The final step in your Contra Costa County walk-in bathtub installation is to make sure that the work you receive is exactly what you desired. It should be immediately noticeable if your contractor has installed a walk-in bathtub, faucets, or other fixtures that are different from those you selected or that do not meet your specifications. Along with this, be sure to inspect that all non-visible parts are in working order. Make sure drains, hot and cold knobs, lights, jets, switches, door latches, extra heaters, grab bars, and dials all do what they are supposed to.

Ask to keep copies outlining the details of all warranties and guarantees that apply to both the materials used in your walk-in bathtub and the service provided. Warranties should include:

1. A physical address for the manufacturer or service provider.
2. A list of all products or services covered by the warranty.
3. What your responsibilities include in the event that products or services received are defective.
4. The length and transferability of the warranty term.

Walk-in bathtubs offer a wide range of features, but a few specific walk-in bathtub features and add-ons are more commonly requested than others. The most requested Contra Costa County walk-in bathtub installations are:

Hydrotherapy Massage Systems (or Hydro Spa Systems)
This popular therapeutic feature adds invigorating, powerful water jets to the already more fully immersive walk-in bathtub experience. Similar to Jacuzzi-style water jets, hydrotherapy adjustable massage jets come in a variety of arrays to target common areas of need, such as feet and lower back. They often come with variable speed options and a variety of pulses and self-cleaning mechanisms.

Air Massage Systems (or Air Spa Systems)
If you prefer a lighter, gentler massage than typical hydrotherapy jets, air massage jets may be the solution for you. These systems employ arrays of chrome air jets to provide therapeutic warm air bubble massage. They often come with variable speed options and a variety of pulses and self-cleaning mechanisms.

Dual Hydrotherapy Massage/Air Massage Systems
This walk-in bathtub upgrade combines two of the most popular features, offering both therapeutic air jets and water jets in individual or simultaneous use. In one integrated system, you receive both gentler air massage bubbles and invigorating heated water jet massaged. The systems often offer moveable jets, adjustable jet strength and pulse speeds, and self-cleaning capabilities.

Walk-in Soaker Bathtubs
This is the standard walk-in bathtub variety, offering standard safety features such as grab bars and no-slip flooring. While they come in a variety of sizes to accommodate a wide range of physiques, as the name implies this bathtub design allows bathers to soak in deep, often neck-height water from a sitting position. They can usually be upgraded to include massage systems, and often include five-piece faucet and detachable showerhead fixtures.

Space Saver Walk-in Bathtubs
Many bathrooms are simply not large enough to accommodate a full walk-in soaker tub without significant remodeling. For this reason, walk-in bathtub most manufacturers offer a selection of customizable tubs that can be tailored to fit the available space using extensions. These space saving models also save water and energy costs, and take up less floor space than a standard 30×60 inch bathtub, while maintaining the standard, deep soaking features of a walk-in.

Chromatherapy
One common walk-in bathtub upgrade that will add color, literally, to your bathing experience is chromatherapy. Chromatherapy uses multicolored lights inside the tub to produce therapeutic colors and color transitions that promote specific health benefits. The programmable color arrays can stimulate one’s circulatory system, combat fatigue, facilitate relaxation, improve mood, accelerate healing, and aid respiration. Select between various color cycles, spectrums, and transition speeds for an enhanced therapeutic bathing experience.

Aromatherapy
Among the most popular customizable features of walk-in bathtubs, aromatherapy systems augment the naturally therapeutic benefits of a soaker tub with added therapeutic fragrances. These systems use diffusers and air pumps to distribute essential oils such as lavender, lemon, tea tree, eucalyptus, or peppermint around the tub. This multisensory approach reinforces relaxation and therapy and reinvigorates the body and mind.

Wide Seat, Long Tub, and Deep Tub Models
Most walk-in bathtub manufacturer offer a certain amount of customizability to every walk-in bathtub dimension. A wide seat walk-in bathtub is designed to accommodate persons of up to 300 pounds, and long tub and deep tub models are designed for bathers who are taller than six feet, adding an extra 8-10 inches of tub length and depth. As such, walk-in bathtubs can meet the physical needs of nearly any bather.

ADA Wheelchair Accessible Shower Installation
A mobility shower is another bathtub upgrade commonly offered by walk-in bathtub manufacturers and contractors. This installation provides a shower that is wheelchair accessible using a removable incline ramp and various enclosure sizes tailored to fit most wheelchairs. Wheelchair accessible showers often include a wall-mounted fold-down seat, grab bars, and a detachable shower head.

