There is hardly a person who would not like water procedures. It is very difficult to underestimate the effectiveness of their impact on the body. Baths made with s alt, oils or herbs are especially good for relieving fatigue after a hard day and toning muscles. That is why, when arranging an apartment or simply during planning repairs, the owners also pay attention to equipment for taking water procedures.
What should be the bath to be durable, reliable and easy to use and install? This choice is quite difficult. After all, a modern manufacturer offers a lot of options that differ from each other in the material used in the manufacture, in shape and size. Modern baths are made of steel, acrylic, cast iron, ceramics. There are specimens made of natural stone. Despite saturationof the modern market and the emergence of new materials on it, acrylic and cast-iron bathtubs remain the most popular among consumers. Steel products are also popular. It is these products that the bulk of buyers purchase for their apartments. Let's try to figure out which bath is better to install - cast iron or acrylic. Let's compare their main characteristics.
The history of creation and variety of cast-iron baths
Products made from this material are not only durable and reliable, but also retain heat well. For the production of bathtubs, cast iron, which is an alloy of iron and carbon, has been used for a very long time. The first products made from this material appeared in 1925 near Barcelona in Spain. The Roca brothers, owners of a cast-iron radiator factory, decided to expand the range offered by their company. They launched a new product - cast-iron bathtubs. Until now, Roca is one of the world's leading leaders in this market segment. The products of this brand are distinguished by high quality, durability and a variety of colors.
It is worth noting that today in Europe there is a noticeable decrease in the total number of cast iron sanitary ware. They gradually began to be replaced by cheaper, more environmentally friendly in production and also easy to transport bathtubs.
Cast iron products are produced by only a few companies. The most famous of them, apart from Roca, are Porcher and Jacob Delafon. Such baths are produced in large quantities in Russia, as well asother CIS countries. However, here they are presented with a small selection of shades and only two sizes.
I would like to note that cast-iron bathtubs from European manufacturers are distinguished by a more diverse and beautiful design. It can be side handles, as well as armrests. In addition, it is possible to increase the area of the bottom due to the changed angle of inclination of one of the backs. Imported products are possible in any design. It can be both a classic, which provides the possibility of embedding, or a luxurious English style.
Features of cast iron bathtubs
Properly made product has walls whose thickness should not be less than 0.5 centimeters. At the same time, a high-quality cast-iron bathtub is distinguished by strong enamel, which is applied twice in the factory. The material from which the product is made contains a certain amount of sulfur, silicon or manganese, which give it additional strength. The enamel coating of cast iron bathtubs can last for a long period (10-30 years). The specific period depends on the loads and can be even longer.
The good side of cast iron bathtubs
This classic version of the sanitary ware, which was previously used by almost all representatives of the older generation, is to many people's liking. Such bathtubs are especially appreciated for their durability. That is why such plumbing, which can last up to half a century, will certainly attract the attention of practical people. In addition, these robust bathtubs are highly resistant to corrosion and aggressive chemicals. They pleasetheir owners with smooth, pleasant to the touch, factory-made enamel.
Cast-iron bathtubs attract customer attention:
- the ability to keep warm;
- lack of pores on the surface of the enamel, which does not allow dirt particles and water to penetrate into the internal structure of cast iron;
- noiselessness, which is a remarkable ability of the material;
- color depth, which, with proper handling of enamel, pleases for many years;
- easy cleaning with the possibility of using any detergent (acids and abrasives are still best avoided).
Modern manufacturers of cast-iron bathtubs give us additional comfort and safety. They equip their products with armrests, headrests, as well as anti-slip coating.
The downsides of cast iron bathtubs
The negative aspects that are present in these products include:
- Large bathtub weight, which makes it difficult to transport, carry and install. How much does a cast iron bath weigh? Depending on the dimensions of the product, this indicator can range from 80 to 135 kg.
- Danger of damage to furniture during installation, as any collision with cast iron can damage the surface of cabinets, doors, etc.
- Lack of variety in shapes and configurations (companies only offer oval or rectangular products due to the complexity of the manufacturing process).
As you can see, cast iron bathtubs have more advantages than disadvantages. However, it should be borne in mind that high-quality products are produced only by well-known manufacturers. Those who decide to save money on a purchase may soon find that their purchase has managed to lose its most important characteristics for a short time.
