Dado Freestanding Baths

Eighty five freestanding DADOquartz baths, the deepest part of the Dado catalogue and the reason most people come looking for the brand. A freestanding bath is a different job to a built-in one: it stands on its own feet over the drain, it is finished on all sides, and where it sits in the room is a design decision rather than a plumbing one. For the built-in option and the wider picture, start at the Dado baths page.

Feet, the Plumber's Gap and Getting It Level

The feet are bonded on with silicone adhesive while the bath is upside down, then left 24 hours before it is turned over and checked with a spirit level. The Sophia is the exception: its front and back feet are not the same. Dado designs in a plumber's gap under the shell so the waste can be reached without drilling the floor, and the guide asks for a level floor, a template marked out first, and sealant around the base so the bath cannot shift.

Shapes You Only Get Freestanding

This is where the sculptural models live. The Sophia is a slipper bath at 1650 x 735 x 770 mm, tall at one end for a proper upright soak. The Panorama is round, 1600 x 1600 x 600 mm, and works as an object in the room rather than against a wall. The Elegance is double-walled at 1800 x 840 x 590 mm, the Lara carries a grab bar, and the Acanthus and Zenith are wide at 1130 mm. The Liberty and Julia are the deepest conventional shapes at 628 mm and 609 mm.

Length, Finish and Colour

Twenty six lengths from 1500 mm to 1935 mm, so there is usually something that fits. The Gabriella and Ava are the 1500 mm options for a tight room, and 1700 mm to 1800 mm is where most main bathrooms land. Polished white and pearl white are the standard finishes. Beyond that, the Gabriella, Koy, Maya, Rio and Vivian come in matte black, the Morgane in polished black painted outside, and the Gabriella and Rio in full body Beach, Cement and Cley colours.

Two of the 85 are acrylic rather than cast quartz, the Kunene and the Storm, on their own Dado acrylic page. If a drop-in bath suits your layout better, see Dado built-in baths, and the full Dado Quartz range runs through to the matching basins. Stand in one at our Kramerville showroom before you settle on a length.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a Dado freestanding bath fixed to the floor?

It is not bolted down. The feet are bonded to the underside of the bath with silicone adhesive while it is upside down and left to cure for 24 hours. The floor position is marked from a template, the waste is connected and tested for leaks, and adhesive sealant is run around the base so the bath cannot move. Dado builds a plumber's gap into the shell so no floor drilling is needed.

Which Dado freestanding bath is best for a deep soak?

The Sophia slipper, at 1650 x 735 x 770 mm. It is by far the tallest bath in the range and the raised end lets you sit upright with your shoulders under water, which a flat oval will not do. Note that its front and back feet differ, so keep them paired at installation. If you want depth in a conventional shape, the Liberty at 628 mm and the Julia at 609 mm are the next deepest.

Do you have a Dado freestanding bath for a small bathroom?

The shortest models are the Gabriella and the Ava, both 1500 mm long, followed by the Emily at 1550 mm and the Julia at 1556 mm. The Gabriella is also the lowest in the range at 465 mm overall, which suits a room where a tall tub would feel heavy. Remember a freestanding bath is finished on all sides, so it needs clear space around it in a way a built-in bath does not.

Can I get a Dado freestanding bath in black or a colour?

Yes. Matte black is offered on the Gabriella, Koy, Maya, Rio and Vivian, and the Morgane comes in polished black painted on the outside. The Gabriella and Rio are also made in full body Beach, Cement and Cley colours, where the colour runs through the material. Dado's care advice differs for coloured surfaces: use a mild detergent or its own surface cleaner, and do not polish or sand a colour finish.

What tap works with a freestanding Dado bath?

A floor-standing bath mixer beside the bath is the usual answer, since the baths are not drilled for taps, and a wall-mounted spout works where the bath sits close to a wall. Dado asks for a spout with at least 60 mm of reach so the water clears the rim instead of running down the inside. Decide early, because a floor-standing mixer needs its feed set into the slab at first fix.