Which bath to choose: material, size, manufacturer

After a hard day, you really want to rest and relax by taking a hot bath. But so that water procedures give only pleasure, it is important to take care of choosing a bath in advance, because it depends on its shape, size, material from which it is made, and comfort. You should not even talk about how vast the choice of this subject of plumbing is today. Bathtubs can be cast iron, acrylic, steel, wooden and even glass, they can be of any shape and very different in size. Everyone will be able to find the best option for themselves, if even before the purchase they ask what bath is better to choose in a particular case.

Production material

Cast iron bathtubs

Wide popularity cast iron bathtubs provides combination of their advantages. They manage to compete with more modern acrylic analogues due to the following qualities:

• stability and durability, which means that such a bath will not bend under the weight of water and humans. She will withstand the fall of any subject;
• durability. It’s probably impossible to argue with this, because cast-iron bathtubs in many apartments have been standing for decades, and at the same time they are perfectly preserved. Their service life is about 50 years, but in fact such a product can last much longer;
• low noise in the process of water collection, which, of course, affects the overall comfort, - households in all rooms of the apartment will not hear how water is collected, or how splashes hit the walls of the bathtub;
• low thermal conductivity allows you to keep warm for a long time, which means that you can lie in the bathroom without the need to constantly add hot water;
• easy care, because a cast-iron bath can be washed with almost any detergent. Very hot water will also not be able to damage the coating, and those cracks that appear on the enamel over time can be easily eliminated using modern means.

But also drawbacks in cast-iron bathtubs still there. The main ones are:

• heavy weight, which greatly complicates the transportation and installation. Even a lightweight modern product weighs at least 120 kg, what can we say about samples of Soviet production. And since in many houses there are no freight elevators, you will have to lift this load manually, and if this, for example, is the ninth floor, the process will be very time-consuming;
• small selection of formssince casting iron is a rather complicated process. As a result, in stores you can see products, mainly of a rectangular shape;
• although the cast-iron bathtub is easy to clean, but over time, it becomes increasingly difficult to bring the surface to a perfectly clean look, which is associated with the porous structure of the enamel. In the end, you will need restore enamel, and involve the help of professionals. But such problems do not arise immediately, and the durability of the cast-iron bathtubs more than pays for all expenses for some procedures for caring for it.

Acrylic bathtubs

Acrylic bathtubs are now at the peak of popularity, and in plumbing stores you can find the most diverse products in shape, size and price. The name already suggests that such bathtubs are made of acrylic, but they are reinforced for strength and stability. Staining occurs during the manufacturing process by adding a specific color, so the paint does not fade during operation.

Acrylic bathtubs are different many benefits:

• variety of shapes and colors. Products can be round, oval, angular, any irregular or asymmetric shape, and sizes can vary significantly. Often models are equipped with hydromassage and other bonuses;
• ease: an acrylic bath weighs on average 30 kg, so its transportation, lifting to any floor and installation should not cause difficulties;
• care is relatively simple: just wipe the surface with a sponge and detergent. Use abrasive products is not worth it - they can leave scratches;
• acrylic bathtubs are no worse than cast-iron, retain heatTherefore, water procedures will be comfortable. Moreover, acrylic heats up much faster than cast iron;
• the surface is not slipperytherefore the risk of falling is reduced to a minimum;
• the ability absorb noise when collecting water, and in this indicator acrylic bathtubs are even ahead of cast-iron counterparts;
• surface is easy to restore;
• acrylic - absolutely hygienic material and is most suitable for the production of sanitary products, because the fungus does not develop on it. In contrast, cast iron, for example, due to the nuances of production and the formation of pores in enamel can become a place for the development of rust and even fungus;
• cost can also be attributed to the advantages, since the simplest acrylic bathtubs are affordable and cheaper than similar cast-iron ones.

There are in acrylic bathtubs and some disadvantages:

• surface scratches easily. An accidental blow, a sharp object falling, animal claws - all this can damage the acrylic bath. If you bathe an animal in such a bath, it is better to lay a rubber mat on the bottom. In fairness, it is worth noting that scratches are easy to fix - you just need to grind;
• acrylic may change colorif the water is of poor quality, or if you will drain the warm water after washing colored clothes. If something can hardly be done with low-quality tap water, then it is quite possible not to pour painted water into the bathroom;
• acrylic bathtubs, although reinforced with stack and fiberglass, still remain fragile, and their service life is about 10 years.

When choosing an acrylic bath, it is important to pay attention to the presence of layers of metal mesh and fiberglass, and the more they are, the more durable and reliable the product will be. In aggregate, all layers should form a wall thickness of at least 6 mm, and preferably 8 mm in general.