Steel sanitaryware
The world does not stand still. Mankind is constantly coming up with more and more perfect products with attractive characteristics. The same thing happened with the baths. Cast iron was replaced by steel. They were not inferior to them in strength, but at the same time they were cheaper. The price sometimes differed by 2-3 times. Most often, this served as a weighty argument when choosing a sanitary ware. In addition, many consumers were attracted by the fact that almost any shape was given to a steel product. In addition to being oval and rectangular, like cast iron, it could be asymmetrical, polygonal or compact angular.
Such products are made from steel sheets, the thickness of which is in the range from 0.23 to 0.35 cm. The acrylic-based enamel that covers the surface of the bath is not as thick as that of cast iron. Nevertheless, thanks to modern application technologies, this layer is quite strong and reliable.
The weight of steel tubs ranges from 25 to 30 kg. They are quite elegant in appearance and have a life span of thirty years.
Acrylic bathtubs
Modern manufacturing capabilities and the ever-increasing needs of people have led to the creation of improved personal care products. It was the desire of a person to see beautiful and durable bathtubs in his home, with a wide variety of shapes and colors, that became the impetus for the creation of acrylic bathtubs. These products were developed 30 years ago and quickly gained popularity with consumers.
The full name of the material used in their manufacture is methyl acrylate. It is a synthetic polymer derived from acrylic acid. The substance has high resistance to abrasion, oxygen and ultraviolet. In addition, the surface of this material is warm, smooth and very pleasant to the touch.
Acrylic bathtubs are made in one of two ways. In the first of them, a sheet of source material of suitable size is taken, which is bent to the required shape in a vacuum chamber. The resulting container is not strong and can be easily bent. To make the surface of the bath rigid, it is reinforced with several layers of epoxy, between which fiberglass is laid.
The second, injection technology, uses a fiberglass frame. It is on it that acrylic is applied. At the same time, the product turns out to be quite durable, which distinguishes it favorably from bathtubs made according to the first method.
A well-made acrylic bathtub has walls at least 4-6 mm thick. If you tap on its sides, the sound should not be too loud. Otherwise, we can conclude that the manufacturer decided to reduce costs by saving on reinforcement.
Often the owner of the apartment, equipping his bathroom, asksthe question "Which is better - an acrylic or a cast-iron bath?" At the same time, most often he makes his choice in favor of a more modern product. The explanation for this lies in the variety of shapes, lightness and beauty of acrylic bathtubs.
Positive aspects of polymer products
This plumbing, despite the fact that it appeared on the domestic market relatively recently, has already gained great popularity.
Among the positive qualities of acrylic bathtubs are:
- excellent heat retention;
- abundance in models of functionality (for example, hydromassage);
- huge selection of sizes and shapes;
- light weight.
Negative sides of acrylic products
Among the disadvantages of such baths are:
- difficulty in care;
- the ability to bend at the time of use;
- negligible service life;
- the inability of acrylic to withstand too high temperatures.
Easy installation
Acrylic or cast iron bath - which is better when arranging a plumbing unit? Let's try to compare these products in terms of ease of installation.
Which bath to choose - acrylic or cast iron? This question is often asked by apartment owners when planning repairs. Those who decide to install the bath on their own should remember that it is impossible for one person to bring cast-iron products into the house. Due to their impressive mass, difficulties arise during installation. After all, a cast-iron bath, which is placed on four cast legs,will need to be securely mounted on a flat surface.
Some difficulties arise when installing an acrylic product. Its installation and connection to the sewerage system is impossible without pre-assembly of the metal frame. The need to perform such actions makes installation somewhat difficult, but due to the low weight of all parts, one person can handle such work. For example, an acrylic bath 150x70 has a mass of 15 to 20 kg. A model with a length of 170 cm, depending on the width, weighs 20-25 kg.
The easiest is to install a steel bath. It can also be handled by one person. But sometimes, to improve the sound insulation of the product, a layer of penofol is glued to its bottom or mounting foam is applied. This complicates the work somewhat.
Comparison of cast-iron and acrylic and steel bathtubs in terms of ease of installation allows you to make your choice in favor of the latter. In second place are acrylic bathtubs. Cast iron products are the most difficult to install.
