. If you don’t use the tub much, don’t replace it. Build in benches against the wall(s). You could use space under the benches if you need additional storage.

ehbuchan2048

Free standing tubs look great, but are a pain to clean around and behind. Been there, never again. There is a reason all those cute cast iron tubs got boxed in during the 1930s and were gone by the 1940s.

Plus supplementing the wall tile if you go with the freestanding will be expensive, especially if the tiles are not exactly the same thickness.
Do you have a separate shower stall? If not, adding a shower to your tub, and enclosing the whole area allows you to use a different , coordinating tile right up to the ceiling.
The floor tile is also a problem. But you could choose a coordinating tile and make a rug around the new tub, in plain black, grey, or white. Perhaps with a smaller (one inch) tile as an edging.
Because there is so much missing tile to add, and so much to remove and replace, this would be a good time to replace the entire floor and wall tile. (In my opinion the faux barnwood wall and the arabesque floor do not coordinate, but YMMV.

ehbuchan2048

Correction.
If the added wall tiles are not the same thickness they will look funny.

But if the added floor tiles are not the same thickness they will be a tripping hazard.

Just completed a "universal access " bathroom with a roll in shower and the tiler spent three days making the shower floor, the bathroom floor and the hallway* floor exactly even.

*Universal means rolling in with a wheelchair no lips or bumps and very precise sloping for drainage.

oliviia7262

Interesting discussion! 👏 If you are planning to replace your bathtub without a major tile renovation, you can consider a corner bathtub or a modern partition instead of a full-fledged cladding. A freestanding bathtub looks stylish, but it is more difficult to maintain and requires more tiles.

user4491633

The only tile that i would need replacing is the one under the tub. The wall, if i go with a free standing, it would be drywall. No tiles behind the tub, possibly some sort of wainscoting, etc. Don’t want to replace the floor tile as it is a reminder of the charming homes in my country that have patterned tile. I have a shower stall, one wall done with the barnwood style tile and the other wall with subway tiles, and while it may not seem like it would work, it actually does. Sometimes is not all about coordinating but about the feel of the space.

user4491633

The floor tile, not using wall tile

user4491633

And yes, I worry about the cleaning behind it as well

autumncloud

I have never quite seen the appeal of free-standing tubs. They look great on photos but I always wonder what people are doing with their soap and shampoo. Putting that on the floor is both impractical and looks messy.
When we renovated our house, I actually asked for an extra-wide "frame" around three edges of the tub so there would be plenty of room for plants, my cat, a glass of wine and magazines as well. Our architect would have preferred a free-standing solution, but it's been 15 years and I'm still glad I put my foot down on that one.

maxwellat

Hi @user4491633 I agree with everything said here - a lot of wisdom. Aim for the same size (or a touch larger) corner tub with NO jets. it will be cleaner and cleaner looking!