Kvarilny baths

Kvarilny baths - a novelty in the plumbing market. These products have combined advantages of acrylic and cast iron bathtubs. Such bathtubs are made of acrylic and quartz: particles of the latter are enclosed in a shell of acrylic and additives. Quartz gives the finished product strength and stability, and acrylic is responsible for elasticity, various additives are designed to give the product the desired color. Initially, Quaril was used only for the restoration of acrylic products, but very quickly it became clear that it could become a complete independent material for the manufacture of bathtubs. Today, quartz baths are produced by pouring into molds, and the products come out so strong and rigid that no additional reinforcement is required.

Peculiarities of production and the raw materials used are attached to quartz bath many advantages:

• beautiful appearance, because the products have a snow-white surface;
• light weight: quartz bathtubs are heavier than acrylic ones, but much lighter than cast-iron ones, and transportation and lifting to any floor of an apartment building can be easily handled;
• walls of a bathtub durable and thick, they do not require additional reinforcement, can withstand any load, the surface does not scratch or deform;
• durability: Quarily baths remain in their original form for many years, and their care is minimal;
• excellent sound insulating properties will completely absorb the sound of pouring water;
• the surface of the quartz bath is smooth, without any roughness, but, nevertheless, it not slippery;
• low thermal conductivity does not allow water to cool quickly;
• care is as simple as possible, because the surface has no pores, and therefore does not accumulate dirt.

But the quartz baths, unfortunately, are not perfect, and some limitations they are still inherent:

• the first and most important minus of a qvaril bath is her cost. The price of such products is on average two to three times higher than for acrylic or cast-iron bathtubs;
• limited choice of forms. Since such bathtubs are made by casting, their diversity is limited. In this regard, they occupy a position between cast-iron and acrylic bathtubs;
• even if it’s quenched - it’s a sufficiently strong material, there is still a chance to scratch it, but you can restore the surface even in your home efforts, therefore this drawback is not significant;
• continuous and prolonged exposure to very hot water can lead to gradual deformation a bathtub.

Steel bathtubs

Steel bathtubs They are less popular than acrylic and cast iron, but when the price comes to the fore when choosing, then there is no equal to them. So, Why is it worth choosing a steel bath? It has many advantages:

• low cost, therefore, such a product can afford a family with any budget;
• light weight, which allows you to transport the bath on your own and even install it. The steel bath is 4-5 times lighter than the cast iron;
• high strength and durability;
• in terms of variety of shapes, steel baths can not be compared with acrylic, but they certainly outperform cast iron ones. Due to its plasticity, steel allows you to make ergonomic models;
• In appearance, steel bathtubs are very similar to cast-iron, they are also covered with enamel. The latter will not exfoliate, as it is applied under the influence of very high temperatures.

A steel bath could be the perfect purchase if it weren’t for few cons:

• high heat transfer material will not allow you to bask in a hot bath for a long time - you will have to constantly add warm water;
• steel does not absorb noise, which means when the spray hits the walls or when the water draws into the bath, a characteristic sonorous sound will be heard throughout the apartment. To at least slightly level this feature, you can lay a rubber mat;
• over time under the weight of water and the human body the walls of the steel bath may begin to deform. However, more expensive products are distinguished by thick walls, which, even with a great desire, are very difficult to bend in any way;
• look after for such a bathroom you really need Caution, and you must try not to damage the integrity of the enamel.

Cast marble bathtubs

If cast-iron, acrylic and steel baths can be attributed to products of mass use, then marble bathroomsrather belong to the elite category. They fit perfectly into the spacious bathrooms with a matching interior. Injection baths appeared on the plumbing market not so long ago, but they already managed to recommend themselves quite well. Them produced from marble chips and polyester resins, which allows the finished product to have all the properties of natural stone. Additives are needed in order to diversify the appearance: as a result, products can be of any color and resemble any breed that is required.

Cast marble bathtubs have many advantages, among which:

• high strengthwhich is not inferior to granite. However, myths are widespread today that such products may crack or lose their appearance after a short time of use. In fact, this is not so, and such unpleasant situations can happen with products from unscrupulous manufacturers that violate the process;
• heat holding ability and maintain the initial temperature of the water. According to this indicator, cast marble baths are even ahead of acrylic ones. In addition, the additives used in the manufacture of products allow you to get rid of the natural coldness of natural stone and make the surface warm;
• high noise absorption. In addition, the stone perfectly dampens vibrations, which becomes an important factor when using hydromassage;
• huge variety of colorsTherefore, it will not be difficult to choose the right model for a certain interior style.

Neaters also present:

• price - this is perhaps the main minus of such products;
• heavy weight complicates installation and transportation, and the installation process will require special skills - it will be difficult to cope on your own;
• if washing was carried out in such a bathroom, then after it it is necessary to rinse the surface, because dyes can leave an unaesthetic stain on the surface;
• strong impact may form chipped.

