You’ve saved for months, scrolled through hundreds of design photos, and finally decided to upgrade your bathroom. Then you walk into a showroom and freeze. Should you buy an alcove tub or a freestanding one? Is acrylic best or cast iron? Do I choose a standard or center drain?
Buying a tub in Toronto involves more than picking something that looks nice. Your choice affects your daily comfort, home value, and renovation costs. Toronto’s older housing stock presents unique challenges when it comes to putting in a new tub. That’s because many homes built before 1960 have narrow doorways, low ceilings, and tight staircases that complicate installation.
This guide reveals nine critical mistakes homeowners make when purchasing bathtubs. You’ll learn what to measure, which materials last best, and why your ‘dream tub’ might become a nightmare.
Keep reading to discover what mistakes to avoid when shopping for bathtubs in Toronto.
Common Bathtub Buying Mistakes Toronto Homeowners Make
Toronto homeowners are prone to making the same mistakes when it comes to buying a new bathtub. Understanding these errors before you shop can save you thousands of dollars and prevent major headaches. Let’s examine each mistake and how to avoid it.
Mistake 1: Not Measuring Your Bathroom Accurately
You found the perfect freestanding tub online. It arrives, but the delivery team can’t get it through your bathroom door. This happens more often than you’d think.
Toronto’s Victorian and Edwardian homes have bathroom doorways ranging from 24 to 28 inches wide. Modern bathtubs often measure 30 to 32 inches at their widest point. Many homeowners measure the alcove space but forget about doorway width, hallway turns, and staircase clearance.
How to avoid this mistake: Measure every access point from your front door to the bathroom. Include doorway heights, widths, and diagonal measurements. Measure stairway width and take into account any tight corners. Get the exact dimensions of your bathroom space, including the alcove if applicable. Write everything down and bring these measurements to the showroom.
Professional installers at Cosmaroma can assess your space before you buy. This prevents costly returns and ensures your chosen tub will fit into your home.
Mistake 2: Ignoring Your Home’s Plumbing Configuration
Your drain sits on the left side of your current tub. The new tub you want has a center drain. Now you’re facing $800 in additional plumbing work.
Drain placement matters significantly in Toronto homes. Older properties have specific plumbing configurations that should not be altered without good reason. Moving drain lines requires breaking through floors, rerouting pipes, and potentially affecting rooms below. These costs can quickly exceed your tub budget.
How to avoid this mistake: Note your current drain location before shopping. Check whether it’s left, right, or center positioned. Look at your water supply lines and see where they emerge. When viewing bathtubs in Toronto showrooms, ask about drain compatibility. Some tubs offer flexible drain positioning, while others do not.
Matching your existing plumbing configuration keeps your installation costs reasonable. If you must move drains, budget an extra $600 to $1,200 for professional replumbing.
Mistake 3: Choosing Style Over Substance
That clawfoot tub looks stunning in magazine photos. You imagine relaxing soaks surrounded by vintage charm. Then reality hits after installation.
Clawfoot and freestanding tubs require significant floor space. They expose all plumbing, which increases the complexity of the installation. Many lack built-in storage for shampoo and soap. They’re also harder to clean around and underneath. Toronto’s hard water leaves visible mineral deposits on exposed exteriors.
How to avoid this mistake:Think about your bathing habits. Do you take baths weekly or monthly? Will you realistically clean underneath a freestanding tub? Consider whether you need a combination tub-shower unit. Most Toronto families need shower functionality daily.
If you shower more than you bathe, alcove tubs with integrated shower surrounds make more sense. Save freestanding tubs for dedicated soaking rooms or master ensuite bathrooms where they won’t compromise daily function.
Mistake 4: Underestimating Weight and Structural Support
Cast iron tubs weigh between 300 and 500 pounds empty. Fill one with water and add a person and you’re approaching 900 pounds concentrated in one area.
Older Toronto homes have floor joists spaced 16 to 24 inches apart. These support typical loads fine, but heavy tubs can cause sagging or cracking. Second-floor installations require careful structural assessment. Some homes need reinforced flooring before they can safely support cast iron or stone tubs.
How to avoid this mistake: Check your bathroom’s floor construction before committing to heavy materials. Have a contractor inspect the joists and subfloor. If you’re buying a tub in Toronto for a second-floor bathroom, get professional structural advice. Acrylic and fibreglass tubs weigh significantly less while still providing significant durability.
Factor structural reinforcement costs into your budget if you insist on cast iron. This typically adds $500 to $2,000 depending on accessibility and the extent of work required.
Mistake 5: Overlooking Long-Term Maintenance Requirements
Acrylic tubs promise easy cleaning and lasting beauty. Then you accidentally drop a shampoo bottle and chip the surface. Or you use the wrong cleaner and dull the finish permanently.