Easy maintenance
Acrylic or cast iron bath - which is better in this parameter? As mentioned above, high-quality cast iron baths have a fairly thick coating layer, which is highly durable. Even if the stain penetrates deep into the enamel, it can be removed by any of the available methods. In this case, chemical reagents and mechanical action can be used.
Acrylic bathtubs need to be cleaned carefully. The means necessary to care for them should not include aggressive "chemistry" and strong abrasives. Only in this case it will be possibleprevent the formation of cracks, and the product will retain its original appearance for a long time.
Steel tubs need to be cleaned almost as carefully as acrylics. After all, the layer of enamel applied to them is much thinner than that of cast iron products. In this case, abrasive cleaners can be used, but this must be done with care so as not to damage the surface.
In terms of ease of maintenance, an acrylic or cast-iron bath - which is better? The most unpretentious are products made of cast iron. If a steel bath is included in the comparative analysis, then it will take an average position. Acrylic is the hardest to maintain.
Lifetime
What is the difference between a cast-iron bathtub and an acrylic one? Of course, its service life. No wonder cast iron products still do not lose their popularity. After all, they are able to serve the owners for at least fifty years. Agree, the period is decent enough. As for cast acrylic products, they can be used for an average of 15 years. If we consider steel bathtubs, then in terms of their service life they are in second position, delighting consumers for at least 20-30 years.
Protection of coatings
Acrylic and cast iron tubs have pros and cons. And when choosing a sanitary ware option, you need to carefully consider their positive and negative sides. As for the degree of protection of coatings, this characteristic is closely related to their care. The enamel applied to cast iron is the most durable. This process takes place in stages using technology.firing. This way the bath gets maximum protection.
As for acrylic, it is fragile. This material does not hold up if anything heavy is thrown at it. After that, cracks may well appear on the bath.
When considering this parameter, the steel bath again turns out to be in the middle positions. It is covered with good quality enamel, but the layer of this coating is thinner than that of cast iron products.
Variety of shapes
In this matter, the advantages of an acrylic bathtub over a cast iron one are obvious. If manufacturers of cast iron products offer only two options for shapes, then for those owners who dream of an original design, an option from a more modern material is suitable.
Steel bathtubs are on the same level as acrylic products.
Variety of sizes
Deep cast iron bathtubs. They are produced by a European manufacturer in lengths from 150 to 180 cm. The width of the product is in the range of 60-90 cm. The standard length of the inner (lower) part is 110-120 cm.
Domestic cast-iron bathtubs are made 70 cm wide with a length ranging from 120 to 150 cm.
Acrylic products, like steel, have a variety of both shapes and sizes. They can be small or large, narrow or wide, deep or not. Different sizes of sides and diameters are provided in round and corner versions. If we talk about oval and rectangular models, then they are most often produced with a width of 70-170 cm and a length120-190 cm. For example, there is an acrylic bath 150x70 cm, 140x90 cm, etc.
Surface restoration
Unfortunately, even the most seemingly durable things wear out over time. The cast iron tub is no exception. However, it does not deteriorate. Wear affects the enamel applied at the factory.
How to restore a cast-iron bath? You can do this yourself by applying one of three methods:
1. In the first of them, the restoration of a cast-iron bath is carried out by treating its inner surface with a special coloring composition. This method is one of the oldest and has long been time-tested. Restoration of a cast-iron bath in this case is carried out with a brush. In addition, special restoration kits should be used, including enamel, hardener and, if desired, tints that change the color of the bath. Enamel is applied to a previously cleaned surface in several layers, each of which must be well dried before applying the next one.
2. The second method involves placing an acrylic liner in the bathroom. Otherwise, this technique is called "bath to bath". What does she represent? A pre-made-to-order acrylic bathroom liner is inserted into the old piece. Inside it is attached with foam or special mastic.
3. In the third method, an acrylic coating is applied to cast iron. In another way, this method is called a "bulk bath". In this case, liquid acrylic is used, which is applied to an old, pre-preparedsurface.
Restoration of acrylic products
Baths made from modern materials are hygienic, comfortable and practical. However, over time or due to careless operation, cracks or chips may form on their surface. Repair of an acrylic bathroom in the first case is quite simple. To carry it out, you will need to clean the surface with sandpaper, and then treat it with a special polish.
For deeper cracks, an acrylic bathtub is repaired with epoxy putty. It is also used in the elimination of holes and chips.