Bath Bench or Bariatric Shower Seat Installation
These common bathtub upgrades provide a safer more comfortable bathing experience for bathers in search of ADA compliant fixtures. They are often designed to accommodate bathers weighing as much as 700 pounds, and offer contoured backrests and adjustable frames to meet the needs of any bather. Bath benches and bariatric shower seats come in a variety of designs, from freestanding chairs with non-slip feet to clamp-on bathtub benches to wall-mounted fold-down units

Top 10 Brand Requests

There are many reliable walk-in bathtub manufacturers with a history of high quality products backed by comprehensive warranties. Here’s a list of some of the top brands in the industry:

• Dignity Walk-in Tubs and Spas
• Step Safe, Inc.
• Clarion Bathware
• Northwest Walk-in Bath
• Independent Living USA
• Luxor Bath Corporation
• MediTub
• Premier Bathrooms, Inc.
• Home Living Solutions
• Remain Active Products

In your search for the perfect walk-in bathtub, you’ll encounter a large volume of extra features and technical specifications. The following glossary provides definitions and descriptions of all the walk-in bathtub jargon you need to know:

acrylic

A mid-range walk-in bathtub material, more expensive and durable than fiberglass, moldable, with a glassy look. Not the same as a gel coat.

ADA compliant
A bathtub, shower, bench, or other fixture that satisfies the criteria of the Americans with Disabilities Act, often providing special features such as additional handles or non-slip flooring.

Also known as: safety tub, walk-in tub, step-in shower, ADA compliant tub

air massage system
This walk-in bathtub upgrade offers a lighter, gentler massage alternative to more powerful typical hydrotherapy jets. Air massage systems employ arrays of chrome air jets to provide therapeutic warm air bubble massage. They often come with variable speed options and a variety of pulses and self-cleaning mechanisms.

air and hydrotherapy massage system
This dual system combines the most popular walk-in bathtub features, offering both therapeutic air and water jets massage in individual or simultaneous use. In one integrated system, you enjoy both gentler, light touch air massage bubbles and invigorating heated water jet massage. The systems often offer rotatable jets, adjustable jet strength and pulse speeds, and self-cleaning capabilities.

aromatherapy
Aromatherapy systems augment the naturally therapeutic benefits of a soaker tub with added therapeutic fragrances. These systems use diffusers and air pumps to distribute essential oils of your choice such as lavender, lemon, tea tree, eucalyptus, or peppermint around the tub. This multisensory approach reinforces relaxation, therapy, and healing, and reinvigorates the body and mind.

bariatric shower seats
A padded, secure bathtub and shower seat, often designed to accommodate bathers weighing as much as 700 pounds, bariatric shower seats offer contoured backrests and adjustable frames to meet the needs of any bather. They are typically outfitted with non-slip feet to provide greater stability and security in the bathtub or shower.

bath lift
A bath lift is a secure, removable seat that lowers you into and raises you out of the bathtub. It provides a more economical alternative to a walk-in bathtub installation, does not require installation, and is easily transportable.

chromatherapy
Chromatherapy uses multicolored lights inside the tub to produce therapeutic colors and color transitions that promote specific health benefits. The benefits of light and color have been used for thousands of years to promote physical, mental, and emotional health. A walk-in bathtub’s programmable color arrays help stimulate one’s circulatory system, combat fatigue, facilitate relaxation, improve mood, accelerate healing, and aid respiration. Select between various color cycles, spectrums, and transition speeds for an enhanced therapeutic bathing experience.

drain and overflow system
As in most other bathtubs and showers, a walk-in bathtub comes with a built in overflow system to prevent the water level from exceeding the height of the tub. These overflow drains are not placed at a standard height, so before selecting a walk-in tub, be sure its drain allows a satisfactory water level for you.

extension panel
Many walk-in tubs come with an adjustable extension that will fill any leftover space between your tub and the surrounding walls. This is useful especially when your walk-in tub is smaller than the preceding bathtub fixture, as it provides a custom fit and saves you from having to tile or finish the adjacent walls.

