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The Different Sizes of Walk-in Tubs
Walk-In Tub Doors
Feb 11, 2016
Right-Handed vs. Left-Handed Doors
Right-handed and left-handed doors have several practical functions besides the obvious point of making walk-in tubs more accessible for seniors. Right, and left-handed doors determine the installation style of the walk-in bathtub unit: apron front, tile-in, freestanding, and the top mount style of installation. For more on these, click here.
Whether you’re having an afternoon hydrotherapy massage and you want the sunlight to be beaming through your bathroom window, or you don’t want your walk-in tub in an awkward position, left-handed and right-handed doors need some consideration to make the process of installation itself turn out to be as you expected it, and avoid mistakes you might regret after just having remodeled your bathroom.
Outward Swinging Doors
Outward swinging doors are for you if you want more leg room inside the walk-in tub, and they’ll let you exit faster in the case of an emergency.
Depending on your bathroom space, outward swinging doors allow you not to have to squeeze your legs together when exiting the tub, although you should make sure that any walk-in tub matches your measurements before installing it. A case in point would be wheelchair accessible walk-in tub doors that are designed to expose the seat right at the door’s opening to make it easy for the wheelchair user to simply slide on, and this design requires an outward swing of the door.
Outward swinging doors take up space because they’re larger in size than inward swinging doors, and that’s because there has to be a wider perimeter of overlapping door seam that keeps any water from leaking.
Learn about the sizes of walk-in bathtubs here.
The pros of outward swinging doors:
- More legroom.
- Faster exit.
- Wheelchair accessibility.
The cons of outward swinging doors:
- The door can take up more bathroom space when operated.
Inward Swinging Doors
Inward swinging doors save bathroom space and have a lighter swing to them because their design is minimal compared to outward swinging doors, making them look more stylish and are much cheaper for manufacturers to build and for you to buy.
They’re cheaper to build because the inward swinging door generates a hydrostatic mechanism to keep the water from leaking and even uses the water pressure to its advantage.
The pros of inward swinging doors:
- Save bathroom space when operated.
- Lighter to operate.
- Slimmer, sleeker and more stylish than outward swinging doors.
- Drive the price down.
The cons of outward swinging doors:
- May require squeezing of the legs when opened.
Seek Assistance
The swing of the door can save you tub space, bathroom space, and money and so it deserves some thought prior to installation. Consult with your local Home Depot, Lowe's, or Menards and ask for someone to assist you in making the best decision that’s just right for you and just right for your home.
