It’s hard for a modern person, accustomed to comfort, to imagine daily life without visiting a bathroom equipped with high-quality sanitary equipment. Someone makes a choice in favor of a shower cabin, but the baths still remain very popular. This classic bathing device is unlikely to ever go out of use.
Materials for the production of bathtubs
When it comes to choosing a high-quality and beautiful bath, it’s time to get confused, since their choice in the plumbing market is very wide. Modern fonts differ both in the material of manufacture, and in the presence of various additional functions, and, accordingly, in cost.
As for materials, cast iron, steel and acrylic are the most common, less common are bathtubs made of glass, earthenware, copper, natural and artificial stone and even wood, as well as the most modern ones - quartz. The first three of these materials are most in demand, while the rest are more likely exotic or luxury items. Cast iron is a long-lived material in the manufacture of bathing containers, while acrylic is one of the most modern areas in the plumbing business. As for steel, such fonts occupy a certain 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 mixed, and the steel bowl is referred to only as an iron bath, although it is made of an alloy of iron with carbon, sometimes enriched with some other chemical elements. However, in everyday life this inaccuracy is quite excusable.
Advantages and disadvantages of various 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 size, their weight on average lies in the range of 100-150 kg, and it is unlikely to 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 for a long time, which will please fans of long bathing. Extra care is required to cover a cast-iron bathtub. To repair damaged - with deep scratches and chips - enamel will be difficult. The conditional disadvantages of cast-iron bathtubs include the lack of a variety of their forms, because casting of cast iron is not the easiest technological process. Oval or rectangular troughs - that's the whole choice.
Steel versus cast iron
It was steel that for a long time was the only competitor to cast iron in the matter of manufacturing sanitary products. Therefore, the 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, having the same dimensions. In a sense, this is a plus, as it greatly simplifies the process of transportation and installation of sanitary products. But at the same time, the steel bowl is less stable, and this must be remembered and appropriate measures taken to avoid overturning it during operation.
Advantages of steel plumbing products
We will talk about how to fix the iron bath 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 makes it possible to give the bowls the most diverse form. Therefore, it is iron baths that often have non-standard sizes , and the forms are original. The bathtub is round, oval, with several seats, the bathtub is angular iron - the configuration can be found for every taste.
Enamel is applied to a steel bath at high temperatures, as a result of which the coating literally sinteres with the surface of the tank and therefore extremely rarely peels off - of course, when it comes to a quality product. It is easy to take care of enamel on steel, since such a surface is not porous. An iron bath is also less sensitive to shock loads than an iron bath. Add to the advantages already listed a moderate price, and it becomes clear why consumers sometimes make the choice in favor of steel bathtubs.
The disadvantages of steel baths and how to eliminate them
Having listed all the advantages, it would be dishonest to conceal the shortcomings characteristic of steel plumbing products. If the consumer is not warned, an unpleasant surprise for him will be noise when water is drawn into such a bath - the container will literally ring, especially if a thin-walled product is purchased. In addition, bowls with insufficient wall thickness under the heavy weight of users can easily be deformed, and this, in turn, can lead to cracks and chips on the enamel. It is best to choose products with a side wall thickness of 3.5 mm or more.
Steel is a material with high thermal conductivity, so the water poured in such a bath cools much faster than, for example, in a font made of cast iron or acrylic. But on the other hand, the iron bath itself very quickly becomes warm to the touch, unlike the cast-iron one, and this is a big plus when it comes to bathing children.
Dealing with the disadvantages of steel baths is real. Certain soundproofing measures will significantly reduce both the noise level and the heat transfer coefficient. Often, for the soundproofing of bathtubs, ordinary mounting foam, technical cork and foil foamed polyethylene 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 eliminate the typical shortcomings that are inherent in such a sanitary product as an iron bath, leave reviews about it very flattering.
Acrylic bathtubs: advantages
Acrylic is a polymer that is widely used in the modern world: from aircraft construction to cosmetology. Lightness, ductility and low thermal conductivity - these are qualities that are very appropriate in the manufacture of plumbing. During molding, 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 noiseless when filling the bath with water, which cools very slowly in such a container.
The disadvantages of acrylic bathtubs
Acrylic plumbing products have fewer drawbacks than advantages, but they are. First of all, the polymer surface is more easily damaged than enameled. Therefore, the acrylic bath must be used strictly for its intended purpose and not put any containers in it, including plastic ones. But I must say, such damage can be eliminated by grinding.
Another disadvantage of acrylic is that when washing shedding colored items in such a bath, its surface may become painted. It should not be allowed to come into contact with too hot objects: acrylic melts already at a temperature of 160 ° C. Not very high-quality product may become deformed during long-term operation. The high cost of a good acrylic bath is a definite obstacle to its acquisition.
Now that all the significant advantages and disadvantages of the basic 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 bath.
Additional functions
The price of any bathtub, no matter what material it is made of, very much depends on the presence of additional functions in it. This can be specially equipped seats, armrests, head restraints, handrails, shelves, devices for aero- and hydromassage and aromatherapy, lighting, water heating and disinfection functions.
Bath Installation: General Requirements
First of all, the surface on which the bath is planned to be installed should be flat, and the sanitary ware itself must be set in level. After connecting to the sewer, the gaps between the ends of the font and the walls are sealed with silicone sealant. In advance, you need to make sure that after installing the bath and final finishing of the bathroom, access to sewage systems is provided.
Any bath requires some inclination 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 bath is provided by the manufacturer, but if necessary, it can be increased by means of adjustable legs.
Features of installing steel bathtubs
As for the installation of steel baths, they should adjoin three walls for better stability, while cast iron, if desired, can be put at least in the middle of the room. In this case, in order to avoid further deformation of the tank, it is necessary to leave small gaps between the ends of the bowl and the walls. As a rule, adjustable stands for such bathtubs are included and come 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 the steel bath has a desire to get rid of all the shortcomings inherent in the container of this material, then standard installation on the legs can not do. 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, not 2-3 cm below the bottom, and close this gap with foam. Indeed, this is one of the most reliable ways to install an iron bath. Additional stops under the bottom will reduce the likelihood of the tank tipping over to zero.
In order to avoid deformation of the walls of the bath, a sand container is sometimes used, and the installation of the iron bath takes place directly in it. But this method has its drawbacks and is not very reliable, because sand will inevitably be compacted over time.
You can install the bath without using legs, but on a special frame made of metal profile or timber.
Security
An iron bath perfectly conducts electric current, therefore, measures are required for its mandatory grounding during installation. On the body of the steel tank there is usually a special device for this, in appearance resembling a petal, to which you need to connect the grounding cable.