Each of us takes a shower or bath daily. And if in Soviet times all bathtubs in apartments were the same, today the market allows you to experiment. All kinds of shapes and a variety of colors make it possible to create a truly comfortable atmosphere in this secret room. But the most important point is to correctly determine the size and volume of the bath when buying.
Types of bathtubs
You can talk about varieties of plumbing indefinitely. All baths can be conditionally divided according to several criteria that are worth evaluating before heading to the store.
- The size and volume of the bath. How to determine it, you will learn a little later.
- The form.
- Color and design.
- The material from which the bathtub is made.
- The color scheme of the bathroom.
- Functional.
Each of these parameters can affect the final choice, because the bath is bought once and for many years, which means that it should be comfortable, safe, durable.
Cast iron bathtubs
Everyone remembers the old baths that were installed in Soviet apartments. Heavy cast-iron construction on legs closed by sliding shield doors or just a curtain.
Modern cast-iron bathtubs are also relevant. They store the heat of water for a long time, last for decades, are more silent due to the thickness of the walls, but, as a rule, are 2-3 times more expensive than analogues. The volume of a cast-iron bathtub depends on its size and depth. If we take standard samples with a size of 150x70, then their average volume is from 152 to 169 liters, depending on the depth. It is a pity that the cast-iron bathtubs do not shine with the variety of forms.
Steel bathtubs
Unlike its heavy counterparts, the steel bath is more convenient in transportation and installation. Yes, and it warms up during filling much faster, because the thermal conductivity of steel is better than that of cast iron. It is easier to update a steel bathroom if necessary, and also to pick up accessories. And the price of such a model is very reasonable.
You can not remain silent about the shortcomings of the steel bath. Unfortunately, the water in it cools quickly, and if you drop something heavy, dents and scratches may occur. But with proper operation and respect, this option remains the most profitable of all.
Acrylic bathtubs
Not so long ago, this type of plumbing appeared on sale. It is worth noting that acrylic bathtubs quickly found their place on the market and are gaining popularity every year. In fact, this is a plastic container, reliably strengthened by reinforcement. The quality of an acrylic bathtub depends on the number of layers of threads.
Unlike steel ones, such bathtubs are more heat-intensive and weigh several times less than cast-iron, which makes them a great option for any apartment. In addition, the range of acrylic bathtubs is very large: a lot of variations in shapes and colors, sizes and positions. Another plus is ease of care. Even if you have slightly damaged the surface, you can easily get rid of the flaw with sandpaper. So if you are looking for just such a model, it remains only to determine how much bath volume you need. Acrylic bathtubs come in capacities from 140 to 250 liters.
Bathroom for a small room
Renovating a small room, whether it’s a bathroom or bedroom, is always a problem. You need to fit everything you need, while creating the illusion of spaciousness. Therefore, the choice of a bathroom for small rooms is a special thing. Of course, I want the bath volume to be larger, especially if you like to soak for several hours in warm water after a hard working day. But this is not always real.
It’s worth mentioning right away that a cast-iron bathtub is not suitable for a small room. Firstly, it is rather cumbersome in itself and will create an effect of cramped space. Well, and secondly, cast-iron bathtubs are available in standard sizes and shapes, which is not very appropriate in your case. But acrylic and steel bathtubs are ideal, as their range is very diverse. You can choose a small classic, angular, round or even sedentary. The main thing is to know exactly the volume of the bath. How to determine it, now we will understand. This is actually not at all difficult.
How to determine the volume
As a rule, in stores on the price tags are registered not only dimensions, such as height, width and length, but also the volume of the bath in liters. This indicator is important for many, because the larger it is, the stronger the monthly payment for water strikes. If for some reason the bath volume is not indicated on the parameter plate, ask the consultant to show the passport for it. The manufacturer always necessarily indicates the exact figure.
If we talk about online stores, the bath volume in liters is not always indicated there. But to calculate it yourself is not difficult, it is enough to recall the school course in mathematics and find three basic quantities: length, width and height. According to the classical formula, we multiply these numbers, and they are always indicated in the product card, and we get the volume of the bath in liters. For example, your bathtub is 170 cm long, 65 cm wide and 42 cm high. Translates m decimeters and multiply: 17x6.5x4.2 = 464.1 cubic decimeters or liters (1 dm 3 = 1 l).
A bit more complicated is the case with non-standard bathrooms, in which different parts differ in size. But again, a school course in mathematics will help. Consider the example of a rounded model, one part of which is 55 cm in length and the second - 65 cm. The bathroom height is the same - 45 cm. We calculate the area of the semicircle, converting centimeters to decimeters for convenience: 3.14x5.5x6.5: 2 = 56, 1275 dm 2 . Multiply the resulting number by the height of the bath: 56.1275x4.5 = 252 cubic decimeters. We translate into liters and get a bath volume of about 250 liters. As you can see, there is nothing complicated in the calculations. Now you can easily choose the right bath for your bathroom and save on water!