In the process of renovating or renovating a bathroom, apartment owners have to choose the right bathtub model. At first glance, it seems that choosing it is easy, but you need to know all the aspects that are taken into account in the selection process. You also need to study the pros and cons of steel baths. This will help you choose a high-quality and durable design, which will be not only an integral part of a modern bathroom, but also a worthy interior decoration.
The most popular materials are considered to be steel and cast iron. These alloys differ in crystal structure and carbon content, so they have different performance characteristics. In this article, we will look at the features of iron and acrylic bathtubs, deal with their pros and cons, and also provide professional advice related to installation. But for self-assembly, you need to study all the pros and cons of steel bathtubs, whichare listed below. This will allow you to turn your bathroom into a masterpiece.
Views
So, what are they like? Steel bathtubs are divided into two types:
- steel;
- acrylic;
- cast iron.
The first type includes steel and stainless steel products. Stainless steel models are not very popular among the population, so they are extremely rare on the market and should not be considered.
Steel baths - benefits and choices
Reviews note such pluses:
- Weigh little;
- affordable;
- have high thermal conductivity. These bathtubs heat up almost immediately, allowing you to comfortably enjoy water treatments;
- plasticity of the metal allows you to make baths of the desired configuration;
- green and hygienic;
- Easy to care for - can be cleaned and sanitized.
Flaws
Reviews note such disadvantages:
- thin walls - iron bathtubs should have at least 0.4 cm walls, but most manufacturers try to save on metal, as a result, many products are easily deformed;
- quickly cool down - high thermal conductivity is not only a plus, but also a disadvantage of steel baths;
- noisy. Steel baths under the pressure of water rattle loudly, so the sound of pouring water can be heard almost throughout the apartment. This causes some discomfort for the household.
All metal bathtubs have pluses andthe cons are the same, because they are mainly related to the material of manufacture. The main disadvantages of steel baths are low thermal insulation and high noise. These shortcomings can be quickly corrected. Today you can buy soundproofing pads attached to the walls. Also for these purposes, you can use ordinary mounting foam, cork and polyethylene foam. This will allow you to increase sound insulation, as well as reduce the thermal conductivity. True, visually the bath in this case will look worse, so you will need to hide it behind a special screen. If the room is small and you plan to place the bath against the wall, then this option is suitable. And if it is placed in the center, such an upgrade is not good.
When analyzing the pros and cons of steel and acrylic bathtubs, you need to understand that these materials have different properties.
Pros and cons of cast iron products
Pros include:
- durability - cast iron has good performance characteristics, so products made from this alloy have a long service life;
- good thermal insulation - the material heats up more slowly than steel, while retaining heat longer;
- durability - cast iron bathtubs are very durable, they are not afraid of mechanical stress (with the exception of products with an enamel coating). They are not afraid of temperature changes and exposure to aggressive cleaning agents;
- good noise reduction - cast iron absorbs the sound of water well against the tub. Therefore, there is no discomfort from noise.
Among the cons:
- heavy weight - cast iron models weigh a lot, making them difficult to transport and install;
- more expensive - although cast-iron models are classified as budget, they still cost more than steel products;
- meager assortment - the properties of cast iron and the technology of its production do not allow the manufacture of bathtubs of various shapes and sizes, so there are often several similar models in stores.
Comparing the pros and cons of cast iron or steel bathtubs, we can definitely say that the former are more optimal. In terms of heat and sound insulation, cast-iron bathtubs are more preferable. You don't need to invent anything extra.
Acrylic
Consider the pros and cons of acrylic bathtubs. Pros include:
- comfortable;
- wide variety of configurations (rectangular, asymmetric, shaft, streamlined, angled, double, round and even hexagonal models) and colors;
- resistant to mechanical stress (but still chips, cracks and scratches may appear);
- small porosity, so dirt and fats do not eat into the bath;
- Easy to install hydromassage;
- lightweight;
- low thermal conductivity.
Cons:
- susceptible to high temperatures. The material melts at 160°С, and begins to deform at 90-95°С;
- fragile. Hard, heavy objects can pierce acrylic when dropped;
- whimsical when leaving. Foracrylic need special cleaners and detergents;
- dear.
