Distinctive features and characteristics of baths from different materials

It has long passed the time when the bath was a lamb-like container resembling a large basin. Today, baths are made of acrylic, cast iron, artificial stone, steel, plastic. Each product is characterized by its own advantages and disadvantages, which are caused by the material of manufacture and features of production. Let us consider in more detail each of them.

Perhaps, everyone knows what a bath is.This is a bowl in which water is drawn to carry out further hygiene procedures.

Regardless of the material of manufacture and features of size and shape, the bath must meet the following requirements:

• environmental friendliness (when filling it with hot water, there should be no life-threatening fumes);
• moisture resistance (bath material should not be hygroscopic);
• safety (high antibacterial indicators are required, the presence of a non-slip day);
• compatibility with standard sewer and plumbing system;

• strength, ability to withstand heavy weight;
• durability.

Usually, when speaking about the variety of baths, they primarily mean their differences in terms of the material of manufacture.

Today, in most city apartments set acrylic bath. It is based on an acrylate polymer. It may be in the form of sheet material or be extruded. The first option is preferable, because the bath of a single sheet of acrylic is more durable and, accordingly, longer service life.

Acrylic bath has the following advantages:

• fairly good strength indicators;
• long period of operation, if we are talking about acrylic sheet fonts (service life is 10-12 years);
• low weight (standard bath 150 cm long and 70-75 cm wide weighs on average 25-30 kg);
• good thermal insulation performance (the water in such a bath cools slowly - by 1 ° C for half an hour);
• high coefficient of sound insulation (in contrast to metal baths, the acrylic font doesn’t rattle when water is used);
• the material is pleasant to the touch - warm, smooth;
• a variety of shapes and sizes due to the plasticity of raw materials and features of production processes.

Among the obvious drawbacks worth highlighting:

• susceptibility to deformations and vibrations, so if you wish to equip an acrylic bowl with a hydromassage system, you should choose a thick-walled product;
• the fragility of the upper layer - it is easily damaged by negligent handling;
• yellowing of the acrylic bath during operation is possible (however, this can be corrected by using the restoration service).

Acrylic surface is sensitive to potent cleaning agents, as well as abrasive compounds. If you compare the cost of an acrylic bowl with the price of a cast-iron variant, for example, it turns out that it is lower. At the same time, bowls of sheet acrylic are 2-3 times more expensive than the cost of an extruded analog.

Another popular bath option is cast iron. This metal is characterized by high thermal conductivity. It heats up slowly, but it also gives off heat for a long time.

The composition of the cast-iron bath contains iron oxides, which causes its large weight.. In rare cases, it is less than 80 kg (as a rule, these are small sedentary baths). If we talk about large-sized cups, then their weight can reach 150-180 kg and even more when it comes to custom models.

The maximum allowable load on the foundation in buildings of this type is usually 230-250 kg. Medium-sized bath weighs 100-120 kg. If we add to this indicator the weight of water (50 kg approximately) and the weight of the user (at least 50-60 kg), it turns out that the bath presses on the floor with a weight of 200 kg or more. It is unsafe for dilapidated floors.

The weight of the cast-iron bath depends on its size (height, width and depth), wall thickness, availability of additional equipment. However, the heavy weight of the structure is not always a disadvantage. It also determines the reliability and stability of the bath, its walls do not vibrate and do not deform. That is why the cast-iron bowl is well suited for installing hydro-massage equipment in it.

The strength and practicality of the bath also denote a long period of operation. The manufacturer usually gives a guarantee for its products 30-40 years, but user reviews indicate that such a bath can last 2-3 times longer,without requiring repair.

The cast-iron bath has a smooth enameled surface. However, it is cold, so before stepping into the bowl, it is advisable to flush the water and warm the bath. The difference between the thermal efficiency of acrylic and cast iron baths is small. If in the first one the water cools down by 1 ° С every 30 minutes, then in the cast iron one - every 15-20 minutes. The price of high-quality cast-iron bath is quite high, however, this disadvantage pays off with its high technical characteristics and long service life.

A type of metal bath is a steel bowl. It differs from cast iron in a lighter weight (the weight of the steel bath is similar to the mass of acrylic and is 30-50 kg). However, the weight loss causes instability of the bath and is fraught with its rollover with insufficient fixation. The service life of the product is up to 15 years. The disadvantage is the low rates of heat and noise insulation.

Stone baths are distinguished by their high strength and long service life. Under them mean bowls of marble or other crumbs made of natural stone and polyester resin. The crumb is at least 80% of the composition, which determines the strength of the product,and polyester resins and plasticizers ensure the smoothness of the surface, its high moisture-resistant characteristics.

