| SIMPLICITY + SATISFACTION: Installing a wood bath tub might be thrilling for you and a little worrisome for your contractorif he is doing it for the first time. Actually, installation, use and maintenance of a hinoki bathtub is very straightforward and you will be surprised how simple it is. Please look at the FAQ`s below and feel free to ask anything you do not understand. |
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| Kiso valley: selective logging -> |
Q #39 |
What is the feedback from your customers in Singapore - regarding mold experience on the bathtub. I am very worried about this, because here everything gets moldy, even shoes. |
| A #39 |
About the mold: you should provide a good natural ventilation (open doors or windows after the tub). Forced ventilation alone, will not be enough. Hinoki wood is generally unfinished to convey its soft touch and natural aroma. Anyway, this new product (based on the nano-technology and using a fluoride base) operates like the silicates treatments used in europe to waterproof bricks or plaster. We have been using this product for 4 years now. |
Q #38 |
I read because your tub is planed, it does not need sealants or any chemical product. If soy sauce gets spilled on it and left to dry, would it stain or can be simply wiped off? |
| A #38 |
About the finishing, we offer 2 options: 1) simply planed: in this case you have to wash away immediately any spill or it will stain. If you get a stain, blot wisely with some bleach and rinse promptly until the stain is removed. 2) treated with "kihada ichiban". This product is a hydrorepellent which does not create a film on the wood. It is very safe and environmental friendly but it is a chemical product. |
Q #37 |
What is the difference between hinoki and "Port Orford cedar" (Port Orford cypress, Oregon) for asthma? |
| A #37 |
I am not a specialist but the composition of the resin within the wood fibers of Port Orford Cedar and Hinoki is very different. |
Q #36 |
What is the difference between asnaro and hinoki wood? |
| A #36 |
* hinoki: white/pinkish, with a delicate lemon scented aroma. more expensive. more delicate (because it is lighter). Japanese are crazy for hinoki because of its "pure" image. * asnaro: nice honey color. It has a stronger forest aroma. 20% cheaper than hinoki. Easier to maintain (because is slightly tanned and because contains more hinokithiol oil). Popular for export for its color and cost-performance. Please refer also to our hottub product page |
Q #35 |
Are your outlet tubs new or second hand? |
| A #35 |
Our outlet tubs are brand new, spotless tubs that were wrapped in poliethilene sheet from the very day they were completed. An outlet tub is about 20% cheaper of a custom order tub with the same size/material. Most of our outlet tubs originate from 2 cases: 1) The tub was custom ordered and the client either canceled the order or asked for a size/shape modification that required a new start. 2) The tub is made optimizing some material we have in stock, in most cases left over from a larger job. We can define the sizes of the tub based on the length of the material we have - minimizing the loss - as opposed as cutting longer planks as we have to do for a custom order tub. This are the only reasons our outlet tubs are affordable and the core concept of our double-smile system: you are happy, we are happy too ...! |
Q #34 |
How many gallons one of our tubs can hold? |
| A #34 |
in you case, 500liters (132 gallons) is the full volume of the tub. You can adjust the amount of water as you like. |
Q #33 |
Hello, 1. what kind of joints are used for the wall panels and kind of glue. it If you can anwser these question with any drawings would be great... |
| A #33 |
Thank you for your interest in our japanese soaking tubs. we laminate the wood using wood dowels and epoxy resin (+ the corner joint is realized with tongue and groove + epoxy resin. Honestly, our tubs do not leak. If you use it regularly (everyday or every other day) your tub will work perfectly without any maintenance. In any case, when you leave the tub unused for a week or more (let`s say 4 days or more as a doublesafe), leave 10cm of water inside and you won`t have any problem. Do not hesitate to contact us for any question. |
Q #32 |
We do enjoy our hinoki tub, although we have had some minor cracking with some black growth on the outside of one of the corner joints. We've also found that hair and skin cells seem to stay floating on the surface even though we always shower before entering. |
| A #32 |
I am sorry you are having some problems with the tub. I think you can get rid of these light particles in 2 ways: About the mold and cracks, please send some pictures, I`d be glad to advice. |
Q #31 |
I am enjoying my tub, which is installed on a deck outside my house. I was wondering if it is OK to put some sort of sealant on my tub, like the kind of sealant one would apply to teak wood, for example. Or, should I just leave it as-is and cover it up to make sure it doesn't age too much because of the sun, etc. |
| A #31 |
I am glad you found a good solution for the tub. Generally we recommend to use it untreated or apply a natural oil to hydratate the surface of the wood. Additionally there are also some non chemical clear wood treatments which last one year and provide extra protection against mold. Please let me know if you need some product.
