Today, in most cases, buyers purchase acrylic bathtubs. They differ in a number of positive characteristics. However, in order to choose a worthy product, you need to know several features of this kind of plumbing. It should be considered what an acrylic bath is, what are its main features. Next will be described in detail the characteristics of such products.
general characteristics
What are acrylic bathtubs? Many have come across this concept, but it is not always possible to fully learn about all the features of this variety of plumbing. Buyers know that the presented variety of bathtubs has a lot of advantages. Therefore, acrylic bowls are absorbed more often than other varieties.
However, such products have a number of disadvantages. Therefore, discussions on which bath is better do not subside to this day. It all depends on the requirements of the buyer, operating conditions. In most cases, acrylic bowls become the only option for installation. For this reason, they are installed everywhere.
When deciding which bathtub (steel, acrylic or cast iron) is more suitable in a particular case, you should take into account the features of the bathroom, the dimensions and configuration of the room, as well as other operational requirements.
Acrylic allows you to make bowls of almost any size and configuration. Therefore, each owner of a private house or apartment will be able to choose a worthy option. Acrylic is a special polymer. It costs less than cast iron or steel. You can buy a similar product in Moscow at a price of 5.5 thousand rubles.
Acrylic bathtubs are made from a special polymer. This material may have some differences, depending on the composition and method of creating the bowl. Quality may also vary significantly. Therefore, when choosing a bath is not worth saving. Acrylic may be different. That he served for many years for the benefit of his masters, do not save on its quality.
Acrylic Bowl Production
To understand what acrylic bathtubs are, it is necessary to consider the technology of their production. Today, the vast majority of bathtubs are made from polymethyl methacrylate. This is a modern polymer, which is simply called plumbing acrylic. It is widely used in the manufacture of not only bathtubs, but also showers.
The material has a lot of advantages. Products that are obtained from it have strength as well as lightness. Installation is straightforward. Acrylic is a plastic material. From it you can create products of almost any configuration. The size of the bowl can also be any. One of the most popular in our country is an acrylic bathtub 170x70 cm.
It is worth noting that the acrylic layer covers the product only 1 mm outside. Mostly the rest of the product consists of acrylonetributadienirol. This is a special kind of plastic. The bath can be made in one of 2 ways - extruded or cast. The first option is also called "fake" bathrooms. This name fully reflects the attitude of consumers to similar products.
Cast bowls are created from a layer of acrylic, which is reinforced with fiberglass on the back side, as well as with polyester resins. The bottom of the cast structure is reinforced with special embedded chipboard sheets. In this case, an acrylic bath frame is used. Cast bathtubs are of high quality. They are able to serve more than 20 years.
Extruded varieties of plumbing are often purchased for a summer residence, where the bath will not be used often.
Benefits
To understand which bathtub is better, acrylic or steel, it is worth considering the advantages and disadvantages of such products. Acrylic baths have a number of positive characteristics. They may have the most unusual design. You can abandon the standard type of bowl. Even rectangular acrylic bathtubs of 150x70 cm can look interesting and unusual. Modern manufacturers offer a wide selection of products that can decorate any room.
The color of acrylic can also be any. However, white options are more popular. But there are different options to complement the existing design. You can make inserts from shockproof glass, install an aeration and hydromassage system. The backlight mounted in an acrylic bowl looks very impressive. Water changes color because of it. It is relaxing. The nervous system relaxes under the influence of additional systems installed in the bath. A person can relax, recharged with energy and good mood.
Acrylic bathtubs are relatively lightweight. Therefore, they are easy to transport home, as well as install in the right place. It should be noted that a bathtub made of cast iron with standard dimensions weighs about 120 kg. An acrylic bathtub weighs around 25 kg.