Products from an artificial stone have smaller weight, than analogs from a natural mineral. The technology of their production is simpler, and therefore baths made of artificial stone are cheaper compared to models made of natural material. A comparison of the cost of a bowl of marble casting (crumbs) with the prices of acrylic and cast-iron baths shows that the first option is much more expensive.

Artificial stone baths have the following advantages:

• lack of radiation background, which is not the case with natural stone fonts;
• attractive appearance - high-quality imitation of the material under the product of natural stone;
• pleasant to the touch surface of the bowl - smooth, warm;
• ability to self-cleaning and high antibacterial characteristics due to the absence of pores on the surface of the product;
• high strength, which is 2 times higher than that of natural marble bowls;
• resistance to deformation, vibration;
• long service life - up to 40-50 years.

Within this article it is worth mentioning plastic bowls.They are lightweight and low cost, but not suitable for regular use. Plastic tubs do not have a large margin of safety, are prone to deformation, do not withstand high temperatures and mechanical stress.

The analysis of each model according to certain criteria will help you choose the optimal bowl. So, we decide which of the fonts will give maximum comfort in terms of maintaining water temperature and ease of use of the bath.

• Acrylic and cast iron bath is almost equally well able to maintain the temperature of the water. Stone is also not inferior in this performance, but the steel structure cools quickly enough.
• It is important how quickly the bath itself heats up. When using cast iron and steel, the user is forced to step into a cold bowl or pre-flush the water to warm it. When using fonts from acrylic and stone, such problems do not arise.

• When bathing it is important that the bowl does not bend under the weight of water and the user.The walls of the cast-iron and stone baths do not bend under any circumstances. Acrylic is prone to deformation. Tips on how to prevent this nuisance are reduced to one thing - to choose products with thick walls, and also to use a special frame under the bowl. Steel baths do not sag under heavy weight.

Thus, for comfortable use, first of all, cast-iron and stone baths are suitable, the next position is occupied by acrylic bowls, in the “last” place - steel.

• However, fonts made of stone and cast iron have considerable weight, so they are not installed in bathrooms with dilapidated floors. The most heavy are cast iron products, whose weight can reach 150 kg. This causes the appearance of additional costs for transportation and installation of the device. Products of European brands are 15–20 kg cheaper than domestic counterparts.
• Baths of cast marble are somewhat inferior to cast iron, their weight can reach 80-90 kg. Steel bath weighs 25-30 kg, and acrylic - in the range of 15-20 kg. These figures are approximate, the weight depends on the dimensions of the bowl and wall thickness.

Thus, if you are looking for a light but strong and durable bowl,better to take acrylic.

• An important criterion is the cost of the product. The most affordable steel structures are considered. The price for a standard bath starts at $ 50. The cost of acrylic products of domestic producers starts from 600-100 dollars, European - from 130-200 dollars.
• If we talk about devices equipped with a hydromassage system, silicone supports under the head or handles, the price starts from $ 450.
• The minimum price of cast iron baths is 65-70 dollars. A similar figure is called at the mention of the cost of stone products. Products of European brands cost from 200 to 450 dollars.

Summarizing, we can say that the most affordable steel baths. However, they lose to the rest of the models in terms of their technical characteristics (do not retain heat, are unstable, etc.), so they are rarely purchased. Acrylic products demonstrate the best value for money.

Cost and specifications are usually the first purchase criteria.

However, a bowl of a certain size or design is often required.

• The greatest variety of shapes and colors can be found in the range of acrylic baths. Due to the peculiarities of the production and plasticity of the material, the bowls manage to give almost any shape. However, the more complex it is, the less quality reinforcement is. Prevent the deformation of the use of a metal frame, necessarily installed under an asymmetric acrylic bowl.
• Cast iron is not distinguished by great plasticity; therefore, bowls do not have a large variety of forms. However, the most popular (rectangular, oval, trapezoidal and simple asymmetrical shapes) among the range of cast-iron baths is not difficult to find.

• Stone products also have many types of forms, but the original models are characterized by a higher cost. This is due to the fact that the raw material is poured into the formwork of a certain form. Manufacturing formwork (forms for the bowl) of an unusual type implies an increase in financial costs, which affects the final cost of the product.
• Angular bowls are very popular due to their ergonomics. Each of the baths under consideration may have an angular solution.Corner fonts are equal and versatile.

As a rule, a new bath of any material is attractive. After a time, cracks, scuffs and stains appear on it, some coatings are more prone to their appearance.

Let us see which bath lasts longer than others and preserves the original appearance and does not require much effort and care.

