Acrylic baths: types and rules of choice

Acrylic baths are the most popular baths among modern consumers. Their demand is due to both technical characteristics and visual appearance. Thanks to the material from which they are produced, they have the best characteristics. They attract the attention of low weight, the possibility of heat transfer, ease of maintenance, optimal cost and other characteristics.

Acrylic bath is considered the most aesthetic and ergonomic option. It is made from acrylate. This material was discovered in 1930 under the guidance of German chemists. At that time, scientists wanted to invent a material that would be aesthetically attractive and of sufficient strength.After some research, they got acrylate. He had an attractive appearance, could be of any color, had a certain hardness, density and lightness.

Technical acrylic is used for the production of bathroom bowls. Baths that are made of pure acrylic, have a long service life, have a high class of wear resistance, are quite reliable.

Acrylic baths are made from several materials. The surface that will come into contact with the skin must be made of pure acrylic - this is a plastic of an initially transparent color. You can change the color of the bowl using a special liquid powder, which the manufacturer adds to PMMA (liquid polymethyl methacrylate) immediately before the polymerization stage.

In order for plastic to become a more valuable material, the manufacturer adds a variety of components that affect the plasticity of the bowl, the durability of the paint (the bowl does not fade), hygiene and ease of repair.

Pleasant features include ease in the care of acrylic designs baths.

In order for a bathtub to enjoy its appearance for a long time, it is necessary to observe the following recommendations:

• wash at least 2–4 times a month;

• use care products designed specifically for such surfaces that do not contain abrasives;
• use a special sponge to wash baths made from acrylic;

• All wipes for washing such baths should be made from soft tissues;
• polish is better to use the one that is based on wax and silver;
• if you need to bathe animals in an acrylic bath, then you should take care of having a special mat so that the pet does not damage the bowl cover.

Acrylic is plastic, which is also called organic glass. Unfortunately, cast acrylic is a rather fragile and impractical substance, so it is not very suitable for a bath. On the basis of organic glass produce reinforced plastic, which has a high impact resistance. Manufacturers also add to the composition of disinfecting components in order to protect a person while taking a bath from a variety of microorganisms.

Acrylic baths can have a different design, shape, color design. Thanks to the material, the manufacturer can translate into reality various design ideas or design a bath according to the client's request. In the model range of such fonts one can find hexagon, oval, round, rectangular, angular variants. They can be streamlined, fairly compact (for small bathrooms), can have a variety of transparent inserts, built-in functions for hydro and aero massage.

This allows you to keep the look of the product much longer. It is a known fact that the surface of the font is constantly exposed to fats and dirt that enter into the micropores of acrylic. This contributes to the appearance of unpleasant plaque, visually deteriorates the beauty of the structure itself and the sanitary condition. Acryl has a high hygienic, because it does not linger bacteria and yeast. Manufacturers also produce models with antibacterial coating.

The main benefits include the following:

• ease;
• attractiveness;
• strength;
• wear resistance;
• hardness;

• long service life;
• smooth surface of the structure itself;
• variety of sizes and shapes;
• good thermal insulation - the water in this design cools much more slowly;

• good sound insulation properties;
• ease of installation;
• unpretentious care.

If we talk about the disadvantages of acrylic baths, it is worth noting that acrylic is quite susceptible to high temperatures. It will melt at a temperature of +160 degrees Celsius. However, the thermal deformation of the structure itself may also occur at a temperature of + 90–95 degrees Celsius. It is recommended to first get some cold water, and only after that you can add more hot water.

Despite the declared impact resistance of modern reinforced plastic, it has some nuances. If an inexpensive model is made of PMMA, then it is worth taking into account that if a heavy object is dropped on the bath, the body of the structure may be pierced through. Small chips and scratches can be repaired and removed, but more serious damage can completely destroy the structure.Acryl is a rather capricious material that requires special means to maintain cleanliness. You should choose products that will not contain abrasives, alcohol bases, toxic chemicals.

There are several main disadvantages of such bowls.

• Flexibility. Acrylic models can be quite flexible, so when taking a bath you can feel how the bottom of the bowl flexes under the weight of the body.

• Fragility. If a heavy load is applied to the bowl, a dent, chipping or crack may appear.
• Deformation. Unfortunately, if you use too hot water, the bowl may eventually change and deform.
• Higher cost compared to cast iron and steel models.

Bath - a container for water, where a person can wash and relax. It is equipped with drain holes, sometimes with fittings, additional rims and sills, it can have a variety of grooves where it is nice to put various hygiene products and accessories. Sizes may vary by material.

Next to this design, you can optionally place a sink with a tabletop. Bath can be equipped with a shower. Such a model is considered the most complex and expensive. The advantages include its functionality.