Also known as: deck extension

fiberglass
An inexpensive walk-in bathtub material, fiberglass is also lightweight and low maintenance. However, finish options are limited, and it is less durable than most other walk-in bathtub options.

five-piece faucet set
Most walk-in bathtubs come with a standard five-piece faucet set that is mounted on one end of the tub. Finishes and materials for these may vary and are often customizable. In addition to hot and cold knobs, the faucet set includes a push down diverter, a faucet head, and a detachable showerhead.

gel coat finish
A thin material used to finish a fiberglass base on tubs, showers, and walls. A worn out gel coat can cause the base item to stain.

grab bar
Grab bars are the wall-mounted handles that allow bathers to steady and assist themselves while sitting down or standing up in a bathtub. At least one grab bar often comes standard with a walk-in tub, but additional grab bars can be positioned to suit a bather’s the specific needs.

Also known as: handles, assist bars,

handshower
A showerhead design in which the head is connected to a flexible hose and allows greater range and distribution of the water flow.

Also known as: detachable showerhead, retractable handheld showerhead

hydrotherapy massage system
One of the most common walk-in bathtub add-ons, this popular therapeutic feature adds invigorating, powerful water jets to the already more fully immersive walk-in bathtub experience. Similar to Jacuzzi-style water jets, hydrotherapy massage jets come in a variety of arrays to target common areas of need, such as feet, hips, legs, and back. They often come with variable speed options and a variety of pulses and self-cleaning mechanisms.

in-line heater
This is an optional, additional heating system for hydrotherapy massage tubs, to ensure that the water maintains a constant temperature as it flows through the jets and back into the tub. Some heating units may require you to install additional electrical wiring and circuits.

Also known as: ceramic heaters, built-in heating system

inward or outward swinging door
All walk-in bathtubs have doors which saves the user from stepping up or down into the tub. Walk-in bathtub doors can swing out away from the tub or into the tub, and this is an important feature to take into account when gauging the space in your bathroom and the size of your bathtub.

non-slip floor
This safety feature comes standard on most walk-in tubs, and consists of a bathtub floor coating that maximizes traction on a web surface.

Also known as: anti-slip floor

porous and non-porous
Terms referring to the penetrability of the surface of a fixture. A porous material has tiny holes, and is susceptible to mold, mildew, and stains. Non-porous materials are solid and are not susceptible to mold, mildew, or stains. Because of its non-porous nature, acrylic is more durable than a porous fiberglass fixture.

right-hand or left-hand door
In addition to selecting whether your walk-in bathtub door swings inward or outward, you can often choose between a door that opens left or right. Take into account your bathroom layout and your specific physical needs when selecting which way your walk-in bathtub door will open.

safety tubs
Synonymous with walk-in bathtubs, a safety tub refers to a bathtub featuring a watertight, sealed door that eliminates the 20+ inch step up or down into a standard bathtub. They are designed to prevent injuries resulting from dizziness or loss of balance while bathing, thereby making bathing a safer experience for the elderly, disabled, or injured.

Also known as: walk-in tubs, ADA tubs

self-cleaning mechanisms
This feature is offered by many walk-in bathtub manufacturers, and can make your walk-in bathtub and tub systems virtually maintenance free. Self-cleaning mechanisms typically use an ozone cleaning system to sanitize a tub, plumbing, and jets by oxidizing and eliminating microorganisms.

Also known as: self-cleaning sanitary system, ozone cleaning system

shower transfer bench
This is a common ADA bathtub and shower add-on to facilitate easy transfer of bathers with restricted mobility into and out of a bathtub and shower. They come in a variety of designs, and like bathtub lifts, shower transfer benches provide a much more economical alternative to a full walk-in bathtub installation.

Also known as: bathtub transfer bench, bath chair, wall-mounted shower transfer,

speed drain capability
Some walk-in bathtub manufacturers offer systems designed to expedite the water draining process and reduce your wait-time in the tub. These systems typically consist of a combination of a mechanical lever, stop, and extra large diameter pipes.

water supply
Water supply refers to the amount of water your plumbing is able to supply to a walk-in bathtub in a given time. Water pressure and the width of the water supply pipe have an effect on water supply. A better water supply means that your walk-in tub will fill more rapidly as you sit inside it with the door sealed.

wide door
Another common accessibility and comfort feature of walk-in tubs, wide doors enable users to move in and out of a tub with even greater ease. It is important to evaluate the space available in your bathroom when considering whether to include a wide door on your walk-in tub.

wide seat
Most walk-in bathtub manufacturers offer this add on to provide a more spacious, comfortable bathing experience to users. Note that a wide seat walk-in bathtub design can add 3-5 inches to the width of a tub, so it is important to evaluate the space available in your bathroom when considering whether to include a wide seat on your walk-in tub.