Comparing the pros and cons of steel types of bathtubs with acrylic models, you can immediately decide on a more optimal model.
Sizes
We all want to bathe in a spacious bathtub, but a spacious bathtub will not fit in every bathroom.
It should not interfere with the movement and placement of items necessary for the room.
Steel products can be of different sizes, mainly 120-200 cm long, 70-85 cm wide. Models with a length of 120 cm are considered seated, so they save room space. But with these models, you do not need to count on comfortable water procedures. Models with a length of 140-150 cm are more convenient in this regard, but tall people will also be uncomfortable in them, since they have to bend their legs. But many prefer to install these particular models, which is why they are considered standard. Bathtubs 160-170 cm long with a headrest are comfortable for people up to 180 cm tall. Models 200 cm long allow you to truly enjoy water treatments.
The choice of bathtubs in width depends on the parameters of the room and the person: it is uncomfortable for full people to swim in bowls 70-75 cm wide. In terms of depth, models with this indicator equal to 50 cm are comfortable.
Enamel quality
Considering the pros and cons of steel baths, it is worth paying attention to this issue. When visually inspecting, it should be taken into account that the surface of the bath should be smooth, it should not have dimples, roughness, cracks and other defects. This suggests thatmanufacturing technology was fully observed and there is no marriage.
Enamel is the protection and decoration of the bath. Good manufacturers cover products with durable compounds using new technologies. If smudges, chips and other defects are visually visible, then you do not need to buy such a bath, because after 1-3 years it will need to be restored or thrown away. Enamel color is most often found in light colors (beige, blue or white). The choice of color depends on your preferences, but keep in mind that it must be combined with other plumbing elements. Exotic models with black or red enamel can also be found on the market, but you need to choose them with care, otherwise the bath will show your bad taste.
When tapping on the walls of a high-quality bathtub, a ringing sound should be heard, and a very even sound without any vibrations.
In the design of some models, there may be headrests and comfortable handles. Some steel models have hydromassage. In the process of using such a bath, an electric pump pumps water out of the bowl. Then it is mixed with air and fed into the nozzles. The jets of water from the jets allow the body to relax and enjoy the massage.
Shape
There are many bath options on the market today:
- rectangular and oval products suitable for any space. They are very compact and comfortable, but if you want exotic, you need to choose other models;
- corner modifications are ideal for square rooms. They are more spacious but harder to care for than rectangular models;
- round bathtubs are very beautiful, they are placed in the center of the room, so more space is needed;
- asymmetrical models are products of complex shape, suitable for spacious rooms. If the room is spacious, then you can install the bath on the podium, which will look very impressive. Another ideal solution is high-quality lighting built into the floor or podium. This solution will visually make the room larger and focuses all attention on the beauty of the bath.
Wall thickness
The strength of the product directly depends on the thickness of its walls, which must withstand high loads from water and humans. Heat transfer and sound insulation also depend on this, so you need to choose models with walls that are at least 2.5-3 mm thick. It is more expedient to immediately take products with thick walls from 4 mm.
Manufacturers often manage to increase the thickness in the technical documentation. To do this, they make thick walls on the sides of the bath, where the cut is visible. If the client wants to look at the butt, then it will seem to him that everything is normal. Therefore, in order to understand that they are not lying to you, you need to look at the mass of the product. A bathtub with 3 mm walls weighs 30-40 kg, small models cannot be lighter than 20 kg.
Considering the pros and cons of a steel bath, reviews will come in handy. Manyreviews of the owners of steel baths speak of their practicality, durability and reasonable cost. The protective layer of enamel protects the product from cracks and scratches. Steel models are used for an average of 30 years.
Conclusions
So, we looked at the pros and cons of modern steel bathtubs. High performance, a variety of shapes and configurations makes them very popular among buyers. With their help, you can not only comfortably take water procedures, but also perfectly decorate the room. But in the selection process, you need to check the quality, in particular, pay attention to the coating and wall thickness. You also need to know the pros and cons of metal bathtubs. You should not forget about the correct location. The practicality and functionality of the entire room depends on this.