Baths with built-in hydro-massage functions help to relax perfectly after a hard day’s work or a week. The manufacturer mounts special nozzles directly into the body itself, which circulate water jets under strong (or not so much) pressure.

Manufacturers of sanitary products have provided so-called safe baths, which are equipped with anti-slip coating on the bottom of the bowl. Even at the production stage, special rubber impregnations or a little quartz crumb are added to the base material for the manufacture of the bowl design, which create the necessary roughness and anti-slip coating.

When choosing a bath, it is necessary to take into account the strength of the material from which it is made.

There are two materials from which make acrylic baths.

• ABS / PMMA - It is a two-component material (elastic plastic and homogeneous organic glass).The disadvantages of this material include rapid wear and short life (on average from 10 to 12 years).
• Polymethyl acrylate - This is pure cast acrylic, which is much more expensive than ABS / PMMA. Baths that are made from cast 100% acrylic have a homogeneous structure, a smoother surface of the bowl itself.

High-quality acrylic quietly withstand the fall of a variety of jars.that are in the bathroom, from a height of one and a half meters. Although acrylic is quite resistant to the appearance of various chips and cracks, it is quite likely that they may appear. You should not get upset prematurely, because small defects can be easily and quickly removed even at home with the use of available tools, namely, special polishes that can be purchased at any plumbing shop. It is possible that you do not even need to dismantle the entire body of the font.

Pure acrylic is produced by pouring the compound into a sealed form, which is located in the middle of two glasses, and further polymerization in a special furnace. The result is a sheet material of increased hardness and wear resistance.A co-extruded acrylic or bilayer plastic is obtained by extruding and further combining PMMA and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or ABS. After the plastic structure has hardened, it will have a glossy base on one side and a shock resistant one on the other.

All sanitary appliances, which are made from pure acrylic, are of the highest quality. In order to turn the plastic sheet into a bath, you need to go through four stages of production.

• Formation. To do this, it is necessary to heat and stretch an acrylic sheet with a vacuum (its thickness should be no more than 8 millimeters) to the size of the workpiece.

• Strengthening the design. To do this, apply a special composite layer on the back of the thinnest acrylic bowl. At the base of the composite layer is glass fiber mixed with polyester resin.
• Crop. It is necessary to remove all excess plastic parts, drill the necessary drain holes.
• Assembly of a ready design. The workpiece must be installed on a special power frame and polished.

Unfortunately, such an acrylic bath will have lower levels of hardness and reliability. Manufacturers use double-layer plastic in fairly cheap products. The weight of acrylic baths can reach up to 35 kilograms. Due to their low weight, such fonts are fairly easy to transport and assemble even on their own, without a large number of assistants. Low weight does not burden the floor in the bathroom.

Bath size is an important component that you need to pay attention to when choosing a font. The optimal height is 65–70 centimeters from the floor level, since absolutely all family members can use a bathroom with such a height - from young children to adults.

The optimal depth is 60 centimeters. It is possible to calculate the depth from the lower plane of the bowl to the place where the manufacturer placed the overflow hole. If the bath has a smaller depth, the water level will not be able to completely cover the person who will be in it. A deeper bowl will cause a person to be in tension and lie in a not very comfortable upright position.

The width of the bathroom often does not exceed 80 centimeters. This size should take into account both growth and complexion of all family members. For larger people, manufacturers produce designs with bowls over 120 centimeters wide. The optimal length is 180 centimeters. Do not forget about additional accessories, for example, the presence or absence of a headrest.

To date, you will not be surprised by the consumer and diverse and fancy designs designs font. Thanks to different forms and types, each consumer will be able to find an option to his taste. Bath may have a longitudinal or angular shape. Longitudinal versions are installed mainly to the bathroom wall either by the headboard, or by one of the side walls against the wall of the room. Corner can be installed only in the corner of the bathroom.

They are ideal for small rooms and a small area of ​​bathrooms. They can be made in two versions - right and left, so they fit well into the corner of the room.The disadvantages include additional spending on the purchase of the panel. If the consumer wants to save money and does not acquire the panel, then it will be rather difficult to tile the very structure of the bath.

ABOUTthe shaft shape has smooth lines and streamlined shapes. Oval baths are considered the most versatile options due to its combination with any bathroom interior. They can be built into the floor, placed on the podium or mounted on a standard wall. Although the oval shape is considered to be a classic for a long time, it can quickly become boring.

The disadvantages include the massiveness and bulkiness of these structures. The angular shape is suitable for small bathrooms. This bath is residual functional and comfortable. It helps to save space in the room. The disadvantages include a large width, inconvenience in care, because this option is very difficult to wash, sometimes you even have to climb inside the bowl to wash it thoroughly.

Acrylic bath can be not only white.At the request of the client, the manufacturer can use the desired color even at the stage of production of the structure. To date, the buyer can choose a bath to your taste. It can be bright yellow, blue, red, silver or another nice color. For romantics, manufacturers produce baths of red, pink color. They can be immediately designed for two people.

