Which bath to choose: material, size, manufacturer

Content

1. Material of manufacture

• Cast-iron baths
• Acrylic bathtubs
• Whirlpool baths
• Steel Baths
• Baths from cast marble
• Wooden bathtubs
• Glass baths

The shape and size of the bathtub

Manufacturers of bathtubs

In conclusion

After a hard day's work, you want to relax and relax with a hot bath. But to ensure that water procedures are only a pleasure, it is important to take care of the choice of the bath in advance, because it depends on its shape, size, material, from which it is made, and comfort depends. It is not even worth talking about how extensive this choice of sanitary ware is today. Baths 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 they ask before buying, which bath is better to choose in a particular case.

Material of manufacture

Cast-iron baths

The wide popularity of cast iron baths providescombination of their advantages. They compete with more modern acrylic analogs due to the following qualities:

• stability and strength, which means that such a bath will not bend under the weight of water and a person. It will withstand the fall of any object;
• durability. With this, probably, it is impossible to argue, because cast-iron baths in many apartments have been 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 noisein the process of recruiting water, which, naturally, affects the overall comfort - the household in all rooms of the apartment will not hear how water is being recruited, or like splashes hit the walls of the bath;
• low thermal conductivityallows you to keep the heat for a long time, which means you can lie in the bathroom without having to constantly pour hot water;
• ease of care, because the cast-iron bath can be washed with almost any detergent. Very hot water also can not damage the coating, and those cracks that appear on the enamel with time, with the help of modern tools are very easily eliminated.

But alsodisadvantages of cast-iron bathsnevertheless is. 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 the samples of Soviet production. And since many houses do not have freight elevators, it is necessary to lift this cargo manually, and if it is, for example, the ninth floor, the process will be very laborious;
• small selection of formssince casting of cast iron is a rather complicated process. As a result, in shops you can see products, mostly rectangular;
• although the cast-iron bath is easy to clean, but over time, the surface becomes more difficult to bring into a perfectly clean appearance, which is due to the porous structure of the enamel. In the end, you needrestore enamel, and involve the help of professionals. But such problems will not arise immediately, and the durability of cast-iron baths will more than pay all the expenses for some procedures for caring for it.

Acrylic bathtubs

Acrylic baths are now at the peak of popularity, and in sanitary ware shops you can find a variety of shapes, sizes and prices of products. The name already suggests that such baths are made of acrylic, but for strength and stability they are reinforced. Staining occurs during the manufacturing process by adding a certain color, so the paint does not burn out during use.

Acrylic bathtubs are differentweight of advantages:

• variety of shapes and colors. Products can be round, oval, angular, any irregular or asymmetric shape, and the dimensions can vary considerably. 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 agents is not necessary - they can leave scratches;
• acrylic bathtubs are not worse than cast iron,keep heat, so water procedures will be comfortable. Moreover, acrylic is heated much faster than cast iron;
• non-slippery surface, so the risk of falling is reduced to a minimum;
• Abilityabsorb noisewhen recruiting water, and according to this indicator, the acrylic bathtubs are even ahead of the cast-iron counterparts;
• the surface is easy to restore;
• acrylic - absolutelyhygienic materialand is most suitable for the production of sanitary products, because it does not develop fungus. Unlike it, cast iron, for example, because of the nuances of production and the formation of pores in the enamel can become a place of development of rust and even fungus;
• valuealso can be attributed to the benefits, since the simplest acrylic bathtubs are available in terms of prices and are cheaper than similar cast-iron ones.

There are in acrylic bathtubs andsome shortcomings:

• surface is easily scratched. Accidental impact, falling of a sharp object, claws of an animal - all this can damage an acrylic bath. If you bathe an animal in such a bath, then it's better to put a rubber mat on the bottom. For the sake of justice, it is worth noting that it is easy to remove scratches, - it is only necessary to grind it;
• acryliccan change color, if the water is poor quality, or if you will drain the warm water after washing the colored laundry. If you can hardly do something with poorly tap water, then it is quite possible not to pour the painted water into the bathroom;
• Acrylic baths though reinforced with a stack and fiberglass still remainbrittle, and the period of their operation 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 of them, the stronger and more reliable the product will be. In aggregate, all the layers should form a wall thickness of at least 6 mm, and preferably generally 8 mm.

