The bath is a place for bathing, rest and relaxation, a personal spa, sauna and mini-cosmetology room. It should be as comfortable and beautiful as possible
The main difficulty in choosing baths is that you need to take into account at least 10 criteria! What should you pay attention to and how not to “drown” in this sea of information?
Installation
According to the installation method, bathtubs are divided into:
2.1 Wall-mounted
Installed close to at least one wall. Typically, the open outer side of such a bathtub is covered with decorative panels or covered with ceramic tiles.
2.2 Built-in
It is mounted in a recess in the floor or in a special podium, built into a niche. It has certain requirements for the interior and plumbing connections.
2.3 Freestanding
Installed anywhere in the room. They have beautiful outer walls. Mounted on the floor or on legs. This bathtub looks elegant and modern.
Asymmetrical corner baths are:
- Right-handed
- Left-handed
Acrylic bathtubs
Acrylic is a synthetic polymer, that is, it is a type of plastic. This material is widely used in plumbing production due to its many positive properties. Acrylic baths are made by blowing a hot mass in special vacuum chambers, after which the products are additionally reinforced with fiberglass or metal mesh. This technology allows you to make bowls of absolutely any shape, so acrylic bathtubs have the widest variety of models.
Shape and dimensions of acrylic bathtubs
| Technical specifications | Values |
| Wall thickness | 5-6 mm |
| Bowl weight | 15-25 kg |
| Bowl depth | 48-65 cm |
| Height from floor to sides | 54-67 cm |
| Width | 70-160 cm |
| Length | 120-180 cm |
The diameter of round products usually varies between 140-200 cm, but can be increased when made to order. There are models designed for bathing in a sitting position, which, with a large capacity, take up minimal space in the room. The dimensions of such bathtubs range from 130x70 cm to 150x110 cm, and the depth of the bowl is 40-80 cm.
Additional functions of acrylic bathtubs
Advantages:
- acrylic is several times superior to cast iron in terms of heat capacity. This means that the water in the bath will cool very slowly, no more than 1-2 degrees every half hour;
- the relatively low weight allows you to install the bath in any convenient place without calculating the load on the floors. In addition, delivery of the product to the apartment and its installation will not require much effort;
- The acrylic surface is very easy to care for - the material is resistant to household detergents and is not affected by fungi;
- The glossy surface does not fade or wear off during use of the bathtub and can be easily restored. To eliminate minor scratches, chips and other defects, there are special kits on sale;
- acrylic is safe for human health.
Flaws:
- the specifics of production determine the very high cost of acrylic bathtubs compared to cast iron and steel;
- Do not pour boiling water into the bath, as high temperatures cause deformation of the material;
- to clean the surface, do not use compositions with solvents that react with acrylic and corrode it;
- Due to the malleability of the material, the walls of the bathtub are easy to scratch. For this reason, you should not use abrasive substances for cleaning, and you should also avoid dropping solid objects into the bowl. Pet owners should try to bathe their pets as carefully as possible, because their sharp claws can also damage the surface.
Acrylic bathtubs
Installation features
Features of the installation include the mandatory presence of a metal frame, which is a frame made of a steel profile with an anti-corrosion coating. In addition to bowl supports in each corner, the frame has additional stiffening ribs and is equipped with height-adjustable legs. The functions of the frame are to optimally distribute the load throughout the bowl and prevent deflections. Very often the frame comes complete with the bathtub, but sometimes you have to buy it separately or make it yourself.
If there is no factory frame, the installation of the bathtub can be done in two ways - install it on bricks, laying out the walls of the appropriate height, or mount a structure made of timber and waterproof plywood. The first method is more labor-intensive and takes more time, the second is much simpler.
| Image | Step by step description |
Step 1 | Take measurements of the bowl and the height from the floor to the sides. Using these measurements, the timber is cut so that 4 blanks for the frame and 8-10 support posts are obtained. The workpieces must be impregnated with a protective composition and dried thoroughly. |
Step 2 | A frame is assembled from the beams, connecting them together with metal corners and screws, and tightly fixing them to the floor and wall |
Step 3 | A sheet of waterproof plywood is stuffed on top of the resulting frame, in which a hole is cut into the bathtub bowl using a jigsaw. If the bowl is not oval, but rectangular in shape, instead of plywood, a strong board is used, which is packed around the perimeter of the frame |
Step 4 | Insert the bathtub and check its horizontal position using a building level. If the sides are at different heights, wooden pads can be attached to the boards under them. Next we connect communications |
Step 5 | The outside of the frame is sheathed with any suitable sheet material or covered with a purchased screen that does not require additional finishing. |
Signs of quality of acrylic models
Acrylic bathtubs are most often counterfeited using ordinary plastic. In addition, many manufacturers do not adhere to established standards and produce acrylic products that do not stand up to criticism. The following signs will help determine quality:
- wall thickness is not less than 4 and not more than 5 mm. A thin bowl will bend at the slightest impact, and a product with a wall thickness of 6 mm may turn out to be plastic, coated with a layer of acrylic;
- bathtubs with complex configurations are usually of lower quality than standard models, due to the peculiarities of production;
- stronger and more reliable than bathtubs with steel reinforcement, since fiberglass cannot provide such strength;
- When tapped, a high-quality bathtub will make dull sounds, while a fake one will make ringing sounds.