For the classic design of the bathroom, you must choose the classic version and size of the structure. For the Japanese style you should pay attention to the round acrylic baths, which will certainly attract the attention of friends and guests. The color scheme should be in natural and neutral colors. A modern bath is a simple geometric shape with no frills. The bowl can be placed on a fairly small area in the bathroom. The modern style option is perfect for small bathrooms.

Additional accessories include hydromassage options that are designed to be mounted in bowls. The most successfully integrated option is considered a jacuzzi.Hydromassage occurs due to the presence of special chrome nozzles that are embedded in the side walls of the bowl.

Manufacturers allow the establishment of air-, hydro- and turbomassage. The hydromassage system consists of a set of specific hoses and nozzles. According to them, the movement of water occurs due to the high pressure that is created by the pump. Regulation of the jet head is allowed. Before installation should be prepared tab, stand and all sorts of corners.

The aero massage system differs from hydromassage in that air bubbles instead of a stream of water work here. The intensity of the bubbles can also be adjusted. Turbo massage is a combination of hydro and aero massage. It is used for installation in the jacuzzi.

Quite popular today acrylic baths first appeared on the plumbing market 50 years ago. Unfortunately, a large number of proposed designs can be misleading the buyer: immediately there are questions about which design is better to choose, how much it should cost, what nuances can be in the selection.

It is worth paying attention to the material from which the bath is made. Acryl is a complex chemical mixture of certain polymeric compounds of esters and methacrylates. In fact, this is a subtype of plastic, which has a special strength, is quite elastic and has a smooth surface. It is recommended to visually inspect the edge of the side of the sanitary ware. If it was possible to count three layers, then the design was made from the ABS layer, PMMA and the base. If there are only two layers on the edge of the rim, this means that the bath is made of PMMA with the addition of a reinforcing base.

If the design is purchased for summer cottages (for seasonal use), then you should not choose a luxury design. For permanent operation, it is better to purchase a bit more expensively and choose a PMMA structure and a reinforced base.

When choosing an acrylic bath, you should pay attention to the following nuances:

• it is necessary to determine in advance not only the shape but also the size of the bath;

• be sure to check how many layers there are in the structure of the bowl. Whether cast or not, it is made of plastic or acrylic;
• pay attention to the thickness of the acrylic layer and measure it;
• pay attention to the number of layers and the thickness of the reinforcing layer of the structure;
• inspect the surface, paying attention to the elasticity of the material;

• how the frame is made, how many supports the structure itself has;
• the presence of additional functions in the design, as well as how they work;
• select one manufacturer.

Concluding your choice, you should remember the original purpose of the acquisition. Despite the choice of shape, type and color of the bathroom, it is worth remembering that with the right choice, careful treatment and care, it will last a long time.

Among the best manufacturers of acrylic constructions from Europe are Roca (co-production of Spain with Russia), Ravak (the country of origin is Czech Republic), Cersanit (co-production of several countries - Russia, Poland, Romania). This is the main rating for quality. Italian baths have also proven their worth. Among manufacturers that mainly have positive customer reviews, you can also highlight the brands Riho, Bas, Aquatek, Radomir and Santek.

Roca is a huge concern manufacturer of acrylic baths. He has been manufacturing his products since 1929.The company offers modern buyers several shopping brands. Baths can be of different shapes with various additions, for example, variants with rollers that serve as headrests are common. They can be equipped with additional handles or built-in boxes for storing a variety of small items. Roca plumbing factories are located in the European Union, the United States of America and the Russian Federation. To date, more than thirty workshops equipped with the latest technology have been registered in Russia. The plant annually produces more than 500,000 units of sanitary products.

The benefits of Roca products include:

• interesting design;
• in the catalog there are more than two hundred models of acrylic, both cast and extrusion;
• increased wear resistance is achieved due to the thickness of acrylic over 6 m

• The optimum ratio of price and quality;
• long service life, the warranty is provided on the material for 8-10 years, and for components - 2 years;
• well-developed network of service centers.

Unfortunately, there are drawbacks to this factory.Not uncommon is a marriage or defects already finished products. There are quite a few fakes, so you should be careful when choosing a bathroom of acrylic from this manufacturer.

Acrylic construction company Ravak is known for its products. Ravak baths are anatomically convenient and comfortable. The company introduced conventional models and hydromassage bathtubs made of acrylic material back in 1998. Almost immediately after launch, the products received recognition as the best and most user-friendly design. At all plumbing trade shows, Ravak receives awards for innovative solutions.

The advantages of Ravak products include the following:

• the manufacturer is ready to provide its consumers with more than 25 collections. Products can satisfy every taste of the buyer. The manufacturer offers models for overweight people. He produces a special line with bathrooms of large and super-convenient anatomical forms;
• Ravak produces designs with different sizes;

• functionality and ease of use. Acrylic products of the company Ravak differs in white color.All structures have a long service life, are not deformed and resistant to cracks. The manufacturer produces its own series of household chemicals for proper care of the surface of sanitary structures;
• You can choose any equipment you like for the bathroom structure;
• Ravak hydromassage baths are considered among the best;

• the manufacturer gives a guarantee for a bath up to ten years. Hydromassage systems have a warranty period of operation up to two years, and for additional equipment up to five years;
• affordable product lines ranging from economy to premium.
• a developed network of plumbing service centers.

The disadvantages of Ravak products include the following:

• some products have a rather high price;
• increases the final cost of the product by the need to purchase components separately, including the supporting structure;
• fakes are quite common.

Cersanit is another leader in the sanitary market. This brand produces not only acrylic baths, but also sanitary ware and ceramics.Baths of this manufacturer can be both classical and anatomical shape, equilateral or asymmetric. They fit in any compact place in the bathroom. There are non-standard models that are ideal for rooms with complex shapes.

The main advantages of Cersanit products can be easily attributed to several facts.

• The presence of a large number of collections (and there are more than thirty), among which you can find a bath of suitable size and shape.
• Dimensions of construction. The thickness of acrylic is only 3 mm. This makes it impossible to build a hydromassage system into the bath, but it significantly reduces the cost of the structure itself. In length, the size is up to two meters, in depth from 60 to 90 cm. The volume of the bath can be from 160 to 230 liters.

• The manufacturer gives a guarantee on their products to five years.
• Cost Cersanit provides product lines with different prices - from economy options to luxury.
• Products are quite easy to use. Despite the thickness of the acrylic material, the baths are distinguished by quality, snow-white colors. The surface is quite dense, does not accumulate excess dirt and grease.All dirt can be easily removed with special detergents that do not contain abrasives.

The disadvantages of Cersanit products include insufficiently durable framework for cheaper products, forgeries and the presence of defects in the structures, as well as the absence of an anti-slip coating on the bottom of the bath.

You should follow a few expert tips when choosing an acrylic bath.

• It is worth paying attention to the composition of the material of the bath. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers comply with the norms and technologies for the production of acrylic baths. Unscrupulous manufacturers can use polymethyl methacrylate (an analog of acrylic acid), which is cheaper and, unfortunately, harmful to humans.
• It should be determined what should be the dimensions of the place where the location of the bath is expected.

• When choosing, do not hesitate to use a flashlight - this will allow you to see the thinnest places, which are usually located on the sides of the bath.
• It is necessary to check the reliability of the design, which can be done by pressing on the surface of the bowl.
• Be sure to pay attention to the cut of the bowl, there must be at least two layers (acrylic and resin).
• Bath must be smooth. Any roughness will indicate that the sample is of poor quality.

• Durable baths do not have complex configurations, so you should pay attention to the shape of the structure.
• In order not to be mistaken when choosing acrylic baths, you should decide on the price, the manufacturer, the form before you go to the store. You can use the help of sales assistants. It should be remembered that initially cheap models may have too poor basic configuration. Higher prices mean no extra costs for additional features. The basic price includes: a drain-overflow system, a frame and a side panel. This is the standard set for such designs.

• Consultant-seller should learn about the technical characteristics of the model you like. If suddenly there are doubts about the proposed model of the seller-consultant, it is worth correcting the comments. This will avoid the purchase of low-quality goods.
• The life of the product can be extended if properly care for it.It is advisable not to dye your hair over an acrylic bath, since after that it will be quite difficult to give it a mirror shine. The product must be disinfected periodically.
• To whiten the bath with glass curtains, you can use vinegar with soda. If the bath is swollen, it is better to entrust its restoration to the master.

Acrylic bath can complement and decorate the interior in any style. These products in the domestic market appeared relatively recently, but have become very popular.

The freestanding corner bath model fits well into a large room. Additional niches are provided to accommodate hygiene items. The disadvantages of this form of bath include inaccessibility for washing. To wash it well, you have to climb inside the bowl.

Additional handrails provide convenience and comfort when using the structure. This model will be the highlight of exquisite interior design. The oval model is great for spacious bathrooms.

The rectangular acrylic bathtub is suitable for both small and spacious bathrooms. It can have a variety of protrusions on which you can conveniently arrange various accessories. This option fits perfectly into almost any interior design. It is a great solution for modern style.

The perfect combination of white acrylic bath and a dark background looks very stylish and elegant, and in the bathroom it looks just great. This combination will perfectly fit into both the classic and rustic interior style. The oval shape allows you to install a bath in any corner of a spacious room.

On how to choose the right acrylic bath, you will learn from the following video.