Bathtubs??

Hello everyone!!

This is my first post on this forum! I am a high school student, and for an english project, I get to design a tiny house on a small budget down to the last detail. Being the research and detail snob that I am, I am getting SO into it. I've been planning down to the last detail, and in my extensive research, have decided on a cob house. The question I have today is about bathtubs. Obviously, most cob houses have curved walls, and most bathtubs are made to fit a straight wall. My question is, how can a plan out a low-budget, costume-shaped bathtub that would actually be comfortable to sit in, and would hold water? Could I build it out of the cob with an extra protection layer over it? Concrete? Something else entirely?

Does anyone know what the bathtub in this link is made of/how it works?
http://freshpeekhouse.com/images/cob/int_bathroom_weav_REACH.jpg

Thanks in advance for all you help!

You could make a cob bathtub, and I wouldn't doubt if someone has already done it, but I don't think it would necessarily be cheap.

Save some headaches and look into freestanding bathtubs (check the classified ads or salvage stores) -- or build a straight wall. Most cob houses have straight walls, but they don't have to be.

So, when does this tiny house need to be finished? This school year?

Google images for "japanese soaking tub" for beautiful, space saving tubs.
Here's one:


I'd stay away from cob which really doesn't like water.

Hello Melissa, welcome to Permise!!!

Cobb is a wonderful form to pick...and many examples around the globe to choose from.

Obviously, most cob houses have curved walls...

Actually, most do not have curved walls, most actually have timber frames of some form that form the wall infrastructures and the cobb (or... Clay- Slip Clay Straw/Chip, Clom-Tabya-Adobe-Bousillage-Colombage-土壁 (Doheki), 土塀 (Dobei)-Bajareque...etc) is only the infill portion of the wall. Some are organic in shape like you find in Africa, and some of the "earthy and new age" ones folks are building...yet the vernacular is straight walled in most examples.

You can build an earthen tub, but this is not easy or for the "novice" builder. It will also require a lime finish of Tadelakt or similar natural water resistant plaster as seen in your shared photo. You absolutely do not want to use OPC (concrete) on any natural building...especially earth matrix materials. I too, would recommend a salvaged claw foot, or wood tub, though cobb one is possible. Are you drawing the blueprints by hand or are you using a program like SketchUp?

Good luck, and again welcome!

Thanks for all the replies, guys!

I am not actually building the house--just designing it for a project (even though I would LOVE to build it someday…)

After reading your replies, it might be easiest to stick with a normal bathtub… I was thinking that it would be really cool to have a weird-shaped bathtub, but it would probably be cheaper to go with a normal one.

Thanks for the help!