It is not necessary to treat the tub and usually japanese people do not apply anything. for purchase please refer to: Please keep the tub protected from direct sunlight and if you cannot, leave the tub full of water to prevent dehydratation and cracks. |
Q #30 |
I am measuring the niche where I will be placing the hinoki tub. How precise should the dimensions be? |
| A #30 |
We build with a tolerance of +/-1mm, anyway be aware that wood is a natural material and tends to shrink and expand with the change of seasons. |
Q #29 |
Hello Bartok Design, |
| A #29 |
Thanks you for your mail. 2) epoxy putty: it is water resistant and with color similar to wood. But as it is hard, wood balance becomes altered. Another cause of leaks is poor joint construction. There is not much you can do about it apart for caulking all the inner corners (floor and walls.)Use mildew-proof clear silicon. It is very difficult to disassemble the tub and most surely you will have to replace some parts. It might be worth the work if you create double tongue/groove rims at every joint but again, the main problem is whether it can be taken apart without damage or not. |
Q #28 |
Dear friends, We love our hinoki tub that you built and that was installed in our home about a year ago. The tub itself is fine, but the wooden slats on top have developed mold. Is there anything we can do to get rid of it? |
| A #28 |
For the mold stains, try to use some bleach, it should become clean again. -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleach 1) apply a small amount of bleach on a dump cloth and friction the mold spots. An old bath towel should be fine. 2) wipe immediately with a clean dump cloth. 3) repeat if necessary 4) rinse abundantly with the shower while wiping with a cloth to remove any bleach left. This treatment does not harm the wood if you do it few times a year. Also, I recommend to turn over (upside-down) the planks from time to time. This prevents the formation of mold and warping of the planks overtime. In case you do not want to use the bleach or if it has scarce effect, the standard solution would be to use a planer. Also fine sand paper will do the job. Let the wood dry well and use first fine paper (#240) to remove the wood skin. Finish with very fine paper (#400). Reember to follow the direction of the wood veins. Please let me know if it worked out. |
Q #27 |
I also have a technical question: What happens if, due to excessive heat the wood happens that a horizontal crack appears in the floor of the tub? Is this repairable in a manner or another? Please let us know. |
| A #27 |
(here below we are reporting extracts of the full correspondence for your reference)
I see: the problem is definately the floor heating.
I checked with my carpenter and he recommends no putty, just make the epoxy fully penetrate. It has a greish color.
We have not used the hiba oil on the tub yet, but it smells so great in the water. |
Q #26 |
Several years ago I purchased a tub from Japan and it came with a container of a kind of cleaning/conditioning fluid for the tub, which included a hinoki oil base. |
| A #26 |
Cleaning liquid: I am sorry, we do not have this product. In Japan, UPDATE 2008.08.01 |
Q #25 |
how are the modern Japanese recirculating water through a heater? |
| A #25 |
Thank you for your interest in our japanese bathtubs. The japanese tub is a very simple, low tech, minimalist box made out of wood. For this reason it is also very flexible and can adapt to different uses. In our experience, most of the private clients drain it after use. Anyway one session can be extended for a whole day with the use of tub covers and by adding hot water at need. Most of the business users add on site recirculating/filtering systems in line with a heater. We do not supply this systems ourselves for the following reasons: I hope I answered your question. Our tubs are custom made to fit the particular needs/sizes of each site and most of the solutions are evaluated case by case. Please find below a scheme kindly participated by a client. (Wabi Sabi Culture - Pescara - Italy) |
Q #24 |
My builder also enquired if it would be possible to get something like a VAT registration statement in respect of Bartok Design in Japan, if such a thing exists in Japan (it can be in japanese, I can get it translated locally). Or is this information going to be contained on the invoice? This is becase - I assume - since the tub was produced for export, there would have been no VAT or equivalent sales tax chargeable in Japan, but it will fall to be paid by me once I take the house with the tub in it from the builder. The builder would like some sort of documentation to support this. |
| A #24 |
I understand what you are saying (a stamp stating that the shipper is VAT exempt is required for exports originating in Italy), anyway the japanese customs do not require it. UPDATE: 2009.05.02 |
Q #23 |
May we use credit cards? |
| A #23 |
updated on 2009.4.27. |
Q #22 |
We are looking into your tubs for a remodel in the state of New York in the US. The building inspector has told us that the tub needs to have ASME plumbing approval (American Society of Mechanical Engineers). Do the tubs meet this standard? Can they be made to? |
| A #22 |
Thank you for your interest in our hinoki products. UPDATE 2009/1/1 |
Q #21 |
The shipper told us that the customs may require what they called a PHYTO Certificate. It was explained to me to be a declaration by the producer of the imported goods which type of wood the product is made of, that the wood used was not treated by any dangerous chemical substance and that it is free from pests. Have you heard of such a requirement before? |
| A #21 |
As the tub is a manufactured wood product, you should not be required for a Phyto certificate. Anyway we will be glad to supply a declaration stating the origin, treatments and properties of the lumber we employ. Please see here a sample -> PHYTO CERTIFICATE |
Q #20 |
I visited your website. I really like the look and healing properties of your tubs. And, the craftsmanship seems outstanding.