Acrylic is a low noise material. It retains heat well, so the water in the bowl does not cool quickly. With proper installation and selection of a cast structure (not extruded), the bath can last more than 2 decades. At the same time, if you want to install an acrylic bath with your own hands, it will not be difficult.
disadvantages
When choosing acrylic bathtubs in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Ufa or other cities of Russia, it is worth paying attention to some of the disadvantages that such products have. It is immediately worth noting that the material is quite flexible and fragile. Therefore, not every model is suitable for a person with a large body weight. An acrylic bathtub of 150x70 cm in this case quickly deforms and cracks form on it. Only angular, spacious models should be chosen for people with a lot of weight. The fragility of the material requires proper installation. The fixation of the bowl should be fairly tight. This will avoid deformation during the operation of plumbing.
Cracks may appear on the surface of the acrylic if a heavy object falls into the bowl (for example, a weighty soap box, etc.). In this case, there may even be a hole in the material. You will need to purchase a new bowl. To avoid this, do not use heavy objects inside the bath. Only bathtubs made from special acrylic (methacryl and quaryl) can withstand shock.
In addition, acrylic does not withstand high temperatures. The material begins to melt. This process becomes noticeable at a temperature of 150º. Of course, no one will draw such water into the bath. However, when choosing a cheap product from a little-known manufacturer, deformations were also observed at lower temperatures. If the walls of the bathtub are thin, do not draw hot water into it or pour boiling water.
Many varieties of acrylic bathtubs are sensitive to household chemicals. If plumbing is purchased from the mid- or low-price category, do not use abrasive or chemically active substances to clean the surface. This will require the purchase of special substances.
Selection tips
When choosing acrylic bathtubs in St. Petersburg, Moscow or other Russian cities, you should pay attention to a number of recommendations. This will avoid mistakes when choosing. Do not buy such plumbing in a small store. The choice here will be less, and the prices are likely to be higher.
When choosing bowls with a complex configuration, do not purchase models with a large number of small elements. This is a sign of poor product quality. To get a quality bowl with a large number of elements, acrylic undergoes a complex processing process. Modern manufacturers do not have such an arsenal of technical means to create a bathtub of this kind qualitatively.
When buying, it is worth considering the inner surface of the bowl. It should not have irregularities, any other defects. The presence of even slight roughness indicates a low quality of the material. In addition, the acrylic surface should not be stained. Color must be uniform.
It is advisable to pay attention to 2 types of product thickness. The first of them is acrylic thickness. This is the top layer of the product. Bathtubs are considered the highest quality, the thickness of the upper layer of which is at least 5-6 mm. The second thickness parameter is determined in the area of reinforcement. This layer can be seen at the end of the rim. The thicker this layer, the better the product.
You can tap on the surface of the bath. The sound must be muffled. The presence of vibration produces poor quality material. Also, an unpleasant chemical smell should not come from acrylic. If present, operating the bath may be unsafe for health.
Configuration
A large number of different acrylic bathtubs are on sale. They may differ in configuration. The following varieties exist:
- oval;
- round;
- rectangular;
- asymmetric;
- angular.
A wide variety of forms will allow each buyer to purchase a suitable option. One of the most popular varieties is a rectangular acrylic bathtub 170x70 cm. In standard bathtubs, it looks decent. However, if there is a very small bathroom, it is better to consider other options.
The oval bowl looks stylish in different interiors. Rounded shapes resemble natural motifs. However, many already managed to get bored with rectangular and oval baths, which were popular in Soviet times.
Asymmetric bowls look original. They can be left or right. The choice depends on the characteristics of the bathroom.
One of the most popular varieties are corner bathtubs. They look harmoniously in the interior, allowing you to give it a modern, stylish look. The corner baths are quite large. Therefore, they are not installed in small rooms.
Round baths are installed in the center of the room. Therefore, the bathroom should have significant dimensions. For a small bathroom, this option is not suitable. In it, rectangular or asymmetric models will be more appropriate.
Manufacturer's Reviews
To choose a quality model, you need to consider the popular manufacturers of acrylic bathtubs. Such products have proven excellent quality. Well-known manufacturers make acrylic bowls in accordance with established standards. Therefore, the quality of the products is high.
The domestic market presents products of domestic and foreign manufacturers. The most popular foreign brands are:
- IDO - Finland.
- Senoplast - Austria.
- Appollo - China.
- Hoesch - Germany.
- