Spa power: shopping for bathroom luxury

When it comes to spa power, it's an art form. Just ask expert spa bath maker Jim Heard, who's here to answer some questions around the art of spas.

What do you do at the Round Bath Company?

The RBC has been established for more than 37 years and is the oldest spa company in Australia. All our products are Australian made, and we're the only company that works with isothermic gel. This means our spas are reusable, redeemable, fully repairable and hold no bacteria or moisture.

What do most people look for when buying a spa bath?

The jetting, and the position of the jetting, is what our customers are most concerned about. Our spas are totally user-friendly and give you the best possible outcome, irrespective of whether you have a physical problem or not.

How do you position your spa jetting?

We work with a physiotherapist, who draws up a map of our customers' points and we then position the jetting to suit their needs. This is highly beneficial if they've got any pain. The specially targeted jetting action stimulates blood flow, which dramatically reduces pain and blood pressure.

What do people look for in terms of spa design?

As far as the aesthetics go, it seems that the minimalist trend is still dominating. Generally, the less people see, the happier they are. We have 140 shapes, and we've pretty much had to stop there because it just becomes absurd after that. We'll also custom-make a spa to fit a specific space.

What should people be wary of when buying a spa?

Be wary that a lot of imported spas are incorrectly plumbed, despite Australian standards. Many still use flexible rubber hosing instead of hard PVC piping, which means they retain spent water and bacteria. This can make you very sick.

What innovations are there in your products?

One of our innovations is warm-cool therapy, which involves an invigorating air and water combination. You start with warm water delivered at nine litres a minute, and then you hit a button that doubles the velocity of jets using cool air. This closes the pores of the skin and stimulates blood flow.

Install spa power in your home by talking with a spa bath maker like Jim in your area today: