Modern man, accustomed to comfort, hard to imagine daily life without a visit to the bathroom, equipped with quality sanitary ware. Someone makes a choice in favor of a shower, but bathtubs are still very popular. This classic bathing device is unlikely to ever fall into disuse.
Materials for the production of bathtubs
When it comes to choosing a high-quality and beautiful bathtub, it's time to get confused, as the choice of them on the plumbing market is very wide. Modern fonts differ both in the material of manufacture, and in the presence of all kinds of additional functions, and, accordingly, in cost.
As for materials, the most common are cast iron, steel and acrylic, less common are bathtubs made of glass, faience, copper, natural and artificial stone and even wood, as well as the most modern ones - quartz. The first three of these materials are the most in demand, while the rest, rather, are still exotic or luxury items. Cast iron is a long-lived material in the production of bathing containers, while acrylic is one of the most modern trends in plumbing. As for steel, such fontsoccupy some intermediate position in the consumer rating.
First of all, it must be said that pure iron is not used at all for the production of any products, including plumbing. But among the people, the concepts of "steel" and "iron" are often confused, and the steel bowl is referred to only as an iron bath, although it is made from an alloy of iron and carbon, sometimes enriched with some other chemical elements. However, in everyday life this inaccuracy is quite excusable.
Advantages and disadvantages of different materials: cast iron
Let's start with the most conservative material - cast iron, which for a long time simply had no alternative. But, I must say, cast iron is not so bad. Bathtubs from it are very heavy: depending on the size, their average weight lies in the range of 100-150 kg, and it is unlikely that you will be able to cope with the installation of the product alone. This, of course, is a minus, but, on the other hand, it is thanks to the impressive mass that such containers are stable, durable and reliable.
The low thermal conductivity of cast iron allows the water in such fonts to cool down for a long time, which will please fans of long bathing. Special care is required to cover the cast-iron bath. It will be difficult to restore damaged - with deep scratches and chips - enamel. The conditional disadvantages of cast iron baths include the lack of a variety of their shapes, because cast iron is not the easiest technological process. Oval or rectangular troughs are your choice.
Steel versuscast iron
It was steel that for a long time was the only competitor to cast iron in the manufacture of sanitary ware. Therefore, an iron bath (see photo in the review) is a kind of compromise between a cast-iron tank and a font made of a more modern material - acrylic. A steel bowl is at least three to four times lighter than a cast iron bowl of the same dimensions. In a sense, this is a plus, as it greatly simplifies the process of transporting and installing a sanitary ware. But at the same time, the steel bowl is less stable, and this must be remembered and appropriate measures must be taken to avoid tipping it during operation.
Advantages of steel sanitary wares
How to fix the iron bath, the conversation will go a little later, and now a few more words about the advantages and disadvantages of steel as a material for plumbing. The technological process for the production of tanks from it is such that it allows you to give the bowls a wide variety of shapes. Therefore, it is iron bathtubs that often have non-standard sizes, and original shapes. The bath is round, oval, with several seats, iron corner bath - the configuration can be found for every taste.
The application of enamel on a steel bath occurs at high temperatures, as a result of which the coating literally sinters with the surface of the tank and therefore rarely peels off - of course, if we are talking about a quality product. It is easy to care for enamel on steel, since such a surface is not porous. The iron bath is also less sensitiveto impact loads than cast iron. Add a moderate price to the already listed advantages, and it becomes clear why consumers sometimes opt for steel bathtubs.
Disadvantages of steel baths and how to eliminate them
Having listed all the advantages, it would be dishonest to hide the shortcomings that are characteristic of steel sanitary ware. If the consumer is not warned, an unpleasant surprise for him will be the noise when water is drawn into such a bath - the container literally rings, especially if a thin-walled product is purchased. In addition, bowls with insufficient wall thickness under the heavy weight of users can easily deform, and this, in turn, can lead to cracks and chips in the enamel. It is best to choose products with a side wall thickness of 3, 5 or more mm.
Steel is a material with high thermal conductivity, so the water poured into such a bath cools much faster than, for example, in a hot tub made of cast iron or acrylic. But the iron bath itself very quickly becomes warm to the touch, unlike cast iron, and this is a big plus when it comes to bathing children.