Whirlpool baths

Kvarilovye baths - a novelty in the plumbing market. These products combinedadvantages of acrylic and cast iron baths. Make such baths of acrylic and quartz: the particles of the latter are encased in acrylic and additives. Quartz gives the finished product strength and stability, and acrylic is responsible for the elasticity, various additives are designed to give the product a specified color. Initially, Kvaril was used only for the restoration of acrylic products, but very quickly it became clear that it could become a full-fledged independent material for the manufacture of bathtubs. Today, quarried baths are produced by pouring into molds, and the products come out so strong and stiff that no additional reinforcement is required.

Features of production and used raw materials are given to quarval bathsa lot of advantages:

• beautiful appearance, because the products have a snow-white surface;
• light weight: kvarilnye baths heavier than acrylic, but much lighter than cast iron, and with transportation and lifting to any floor of the apartment building can easily be handled;
• walls of quarrel bathsstrongand thick, they do not require additional reinforcement, perfectly tolerate any load, the surface is not scratched and deformed;
• durability: quarried baths remain in their original form for many years, and care for them is minimal;
• excellent soundproofing propertieswill completely absorb the sound of running water;
• The surface of the quarried bath is even, without any roughness, but, nevertheless, itnon-slippery;
• low thermal conductivitydoes not allow water to cool down quickly;
• care is as simple as possible, because the surface has no pores, and, therefore, does not accumulate dirt.

But quarval baths, unfortunately, are not ideal, and somelimitationsthey are still inherent:

• The first and most important disadvantage of a quarrel bath is itsvalue. The price of such products is on average two or three times higher than that of acrylic or cast iron baths;
• limited choice of forms. Since such baths are manufactured by the method of casting into a mold, their variety is limited. In this respect, they occupy a position between cast-iron and acrylic baths;
• although it boils down - a fairly strong material, yet the probability of scratching it exists, but it is possible to restore the surface even in domestic efforts, so this shortcoming is unimportant;
• permanent and prolonged exposure to very hot water can lead togradual deformationbathroom.

Steel Baths

Steel baths are less popular than acrylic and cast-iron ones, but when the price comes to the forefront when choosing, they are not equal. So,why should you choose a steel bath?It has a lot of advantages:

• low cost, so such a product can afford a family with any budget;
• light weight, which allows you to transport the bathtub by yourself and even install it. The steel bath is 4-5 times lighter than cast iron;
• high strength and durability;
• in terms of the variety of shapes, steel baths can not be compared with acrylic, but certainly they win from cast-iron ones. Due to its plasticity, steel makes it possible to produce ergonomic models;
• the kind of steel bath is 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.

Steel bath could be an ideal purchase, if not forsome minuses:

• high heat transfer of materialwill not allow long luxuries in a hot bath - you will constantly pour warm water;
• steel does not absorb noise, which means that when the spray hits the walls or when the water is collected in the bath, a distinctive sonorous sound will be heard throughout the apartment. To at least a little level this feature, you can put a rubber mat;
• with time under the weight of water and the human bodythe walls of the steel bath can begin to deform. Nevertheless, more expensive products are distinguished by thick walls, which even with a great desire are very difficult to distort in any way;
• carefor such a bathroom you need veryCaution, and you should try not to damage the integrity of the enamel.

Baths from cast marble

If cast iron, acrylic and steel baths can be attributed to products of mass use, then marble bathrooms, rather, belong to the elite category. They will perfectly fit in the spacious bathrooms with the appropriate interior. Injection baths appeared on the plumbing market not so long ago, but already had a good time recommending themselves. Theirproduce frommarble 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, the products can be of any color and remind any required breed.

Baths of cast marble possessmass of merits, among which:

• high strength, which is not inferior to granite. Nevertheless, today myths are widespread that such products can crack or lose their appearance after a short time of operation. In fact, this is not the case, and such unpleasant situations can happen with products from unscrupulous producers that violate the technological process;
• heat retentionand maintain the original water temperature. According to this indicator, the molded marble baths even outstrip the acrylic baths. In addition, additives that are used in the manufacture of products, can get rid of the natural coldness of natural stone and make the surface warm;
• high noise absorption coefficient. In addition, the stone extinguishes the vibrations perfectly, which becomes an important factor when using the whirlpool;
• huge variety of colors, so pick the right model for a particular style of interior will be easy.

