A freestanding bathtub is the main element of a sophisticated interior

Repair

0
11 429
Share

In old houses built under Stalin, the bathroom was often combined with the kitchen. Moreover, several families could live in a communal apartment. While one family prepared food, another could shower behind the curtain. Today it seems strange and inconvenient.

Layout options in old houses

Kitchen bath designs

The practical side of repair
What to do if the bathroom is out of place

Kitchen and bathroom design

Features of a freestanding bathtub

Until today, not everyone could afford to install such a bathtub. The bathroom area in a standard apartment can be small. But now, when individual construction of houses is underway and owners are making the premises more spacious, the demand for free-standing bathtubs has increased significantly. Experts say that the growth in their popularity is due to the desire of consumers to emphasize the chic and exclusivity of their homes. Designer bathrooms highlight the taste and unique aesthetics of their owners. Also, free-standing bathtubs visually increase the area of the room, giving it a spirit of freedom.

Modern technologies allow manufacturers to produce bathtubs of different sizes and shapes. Everyone can choose the appropriate model according to their own requirements and capabilities.

Advice! An unmistakable selection of a bathtub in the future will give you not only aesthetic pleasure, but will also provide convenience for the whole family, especially for children and grandparents.

The materials used to make bathtubs are characterized by high density, so products made from them are quite heavy. So it will be important to calculate before making a purchase whether such a structure will support the floor of your bathroom.
Many models of cast iron freestanding bathtubs are significantly heavier in weight than all others, and when filled with water, an additional increase in weight occurs. If you doubt that the floor of your bathtub can withstand a lot of weight, then you can purchase a lightweight bathtub made of plastic or acrylic.
At the request of the house owner, you can install a bath anywhere; this does not present any particular difficulties.
The cost of central baths, of course, is much higher than usual, but how can this stop lovers of exquisite expensive interiors, because aesthetic pleasure is more important to them than any money?
If you don’t yet have enough money to purchase just such a bathtub, then the modern market offers a wide selection of other models of various design solutions, different types and configurations.

What are the types

Cast iron hydromassage models

The body of cast iron bathtubs has great strength and high resistance to corrosion. Can withstand significant loads for a long time. Thick walls can retain heat for a long time. The surface can be restored by applying enamel or acrylic coating. Disadvantages: heavy weight, making installation difficult. Long time to warm up the walls.

Whirlpool baths come in cast iron, acrylic and steel.

Acrylic hydromassage models

A product made of sanitary acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate) combines high heat capacity with low weight. They are easy to install, are not critical to water quality, and have good sound insulation.

For reference. The weight of an average-sized acrylic bathtub is 25-30 kilograms. A large bathtub can weigh 50 kg or a little more. The cooling rate of water is approximately 1°C in 30 minutes.

Acrylic hydromassage bathtub.

Disadvantages include low static density and exposure of the surface to abrasive particles.

Steel hydromassage models

They have high strength, low weight and the most affordable price. Resistant to aggressive chemicals and abrasives. Able to withstand temperature changes over a wide range. Easy to install. The disadvantages are expressed in high thermal conductivity, the need to use additional means to reduce noise while drawing water and taking a shower. The bath has little stability and a slippery surface.

Steel hot tub.

How to choose a freestanding bathtub

The choice of free-standing bathtubs today is quite rich: cast iron, acrylic, stone (usually artificial stone). For fans of sophistication and individuality, designers can make any model to order. The number of materials for the production of designer bathtubs is limitless - metal, glass, wood, copper and others.

Most bathtubs are clawfoot or clawfoot. Their shape can be classic rectangular or round. Plastic bathtubs come in a wide variety of shapes. The style can be anything - from antique to ultra-modern.

Copper baths

The color range of these models is quite rich. A variety of color options are possible. For example, the outer side is one shade, and the inner side is another, or a smooth flow of one shade into another. Copper baths can also be completely different in shape - from traditional rectangular to round or semicircular.

Advice! In order for a bathtub to become a real decoration of your home, you need to try to ensure that not only the furniture for it is in the same style, but also pay attention to individual small details so that each of them matches the overall style and emphasizes your individuality.

Equipment

Great care must be taken when selecting a faucet. Floor-standing faucets are suitable for this type of bathtub. But they should be selected based on the appropriate style of the room.

Faucets are often mounted to the wall or floor. It is convenient when the faucet is installed on the side of the bathtub, but this is not always possible.

Bathroom on legs

With the help of legs, the freestanding bathtub is raised above the floor by a few centimeters, resulting in a small gap underneath it. In some cases, such bathtubs have pipes running underneath them that become visible at the bottom, which does not look very beautiful or aesthetically pleasing. You can cover them up by choosing a special chrome trim (plating). If for some reason this option is not suitable, for example, the casing does not match the overall design, then there are models without legs that are placed directly on the base, and their pipes are hidden under the bathtub.

Of course, beauty is needed everywhere. But at the same time, we should not forget about an objective assessment, which is of great importance. Below we will discuss certain advantages of clawfoot bathtubs.