Imported or domestic acrylic bathtubs
Form
3.1 Rectangular
A rectangular bathtub is usually placed against the wall and takes up minimal space.
3.2 Angular
They do not take up much space due to installation in a corner.
3.3 Polygonal
They can be wall-mounted or free-standing.
3.4 Asymmetrical
They can be triangular, polygonal, without sharp corners.
3.5 Oval and round
Suitable mainly for spacious rooms in private homes.
Vote
Which bath did you choose?
Gemy G9041 K
0.00 % ( 0 )
Roca Newcast Gray
5.62 % ( 5 )
Villeroy&Boch Squaro Edge 12
17.98 % ( 16 )
Cezares Fi
3.37 % ( 3 )
Astra Form Marlborough
6.74 % ( 6 )
Kolpa San Bell E2
1.12 % ( 1 )
Roca Continental
5.62 % ( 5 )
Riho Future
13.48 % ( 12 )
AM PM Like
15.73 % ( 14 )
Cersanit Joanna
7.87 % ( 7 )
Roca Swing
11.24 % ( 10 )
Control
Hydromassage baths are equipped with two types of controls:
Electronic
– with remote control and touch panel.
Pneumatic
– with buttons and handles.
The first option is more comfortable, as it allows you to choose the hydromassage program and intensity. The second is less functional, but more reliable.
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Additional functions
If you like to take water treatments and want to enjoy all the delights of a home healing “hydrotherapy clinic”, then pay attention to the jacuzzi. There are 2 types of massage baths:
Hydromassage
Thin directed jets of water are applied to the body. This massage improves muscle tone, relieves nervous tension and spasms, and improves blood circulation. It has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular and nervous systems, and the musculoskeletal system.
Aeromassage
Gently and softly envelop the body with air bubbles. This massage is good for the skin; it normalizes blood and lymph circulation and blood pressure. And most importantly, it has no contraindications.
There are also bathtubs with a hybrid system that have both functions.
What do you need to know about the hydromassage mechanism? Water jets or air are supplied through nozzles (jets). They are made of plastic or brass. The nozzles on the injectors are either fixed or adjustable. The former will spray water in one direction at a given angle, the latter allow you to direct the flow or adjust the direction according to one of the “treatment programs”, for example, to relieve stress, treat cervical or lumbar osteochondrosis, joint diseases, etc. Baths with adjustable nozzle nozzles are more expensive .
Design
Classical
A free-standing bathtub with access from all sides, a bowl made of cast “marble,” artificial (for example, malachite) or noble natural stone (solid pink or yellow marble, onyx, granite) is suitable.
Country, Provence
Romantic rustic styles that will look good with a simple wooden bathtub. It can imitate a huge bath tub with handles, have the shape of a barrel or be rectangular.
High-tech, minimalism, fusion
Almost any steel or acrylic bathtub of any color with hydromassage will fit perfectly into such an interior. Bathtubs made of glass will fit into the fusion style. Bathtubs with LED lighting are suitable for modern styles.
Advantages of steel models
- Let's start with the design. Since steel baths are made not by casting, but by stamping, and the material itself is much more ductile than cast iron, strict restrictions are not imposed on the shape and size of the bowl. As a result, the model range is very diverse, allowing you to choose the appropriate option for both modern and classic interiors.
- The price of steel plumbing, as mentioned above, is very affordable, due to the complete automation of production.
- Bathtubs made of steel are at least two times lighter than cast iron. Their weight, depending on size, ranges from 15 to 50 kg. The bowl can be carried and installed alone, which is very convenient.
- Caring for a steel bathtub is much easier, and it is more hygienic. Enamel baked at high temperatures does not form microcracks, from which it is difficult to remove limescale and dirt.
- Modern models have hydromassage functions, are equipped with handles and soft headrests, do not slip, ensuring complete safety. In terms of comfort, they are superior to their cast iron counterparts and are not inferior to acrylic ones.