After reading about the hinoki wood and the few places it can be found, I was curious if the hinoki wood you are using is farmed or old wood.
Is there concern about depleting it? Here in the Northwest United States much of our cedar is gone -- to the point of great environmental concern.
I know Japan is protecting its forests as well. I'm curious about the current situation with the hinoki species.
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| A #20 |
We use both cultivated and natural wood. It depends on the type of project, size, quantity etc.
In any case, all the wood comes from sustainably managed areas, some are FSC certified (FSC tands for Forest Stewardship Council).
Hinoki is a coniferous tree and the growth takes about 20-25 years before being commecially exploitable. Farmed wood has the advantage of having few or no thru knots for an optimized usage of the material.
Japanese farmed coniferous wood is a story with lights and shadows. Back in the 60`s and 70`s, millions of acres of mixed aboriginal woodland has been destroyed to make space for the more commecially exploitable farmed wood for construction. To add insult to injury, during the 1990`s a weak dollar promoted imports of cheap 2x4 material from Canada, so that japan forestry entered a deep crysis. After overproduction caused a drop in price, many forested areas ceased to be maintained or were abandoned all-together. This created a new problem: man-made monocultured-crop forests are not stable ecosystem and the lack of maintenance causes landslides and other disasters. The bottomline is that there is no point in crying over the poured milk: now the only thing we can do is to use this overstocked farmed wood to bring some relief to the mountain problems and maybe end up saving also some north american cedar forest (or what is left.) |
Q #19 |
May I ask why the corners of your tubs are 'T' shaped? Can you make mitred joints? |
| A #19 |
While hinoki is impermeable when cut parallel to the wood grain, transversal sections are 6~8 times more vulnerable to water infiltration. UPDATE 2008/06/20 http://www.bartokdesign.com/japan/7-custom_ofuro/hinoki_tub_for_manhattan.php |
Q #18 |
Is it possible to have the bath fabricated from Teak wood? If not..which wood that you use wood look good next to teak..perhaps with a stain to bring the wood darker and closer to the Teak? |
| A #18 |
Our company is specialized in japanese hinoki wood and other softwoods of the cypress family such as sawara or asnaro-hiba. We will not build a tub in teak or any other imported hardwood. |
Q #17 |
Do hinoki wood tubs leak? |
| A #17 |
Hinoki tubs do not leak but may weep when the water is kept inside for a long time or due to condensation. Waterproofing of the floor is not required, but recommended. Anyway I would suggest to use materials such as stone or tiles under the tub. |
Q #15 |
Which is the optimal humidity level for a wood tub? Can I use one for outdoors? |
| A #15 |
You should pay attention to the following:
Yes, you can install the tub outdoors, but please avoid as much as possible direct sunlight exposure, expecially when the tub is empty. |
Q #14 |
Are your japanese hinoki bath tubs mold resistant? How do I clean it? |
| A #14 |
Hinoki wood has a unique natural protection against rot, mold and fungi, but you should use some common sense. If the bathroom is not ventilated or if you leave the bathtub full of cold water on a daily base, some stains may appear overtime. No need to worry. Just pour abundant warm water on the area until well absorbed by the wood. Then wipe gently with a cloth sprayed with alcohol for disinfection. The stain will disappear completely. ADDED 2009.04.22 |
Q #13 |
How long can I leave the water inside the tub? Do I need to dry it after each use? |
| A #13 |
The water should be removed when all the members of your family enjoyed their bath. Of course you can leave the water inside until the next day but unless you live in a very dry area, leaving water all the time of course can facilitate the insurgence of some mold stains. Anyway, best practice is to empty the tub everiday (or at least twice a week if you have a recirculation system), quickly wipe the bathtub with a towel to remove the excess water. Then ensure there is a good natural ventilation (a bathroom with a vindow is strongly recommended) so the wood can adjust automatically its degree of humidity. |
Q #12 |
What kind of payment schedule is common for the purchase? |
| A #12 |
Every tub is made to order. We will require a 50% deposit (made by wire transfer to our bank in Japan) to confirm the order. The 50% is calculated on the price of custom made items. Within 30 days we will build the tub and send you by email the photographs of the complete tub / accessories. |
Q #11 |
Is the cost inclusive of transportation? |