Different tub materials require specific care routines. Acrylic scratches easily but resists stains, while cast iron enamel chips but cleans effortlessly. Cultured marble looks elegant but can be stained by bath oils. Too many Toronto homeowners don’t research the maintenance requirements of their tub until problems appear.
How to avoid this mistake: Ask detailed questions about care and cleaning when you are buying a bathtub. Learn which cleaners are safe and which damage the finish. Understand how each material responds to Toronto’s hard water. Request maintenance instructions in writing.
Cosmaroma provides comprehensive care guides with every tub purchase. Follow these instructions exactly to protect your investment and maintain your warranty coverage.
Mistake 6: Forgetting About Bathtub Doors and Accessibility
You are planning for the future. Your parents might move in, or you’ll age in place. But your new tub has a 16-inch wall that requires climbing over.
Standard tubs create accessibility challenges for people with mobility issues. Walk-in tubs solve this but cost significantly more. Bathtub doors in Toronto installations offer a middle ground. These swing-open panels allow easier entry without full tub replacement.
How to avoid this mistake: Consider your household’s needs over the next 10 to 20 years. Will elderly relatives visit regularly? Do you have young children who need supervised bathing? Think about whether you might need accessibility features eventually.
If accessibility matters now or soon, explore tubs designed for easier entry. Walk-in models, lower-threshold designs, and retrofit door options all exist. Planning for these needs during the initial purchase costs far less than retrofitting later.
Mistake 7: Buying Based on Price Alone
You find a tub for $300 and think you’ve scored a bargain. Six months later, the finish is cracking and the material flexes disturbingly when you sit down.
Cheap tubs use materials that degrade quickly, and Toronto’s fluctuating temperatures accelerate deterioration in low-quality materials. They feel unstable, retain heat poorly, and often void warranties if problems arise. The money you save upfront then gets spent on premature replacement.
How to avoid this mistake:Set a realistic budget based on quality, not just the lowest price. Mid-range tubs ($600 to $1,500) offer good durability for most homes. Premium options ($2,000+) provide superior materials and longer warranties. Compare thickness specifications, not just appearance.
Ask about warranty coverage and what voids it. Quality manufacturers stand behind their products with 10- to 20-year warranties. Cheap tubs often have one-year coverage or none at all.
Mistake 8: Not Considering Water Heater Capacity
If your new soaking tub holds 80 gallons but your water heater only holds 40 gallons, you’ll be taking lukewarm baths at best.
Toronto homes typically have 40- or 50-gallon water heaters. These handle standard 30-gallon tubs fine. Oversized soaking tubs require more hot water than your system can provide. You’ll either accept partially filled tubs or need water heater upgrades costing $1,200 to $2,500.
How to avoid this mistake: Check your water heater capacity before selecting a large tub. Match the tub capacity to your hot water supply. If you insist on an oversized tub, factor water heater replacement into your renovation budget. Tankless water heaters solve this issue but require significant upfront investment.
Calculate that your water heater should hold at least as much as your tub’s capacity for comfortable bathing. This ensures you can fill the tub with adequately heated water.
Mistake 9: Skipping Professional Installation to Save Money
You’re handy with tools and watched YouTube tutorials. How hard can installing a tub be? Then you crack the drain flange, cross-thread the overflow, and water leaks through your ceiling.
Installing a bathtub involves plumbing, waterproofing, structural support, and finishing work. Making mistakes during this process can cause water damage that costs thousands to repair. Plus, an improper installation is likely to void your manufacturer’s warranty. Toronto’s building codes require permits for structural bathroom renovations, and DIY work is more likely to fail inspection.
How to avoid this mistake: Budget for professional installation from the start. Experienced installers complete the job correctly in one or two days. They can handle unexpected issues, ensure code compliance, and protect your warranty. The $800 to $1,500 you spend on installation can prevent $5,000 in water damage repairs.
Cosmaroma offers professional installation services throughout Toronto. Our certified installers understand local building codes and have experience with Toronto’s unique housing challenges.
Getting the Right Tub for Your Toronto Home
Smart bathtub shopping starts with an honest assessment of your needs, space, and budget. Don’t let showroom aesthetics override practical considerations.
Visit multiple suppliers and compare options in person. Touch the materials, sit in the display tubs, and ask detailed questions. Bring photos and measurements of your bathroom. Professional staff can identify potential issues before you commit.
Consider timing your purchase during seasonal sales. Many suppliers offer discounts in January and August when renovation activity slows. This can save you 15 to 25 percent on quality tubs.
Avoiding these nine mistakes ensures that your new tub brings years of satisfaction rather than regret. Measure carefully, choose appropriate materials, and invest in professional installation for the best results. Ready to find your perfect tub? Visit Cosmaroma’s Toronto showroom to explore high-quality bathtubs and receive expert guidance on selection and installation.