Q: Why choose a Diamond Certified walk-in bathtub contractor?
A: Diamond Certified helps you choose a walk-in bathtub contractor with confidence by offering a list of top-rated local companies who have passed the country’s most in-depth rating process. Only walk-in bathtub remodel contractors rated Highest in Quality earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Most companies can’t pass the ratings. American Ratings Corporation also monitors every Diamond Certified company with ongoing research and ratings. And your purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. So you’ll feel confident choosing a Diamond Certified walk-in bathtub contractor.

Q: What is a walk-in tub?
Walk-in bathtubs, often referred to as “safety tubs,” are deep, soaking tubs with a door that allows users to simply walk-in, rather than forcing you to step up or down into a tub. When shut, the door is watertight, preventing leaks and eliminating the 20” step up or down into a traditional bathtub. Walk-in tubs are also typically outfitted with additional features like grab bars, a chair-height seat, and a non-skid floor. Upgrades such as massage jets can help alleviate the symptoms of common ailments like arthritis, high blood pressure, muscle cramps, diabetes, sciatica, and migraines. As such, walk-in bathtubs provide the safest, most comfortable bathing experience and can offer greater independence to individuals with limited mobility.

Q: Who is a walk-in tub designed for?
Walk-in tubs are designed specifically for persons with limited mobility, either due to age, physical disabilities, or injuries. Most walk-in bathtubs are designed to meet ADA criteria, featuring important safety features such as grab bars and non-slip floors and chairs. In addition, the therapeutic upgrades available with most tubs are effective methods for treating numerous physical ailments, such as arthritis, high blood pressure, sprains, diabetes, and poor circulation, as well as facilitating overall mental and emotional health.

Q: What do “ADA” or “ADA compliant” refer to?
“ADA” refers to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a series of Federal civil rights laws ensuring protection and equal opportunity for persons with disabilities. With respect to bathtubs, “ADA compliant” implies the inclusion of safety and accessibility features required by the ADA.

Q: How long does a typical walk-in bathtub project take?
This depends on the nature of your project. A simple walk-in bathtub installation should take no more than 1-2 days. However, changing your floor plan to accommodate a walk-in tub will dramatically increase the project timeline. Selecting materials and finalizing terms can take 2 to 3 weeks and ordering and delivering materials can take 3 to 6 weeks, but once the product is purchased and delivered, installation, finishing touches, clean up should take less than one week.

Q: Will my walk-in bathtub contractor be able to help me choose materials and obtain permits, if necessary?
Qualified, licensed walk-in bathtub contractors will definitely offer expertise in the decision-making process, steering you clear of manufacturers that may not fit your budget, size-constraints, or quality criteria, and lending their advice on various materials and manufacturers they’ve worked with. They will also most likely have a portfolio of design options you can peruse, and will know the ins and outs of obtaining building permits.

Q: How much can I expect to spend for a walk-in bathtub project?
This varies widely, based on the number of additional features you choose to include. A no-frills walk-in soaker bathtub can cost as little as $2000, but typically a good quality fixture from a reputable manufacturer will range between $3500-$8000. By comparison, a more spacious, fully loaded model complete with all the luxury therapy trimmings can push to the $30,000 range. Delivery costs and labor are extra expenses to factor in, and you can plan to spend a total of $1500-3500, depending on ease of access and additional modifications in plumbing, flooring, and tile.

Q: What is a typical payment schedule?
Most contracting firms will require 30-50% up front at the time the contract is signed, an additional 30-40% upon delivery of the materials, and the balance upon completion.

Q: What is a typical warranty for walk-in bathtub fixtures and contracting remodel services?
Many contractors guarantee their work for one to five years after completion of an installation. Walk-in bathtub manufacturer warranties vary widely however, from a 1-year limited warranty to up to 20-year warranties. One common distinction between walk-in bathtub warranties and standard bathtub warranties is that walk-in manufacturers often offer different warranties for different tub fixtures and systems. For instance, the tub structure itself may have a 10-year warranty against material defects, while the door mechanism and seal will have a 30-year warranty. If the warranty a model you’re considering is not clearly stated, call the manufacturer and be sure to receive a copy of the warranty in writing.