| A #11 |
Yes. Each personalized quote includes pick-up in Japan, freight, terminal charges and delivery up to your door (unless you specify otherwise). |
Q #10 |
Can you ship to the United States? How long does it take? |
| A #10 |
Yes, we do ship to the US and to many other countries worldwide. In most of the cases we use air freight. Once the order is confirmed with a deposit, we start to custom build your bathtub. We guarantee the delivery to your home in 6~8 weeks from confirmed order. Shipping is done in a sturdy wood box and it contains the bathtub unit already in one piece for troublefree installation. |
Q #09 |
Do you only make ofuro, or do you also provide disinfection systems, recirculation pumps, and everything I need for a commercial ofuro? |
| A #09 |
To be honest, building a tub is more similar to naval carpentry than a normal plumber job. We do not supply any machine or pump equipment of any sort. |
Q #08 |
Your site recommends 'pure warm water' Is a high salt content okay? My image is the salt pools I sat in at Spa LaQua. I am thinking of Israel Dead Sea Salts, or another healthy salt. |
| A #08 |
There isn`t any direct problem about using salty water in a hinoki bath as long as: |
Q #07 |
Do we need to adapt the diameter/length of the fittings? We are planning to use a circulation pump. |
| A #07 |
You have to think of the hinoki tub as a large basinet. It is simply set on the floor and not connected with any piping (a part for the case of a pump). The faucet is wall mounted and the water flows into the tub. Often the drain is not even connected with any fitting: the water flows out from the bottom towards a floor-drain. |
Q #06 |
I would like my bath tub equipped with a circulating pump. |
| A #06 |
Sorry, we cannot supply from Japan heating / filtering / circulation pumps or whirpool systems. Maintenance or replacement of parts would be too troublesome and expensive. You should find one locally and send us the pump specs so we can modify the bath-tub as required. Please note anyway that in most cases a pump is uneconomical and unpratical for private use. |
Q #05 |
I am looking at your rectangular ofuro. |
| A #05 |
The life span depends very much on the site conditions and care in using it. Here to the right is the side board (against the wall) of a 15 years old tub we just replaced in a hotel. Considering that it could not be accessed for cleaning, it is still in good condition after all this time!
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Q #04 |
I live in a dry and hot climate. Will my japanese hinoki bath tub suffer damage from this conditions? |
| A #04 |
The japanese hinoki is a very tough wood. It is compact, stable, hard, insect and mold resistant. It does not crack in conditions where other woods crack and does not mold when all woods usually rot. -or- 2) leave a basinet containing water inside and cover the tub with its lid. -or- 3) Wrap the exposed sides and top of the tub with clear poliethilen film. Close gaps with tape. Avoid direct permanent sunlight exposure, expecially when not used. If you keep it always full, you might want to empty it once or twice a week and let it dry for 12 hours. |
Q #03 |
Does knotty hinoki last as long as the smooth one? |
| A #03 |
The knotty and smooth wood have almost the same performance. Should they were to be tested in a laboratory, you will find out that the straight cut hinoki is maybe 10% more resistant than the knotty one. But this is rather an academic problem. You will avoid anyway putting the hinoki in extreme conditions and will enjoy it for 20 or 30 years. |
Q #02 |
Are your bath tubs made in Cypress Hinoki wood? Are they made in Japan? |
| A #02 |
Yes. All our Hinoki comes from the Kiso Valley (Nagano prefecture, Japan): the most precious hinoki production area. Since the 1950`s all tree cutting is done in respect to the environmental sustainability and is subject to strict rules. |
Q #01 |
Hinoki the same wood as Port Orford Cedar? |
| A #01 |
No. Can you say that a filet mignon is the same of T-bone steak? Port Orford Cedar, also known as Yellow Cedar, is an appreciated North american wood used for construction and sidings. Anyway, Hinoki (or cypress hinoki) has higher rot resistance and more pleasant grain and color. Moreover, the soft aroma of the Hinoki wood is much more pleasant than the strong smell of the Port Orford Cedar, expecially when warm water is poured on it. For this reason, we may suggest the use of Orford Port Cedar for the wall paneling of the bathroom, but we do not recommend to have a bath tub or the floor duck boards built with this wood. |
Q #00 |
please use this page to post your comments: (for any specific or urgent request, please emai us at japan[at]bartokdesign.com) |
| A #00 |
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