• The most protected is a cast-iron bath with enameled coating. It is not afraid of active cleaning, temperature changes, does not turn yellow with time. Similar enamel is applied to the surface of steel bowls, but with a thinner layer. This is the reason why steel bowls are inferior to cast iron in quality of coating.
• The most capricious are stone and acrylic bowls. They are easily painted, white acrylic products eventually lose their color. In addition, they are very fragile - they crack easily due to mechanical impact. Stone and acrylic bowls should not be washed using abrasive products and hard sponges.

• The choice criterion is the ease of installation of the bowl.Raise the cast-iron bath and install it alone almost no strength. Even with the help of assistants, this process is fraught with difficulties.
• A bowl of artificial stone is also characterized by a large weight, so when installing it, the same difficulties arise as when installing a cast iron item.
• Acrylic construction, especially when it comes to an asymmetric model, requires the assembly of a metal stand for the bowl. Usually it is easy to assemble, although it takes time and effort.
• Steel bathtubs are as simple as possible - one person can handle it. Installation of such bowl is carried out on legs. However, steel baths are cold, in order to increase their thermal insulation properties they resort to pasting the bottom with “Penofol” or spraying construction foam on it.

• By purchasing a bath, buyers hope for a long product life. The leading position in this regard is occupied by bowls of iron and stone, the service life of which is 50 years (often longer). 2 times less durability demonstrate steel products. The smallest - acrylic baths. Provided that it is based on sheet acrylic with a thickness of at least 5 mm, it serves 15 years.

Baths of European manufacturers (in the case of original products) are a priori high-quality, durable and safe.

• Brands like Roca (Italy), Villeroy & Boch (Germany), Riho (Holland), Jacob Delafon (France) let out various models of acrylic, pig-iron and stone bowls. Their products are high quality, complying with European quality and safety requirements. A distinctive feature is a wide price range: from fairly economical to premium models. However, even the most modest products from any of these manufacturers are quite expensive for the average buyer.

• A recent Austrian brand deserves attention. Alpen. Acrylic baths manufactured by him are not inferior in their quality to other European models, but they are cheaper.

• The trust of customers is enjoyed by company products. "Triton", "Aquane", "Universal". A feature of their products is that they are focused on the Russian buyer. In addition to the standard designs, in the collections of these brands you can find baths of unusual shapes and reduced sizes, designed for small-sized bathrooms.

Of course, standard sizes are the most common.whose length is 150-160 cm, width - from 70 to 80 cm. In such a bath, an adult can sit reclining, the bowl itself can fit even in the bathrooms of "Khrushchev". It is not surprising that the “Nostalgie” model with a bowl size of 150x70 cm from the Universal company is a real “hit” both on the Internet and in ordinary stores.

Russian manufacturer "Triton" produces a large number of asymmetric acrylic baths with high quality reinforcement. There are left- and right-sided bowls. All of them are equipped with a wide side-shelf, on which it is so convenient to have bath accessories and bathroom accessories, for example, from the company Fora.

The best manufacturers and suppliers of cast iron baths are considered Leroy Merlin (baths of own production and other brands, from budget to more expensive), Jacob Delafon (snow-white and color, rectangular and oval baths of cast iron in a different price range), Roca (a collection of iron products is small, mostly oval), Elegansa (overall premium bowls).

Experts give good reviews about acrylic sheet metal baths, the thickness of which is at least 5 mm (ideally 6-8 mm). When choosing (regardless of the material of manufacture) should pay attention to the surface of the product. It should not have damage (scratches, chips), noticeable pores and uneven coloring.

If the choice fell on a bath with hydromassage, immediately purchase a multi-level water purifier, as well as means to soften it.This will prevent the nozzles from “clogging” with scale and sediment caused by the lack of purity and softness of water in most regions of the country.

Ravak acrylic bathtubs have a high positive opinion of specialists.made from cast acrylic. The reverse side of the product is covered with chopped fiberglass, sometimes with epoxy resin. In the finished product, the wall thickness is 5-6 ml, it is important that a large part of the composition is acrylic. The high quality of acrylic, according to experts, is characterized by the brand PollSpa (Poland). The disadvantage of these models is only one - the high cost.

Good reviews get a bowl of brands. Balteko (Baltics) and Aquatika (Russia), if you wisely choose and analyze the quality of products, you will be able to find a decent option.

It is necessary to refrain from buying baths, “sandwiches”, in which ABC (a type of plastic) acts as a base, and a thin layer of acrylic is applied over it. Similar products are produced under trademarks. Appollo (China), Bellrado and Bas (Russia). Models do not have a large wall thickness, and, therefore, strength. Some manufacturers of white baths quickly turn yellow.

How to choose the right bath, see the following video from TC "Kashirsky Dvor".