Hdeficienciesalso present:

• price- this is perhaps the main disadvantage of such products;
• heavy weightcomplicates the installation and transportation, and the installation process will require special skills - on their own will be difficult to handle;
• if in such a bathroom was washed, then after it must necessarily rinse the surface, because the dyes can leave on the surface of an unaesthetic stain;
• with a strong impact may formchipped.

Wooden bathtubs

A wooden bath is another expensive and solid option. But, unlike many others, these products - not a novelty, it's just a well-forgotten old. Many years ago our ancestors used wooden barrels, troughs, etc. for bathing.Main advantageswooden bathroom are as follows:

• naturalness and environmental friendliness, because a tree is a natural material that not only can not harm, but still can positively affect health, relax, which is necessary in water procedures;
• variety of designallows you to safely use a wooden bath in the classic and rustic style of the interior;
• wood is the material that is bestkeeps the heat;
• wooden baths are not afraid of water. For their manufacture, those rocks used in shipbuilding are used, and as a result the product is waterproof and durable. When choosing, pay attention to the baths of oak, teak, wenge, walnut, cherry, white ash and cedar.

There are somedifficulties, which will have to be reconciled:

• A wooden bath can begin to deform and crack,if it is not used for a long time,so it should be regularly moistened with water at least;
• in such a bath you can not bathe animals and, of course, wash clothes. The tree can deteriorate even when fat gets from the skin of the bathing, so it is better to use the bath not for a swim bath, but simply for relaxation after a preliminary shower;
• high price.

Glass baths

Glass baths are used even less often than marble or wooden. Many are frightened by their fragility, but in fact they are strong and sturdy products that are made of double-ply glass, and it is impossible to break it. The glass bath hasmass of merits:

• chic appearance, because these are transparent or translucent products, which can have different shapes, sizes and colors. 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 friendliness, because glass is an inert material, and on it, with proper care, mold will not develop;
• durability;
• Abilitykeep water temperature long.

Among the shortcomingsyou can note:

• care. You can wash it with usual detergents, but you'll have to try to do it so that there will not be any divorce;
• high price.

If you can not afford a full glass bath, you can choose a productwith glass inserts, which will also look good in a small bathroom.

The shape and size of the bathtub

Choose the shape of the bath you need, based on your own preferences, interior solutions 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 convenient and ergonomic products;
• corner baths- more roomy, 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 bathsbribe their appearance, they are comfortable, can become in the literal and figurative sense the center of the bathroom. They can be placed not under the wall, but in the middle of the room;
• round bathssuitable for spacious rooms, where they can also be installed in the center. They must be large enough to be ergonomic for humans;
• non-standard and asymmetric products- an excellent decoration of the bathroom, they can also be made to order to maximally match 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 bathe regularly. The length of the bathroom in most cases is 150-180 cm, and the width is 70-85 cm. The size of the bathtub is matched correctly, if you can comfortably lie in it: the knees should not be bent at the same time, on each side there should be somewhere in 5 cm of free space. The depth of the bath is on the average 50 cm - this is the optimal value at which the head is above the water level.

Manufacturers of bathtubs

Often the positive properties of a bath are reduced to zero due to the wrong production technology. That is why when choosing a bath it is worth paying attention to the name of the manufacturer.

Positive themselves in the sphere of acrylic bath manufacturers such European manufacturers asVagnerplast, Kolo, Pool Spa,Ravak and Cersanit. The names of these companies are well known to Russian buyers, but in the market competitively and domestic products:1Marka, Aquanetand some others.

As for cast-iron bathtubs, in Europe they are considered premium products, and only a few companies are involved in their production, among them the most famous -Roca. Also in the shops you can meet the products of the Chinese companyGOLDMAN, as well as domestic products fromKirov plant of cast iron products. Steel baths are also produced by Roca, and the German manufacturerSmavit Kaldewei. As for glass and wooden products, in this segment only serious manufacturers work, and the chance to run into inappropriate goods is not that high. These are companies likeSpa Dealers and Treesse. The highest quality injection baths are present in the collectionsMarmite,Marmorine,Avstrometc.

In conclusion

Choose a correct, comfortable, durable and suitable in all respects the bath is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Having weighed all the pros and cons of each option, carefully measuring the parameters of the room and determining the style and budget, you can find the model that will satisfy all the wishes. The modern plumbing market offers potential customers options for every taste and purse: from cheap steel bathtubs to elite wooden and glass. But trying to keep up with the beautiful appearance, do not forget about comfort and safety.

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