Spa Tub Decks

The Spa tub becomes the focal point.

A large tub and deck with decorative tile splash, sometimes featuring a chair rail molding around the top, as well as other decorative tile, makes a statement. The tile face gives weight to the structure.

Sometimes a step or two are included, making for easier entry and exit. This should not be an afterthought, but should be considered in the planning stage, to ensure there will be ample space.

Pictured at left, the Daltile "Village Bend" series in "mushroom", a very neutral color, was a very good match for the floor tile (Imola Magiara 35A). Decorative inserts were placed around the face to add interest. There is a removable panel in the left face for access to the pump, should repairs become necessary. These are usually held in place by a combination of magnetic catches, and flexible colored sanded caulking which matches the grout color. Done this way, the panel cannot be seen.

Aged bronze and ogee liner accent another deck

Striking is the word I use to describe the look achieved here with the Brancacci wall tile series from Daltile in Aria Ivory. Added also from another series was the floral accent strip.

This photo exposes the framing, and shows the proper way to construct a tub deck. This may seem elementary, but we have run into a few that were so poorly constructed that it would have been impossible to install tile.

It is usually best to do the tile work before the tub goes in; however, this is not always possible, and in those cases we have the tub held up off the deck the thickness of the tile, and we then slip the tile under it. If this is not possible either, we have occasionally had to tile up to the tub. This is not ideal, because this sometimes results in a large gap to be caulked between the tile and the tub, and it is more difficult working this way, as cutting tile is more exacting.

Summer cottage bathroom renovation.

We built this deck from scratch for a homeowner in Saybrook, putting my carpentry skills to work. It features a storage area underneath. There had been a wall separating this area from the old tub, which had been torn out. The owner had planned on leaving the wall, but at our suggestion, for a more open and larger looking room, we tore the wall out and extended the deck the width of the room. But, the homeowner wanted to preserve the space underneath for storage, and it was her desire to leave it open.

Additionally, we installed the old bead board wainscoting around the room and extended it underneath the storage compartment.