Bathroom on legs and its most important advantages.

The most important aspect is visual perception. Baths of this type have a number of advantages over all other bathrooms. At least, based on statistics, about eighty percent of the people surveyed share this opinion.
Having such a bathroom will make it much more convenient to wash and clean the floor underneath. And the situation when something has rolled under the bathtub will not confuse a person, because it is not difficult to get something from under it.
For such a bath, a decoration with a relief depicting mythological creatures or patterned flowers is very suitable. This will give the bathtub an antique look.
Any person who has a delicate taste should definitely purchase a bath of this type. By choosing a bathtub that suits your taste and interior style, you will be able to create a stylish room.
It’s not a sin for even your neighbors to show off such a bathroom.

Anyone can find additional advantages for a bathroom, it all depends on the desires and requirements of the buyer. But even such a wonderful bath has its drawbacks. Here are some disadvantages of clawfoot bathtubs:

such baths can be extremely unstable if the surface is slippery;
significantly different in price from ordinary baths;
the shape is usually not very convenient. Such bathtubs are mainly produced in round shapes, and therefore are not suitable for every bathroom. They take up too much space compared to those made in rectangular shapes;
Many housewives have noticed that the main disadvantage of such a bath is that it is inconvenient to wash and generally requires much more care than ordinary baths.

Additional functions

Since a jacuzzi is not a simple, but a preventive bath, it is equipped with various functions, the number of which directly depends on the design model. The heart of the whirlpool bath is a motor with a power of up to 900 W. If the size of the jacuzzi is larger than the standard one, it can be equipped with two motors, the total power of which is about 1500 W. Any Jacuzzi has a pump, compressor, nozzles, a pipe system and a control panel. But in addition to the basic elements, the sanitary design can be equipped with steps, headrests, handles, towel holders and various shelves for swimwear. It is a pleasure to be in such a hot tub.

There are Jacuzzi models with additional functions. They improve the appearance of the structure and ensure its combination with the most original bathroom design projects. For example, a jacuzzi is complemented with lighting from LED bulbs or light filters. An FM receiver or disc player is used as sound. There are even Jacuzzis with plasma or LCD panels on the market.

The famous clawfoot bath

These eternal companions of the interiors of the era of kings have been and will always be in fashion. Retro style is becoming increasingly popular. As for true aristocrats and connoisseurs of luxury, they simply cannot resist this beauty. Any of them performs the tasks of a regular bath and is equipped with the latest equipment. The materials for the production of clawfoot bathtubs are cast iron, plastic and cast marble, which gives the surface durability and resistance to scratches and various mechanical damage.

Freestanding bathtub on a podium

Additional framing is not required for this bathtub, because its outer walls are initially well finished. You can install it, if desired, in a corner, next to or close to a wall, in the center of the room. All communications are hidden under the podium. If the room is decorated in an antique style, then a bathtub on a pedestal will perfectly match the overall interior.

Selecting faucets

We list in detail which types of faucets are best suited for free-standing bathtubs:

Floor-standing (column-shaped faucets) look great together with similar bathtubs. They come in different types and shapes, but the more popular styles are classic, boroch, distinguished by picturesque decor, and high-tech, also with original shapes. The shower head is attached to an elastic metal hose, or is fixed above the bathtub on a special metal tube. This system is stable and capable of holding a weight of more than one hundred kilograms, and can be up to one and a half meters in height. The water supply to the faucets is carried out from under the floor, which naturally implies installation of water pipes. It is better to install such a faucet immediately when installing the bathtub, and only then carry out further finishing work.
Faucets on the edge of the bathtub . They are most often installed on hydromassage baths, which are controlled using an electronic remote control. Advice! Well-known manufacturers most often offer bathtubs with a complete set, but in some cases the mixer can be purchased separately.
Mixer on a shelf . It can be installed on a hill or podium. It is mounted under the bathtub in a separate niche or on an original shelf, which can be lined with natural stone, mosaic or ordinary ceramic tiles for beauty. Free-standing bathtubs of unusual design made of cast iron or acrylic look very advantageous thanks to this mixer. In relation to each other, the tap, shower and spout can be placed in completely different ways using elastic hoses. But this design has a small drawback - the shower head turns out to be retractable.
Some manufacturers install cascade mixers on shelves, which also look original and unusual. They are much more convenient to use and more reliable than retractable ones. These faucets are quite expensive because they are designer finds.

We hope that our tips will help you choose a bath.

Are there any contraindications for aero- and hydromassage?

Like all medical procedures, aero- and hydromassage have their contraindications. They cannot be used when:

acute inflammation, infectious and viral diseases;
oncology, thrombophlebitis, ischemic disease;
after strokes and heart attacks;
diseases of the kidneys and circulatory system.

Before using a hot tub, you should carefully study all contraindications.

In the absence of contraindications, the benefits of a jacuzzi for the body are undeniable. Affordable price and relatively small dimensions make them available for home use.