Each family at least once in a lifetime makes repairs in their apartment and changes the plumbing. Buying a new bath is not an easy task: you need to measure your needs with the dimensions of the bathroom, the number of money in your wallet, study offers and types, and then choose the best and highest quality option.
Bath classification
The content of the article
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Bath classification
- By material
- To size
- In shape
Today, in the plumbing market, you can find products that can satisfy the needs of even the most demanding customers, accustomed to receiving only the best. A wide selection of materials, shapes, sizes, additional options is presented both in retail and online stores.
By material
Cast iron - time-tested material. Strong, durable - it faithfully serves several generations. The water in such a bath cools for a long time, which allows you to enjoy a hygienic or spa procedure for a long time. The cast-iron bathtub is very stable, covered with a thick layer of protective enamel, able to withstand cleaning even by aggressive means
(of course, within reasonable limits). Its only minus is the huge weight, reaching up to 150 kg, due to which there are some difficulties with its transportation and installation.
Steel - lighter alloy, therefore the product weighs no more than 40 kg. A steel bath is inexpensive, but has high thermal conductivity (cools quickly) and poor sound insulation. It is unstable, so you need to fix it thoroughly.
Acrylic - a polymeric material invented by German chemists in 1930. Originally used as raw material for plexiglass, bathtubs from it began to be mass-produced only by the end of the last century. Acrylic products are the most diverse in assortment, half lighter than steel, have the most “pleasant” appearance, keep warm and not too noisy. Disadvantages:
- plastic. Of course, thanks to this, it can be given any shape, but under the influence of high temperatures, the risk of wall deformation is likely;
- fragility. You need to be careful and not drop anything heavier inside a toothbrush or soap;
- susceptibility to cleaning products. They should not contain abrasive particles, caustic acids and alkalis. Caring for such a bath is simple if it is correct and systematic.
In addition, such a bath is not stable, so it is installed on a special frame.
By the way! Mechanical damage - scratches and chips - can be easily restored. Remedies for coverage are available on the market.
Cooked - a composite material combining acrylic and quartz. It has all the advantages of acrylic, but its strength is many times higher. Like its acrylic predecessor, a quartz bath has an anti-slip coating that does not give the slightest chance for the reproduction of microorganisms. It weighs, of course, more, but it is more stable.
Artificial (injection) stone. Such bathtubs are made of crushed stone, quartz sand with the addition of polymer resins and catalysts. Among the main advantages - resistance to abrasion, external damage, temperature difference, high level of noise absorption and antibacterial protection. However, the surface is easy to scratch, so care should be as gentle as possible.
A natural stone - The choice of owners of luxury mansions. Marble, granite, basalt and other varieties eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, have a “breathing” structure and are pleasant to the touch. They look great, but very weighty and cost at least half a million, and sometimes more than a million rubles.
Ceramics. It is based on clay burnt at high temperature. Product from it it is not scratched, has a life comparable to the time of operation at home. Care must be taken during transport and installation. The price is far from budget.
To size
Distinguish between standard and non-standard dimensions of bathtubs. The main parameters for typical cast iron and steel enameled products:
- lengths of 100 and 120 (sedentary), 140, 150, 160, 170, 180 (full-size);
- width 70, 75, 80, 85 (for typical products);
- height 60-70.
The most common sizes on sale (length / width / height, cm):
- 150/70/60;
- 170/70-80/65.
It is difficult to list all sizes of acrylic bathtubs, since they largely depend on the shape, of which there are a great many. Minimum values can be indicated: length - 100 cm, width - 60 cm, height - 50 cm.
In shape
Thinking about both dimensions and shape, you need to take into account the size of the bathroom space so that the product is spacious enough, but does not take up too much space.
Rectangular bathtubs Perfectly fit into any room. Their sizes (length / width, cm):
- 100/70;
- 120/70;
- 150/70-75;
- 160/70-75;
- 170/180×70-75/80.
Corner baths, as well as corner cabinets, help save space, although they seem large at first glance. Such a configuration not only cast-iron bathtubs. The sizes of symmetrical corner bathtubs (cm) are from 120/120 to 180/180, unbalanced - from 120/60 to 190/170.
Round and oval products are attracted by the absence of angles, smooth bends, which are most conducive to calm and relaxation, especially if they are additionally equipped with a system of turbo-, hydro- or air massage. Such bathtubs are made from acrylic, quaril, sometimes - from steel. However their installation requires a sufficiently spacious bathroom. Length, width, diameter vary from 140 to 210 cm, depth - from 60 to 80 cm.
Custom and asymmetric bathtubs are much less common. But if you want the bathroom to be with a "twist" - this is your case. They most often made of acrylic, because of the materials it is the most “gutta-percha” and can take the form of a drop, a heart, a sunbed and even a woman’s shoe. Well, if finances allow, you can order a product according to an individual project, of any shape and size.
Whatever bath you choose, the main thing is that it blends harmoniously into the interior, does not cause tangible damage to financial well-being, and you feel comfortable and safe in it.