Wooden bathtubs

A wooden bathtub is another fairly expensive and solid option. But, unlike many others, these products are not new, it's just a well-forgotten old. Many years ago, our ancestors used wooden barrels, troughs, etc. for bathing. Key Benefits wooden bathtubs are as follows:

• naturalness and environmental friendlinessbecause a tree is a natural material that can not only not harm, but is also able to positively affect health, relax, which is necessary during water procedures;
• variety of design allows you to safely use a wooden bathtub in a classic and rustic interior style;
• wood is the material that is best keeps warm;
• wooden bathtubs are not afraid of water. For their manufacture, those rocks are used that are used in shipbuilding, and as a result, the product comes out waterproof and durable. When choosing, pay attention to the bathtubs made of oak, teak, wenge, walnut, cherry, white ash and cedar.

There are some difficultiesto be put up with:

• a wooden bathtub may begin to deform and dry out, if you don’t use it for a long time, therefore, it should regularly be at least moistened with water;
• in such a bath you can not bathe animals and, of course, wash clothes. A tree can deteriorate even if fat enters the skin of a swimmer, therefore it is better to use the bath not for a dripping bath, but simply for relaxation after a preliminary shower;
• high price.

Glass bathtubs

Glass bathtubs are used even less often than marble or wood. Many are afraid of their fragility, but in fact it is strong and durable products that are made of double-layer glass, and it is impossible to break it. The glass bath has many advantages:

• chic appearance, because these are transparent or translucent products that can have a different shape, size and color. They combine external fragility and weightlessness with strength and reliability;
• visual space saving. This is ideal for a small bath, because even the overall model will look almost invisible;
• environmental friendlinessbecause glass is an inert material, and with proper care mold will not develop on it;
• durability;
• the ability keep water temperature for a long time.

Among the disadvantages you can note:

• care. You can wash it with ordinary detergents, but you have to try to do it so that there are no stains left;
• high price.

If you cannot afford a full glass bath, you can choose a product with glass inserts, which will also look advantageous in a small bathroom.

Bath shape and size

You need to choose the shape of the bath, starting from your own preferences, interior design and free space. There are options for every taste:

• rectangular bathtubs. This is the most common option, and install such a bath so that it adjoins immediately with three walls. These are comfortable and ergonomic products;
• corner baths - more spacious, can become a real decoration of the room. Often in such models there is a hydromassage. As for the sizes, there are no uniform standards: European manufacturers offer products with parameters from 115 * 115 to 160 * 170 cm, and domestic ones - from 130 * 150 to 150 * 160 cm;
• oval baths Bribe with their appearance, they are comfortable, can literally and figuratively become the center of the bathroom. They can be placed not under the wall, but in the middle of the room;
• round baths Suitable for spacious rooms, which can also be installed in the center. They must be large enough to be ergonomic to humans;
• non-standard and asymmetric products - an excellent decoration of the bathroom, they can also be made to order to best meet the parameters of the room.

When choosing the size of the bathroom, it is worth starting from such parameters as the size of the room and the growth of those who will regularly swim. The length of the bathroom in most cases is 150-180 cm, and the width is 70-85 cm. The size of the bathroom is chosen correctly if you can recline in it comfortably: your knees should not be bent, there should be about 5 cm of free space on each side . The depth of the bath is on average 50 cm - this is the best value at which the head is above the water level.

Bath manufacturers

Often, the positive properties of a bath are negated due to improper production technology. That is why when choosing a bath, you should pay attention to the name of the manufacturer.

European manufacturers such as Acrylic Bathtubs have proven their worth. Vagnerplast, Kolo, Pool Spa, Ravak and Cersanit. The names of these companies are well known to Russian customers, but domestic products are also confidently competing in the market: 1Marka, Aquanet and some others.

As for cast-iron bathtubs, in Europe they are considered premium products, and only a few companies are engaged in their production, among which the most famous is Roca. Also in stores you can find products of a Chinese company GOLDMAN, as well as domestic products from Kirov Iron Works. Steel baths are also manufactured by Roca, and a German manufacturer Smavit kaldewei. As for glass and wood products, only serious manufacturers work in this segment, and the chance to run into inappropriate goods is not so high. These are companies like Spa Dealers and Treesse. The highest quality injection baths are present in the collections. Marmite Marmorine Avstrom etc.

In conclusion

Choosing the right, comfortable, durable and suitable in every way bath is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. After weighing all the pros and cons of each option, carefully measuring room parameters and having decided on the style and budget, you can find the model that will satisfy all the wishes. The modern plumbing market offers potential buyers options for every taste and budget: from cheap steel baths to luxury wood and glass. But trying to keep up with the beautiful appearance, do not forget about comfort and safety.