It is quite possible to deal with the shortcomings of steel bathtubs. Certain noise insulation measures will significantly reduce both the noise level and the heat transfer coefficient. Often, for soundproofing bathtubs, ordinary polyurethane foam, technical cork and foil polyethylene foam or rubberized sheet materials are used. The issue with the unsightly appearance of such materials is solved by installing a decorative screen. Users who know how to troubleshoottypical shortcomings that are inherent in such a plumbing product as an iron bath, the reviews leave very flattering about it.
Acrylic bathtubs: advantages
Acryl is a polymer that has a very wide application in the modern world: from aircraft construction to cosmetology. Lightness, plasticity and low thermal conductivity are the qualities that are very appropriate in the production of sanitary ware. During the molding process, the product, whether it is a bathtub or a sink, is reinforced for strength. Acrylic bathtub can be of different colors, any size and shape. This polymer is highly hygienic, easy to clean, and silent when filling the tub with water, which cools very slowly in such a container.
Disadvantages of acrylic bathtubs
The disadvantages of acrylic sanitary ware are less than the advantages, but they are. First of all, the polymer surface is more easily damaged than the enamel one. Therefore, an acrylic bath must be used strictly for its intended purpose and no containers, including plastic ones, should be placed in it. But, I must say, such damage can be eliminated by grinding.
Another disadvantage of acrylic is that when washing in such a bath of fading colored products, its surface may be stained. It should not be allowed to come into contact with too hot objects: acrylic melts already at a temperature of 160ºС. Not very high-quality product with prolonged use may be deformed. The high cost of a good acrylic bathtub is a definite barrier to its acquisition.
Now thatall the significant advantages and disadvantages of the main materials used for the manufacture of bathtubs are listed, it will be easier to make a choice and decide for yourself which is better - a cast-iron, acrylic or iron bathtub.
Additional features
The price of any bath, no matter what material it is made of, depends very much on the presence of additional functions in it. These can be specially equipped seats, armrests, headrests, handrails, shelves, devices for aero and hydromassage and aromatherapy, lighting, water heating and disinfection functions.
Bathtub installation: general requirements
First of all, the surface on which the bath is planned to be installed must be flat, and the plumbing product itself must be leveled. After connecting to the sewer, the gaps between the ends of the font and the walls are sealed with silicone sealant. Care must be taken in advance that after the installation of the bathtub and the final finishing of the bathroom, access to the sewage systems is provided.
Any bath requires some tilt towards the drain. Otherwise, the water will stagnate and, as a result, this will lead to a deterioration in its appearance. As a rule, such a slope of the bottom of the bathtub is provided by the manufacturer, but if necessary, it can be increased by means of adjustable legs.
Features of installation of steel bathtubs
As for the installation of steel bathtubs, they should adjoin three walls for betterstability, while cast iron, if desired, can be placed at least in the middle of the room. At the same time, in order to avoid further deformation of the container, it is necessary to leave small gaps between the ends of the bowl and the walls. As a rule, adjustable stands for such baths are included in the kit and are equipped with self-adhesive pads. It happens that bolts are used, but this is not the most ideal option, as over time they can damage the enamel.
If the owner of a steel bath has a desire to get rid of all the shortcomings inherent in a container made of this material, then a standard installation on legs is indispensable. How to reduce noise, we have already considered. As for ensuring stability, there are often recommendations to make several columns under the bottom of the bathtub or a solid foundation of bricks or foam blocks that do not reach the bottom by 2-3 cm, and close this gap with mounting foam. Indeed, this is one of the most reliable ways to install an iron bath. Additional stops under the bottom will reduce the probability of capsizing the tank to zero.
In order to avoid deformation of the walls of the bath, sometimes a container with sand is used, and the iron bath is installed directly into it. But this method has its drawbacks and is not very reliable, because the sand will inevitably compact over time.
You can install the bath without using the legs, but on a special frame made of a metal profile or timber.
Providing security
The iron bath conducts electricity very well, therefore it is requiredmeasures for its mandatory grounding during installation. On the body of a steel tank, there is usually a special device for this, which looks like a petal, to which you need to connect the ground cable.
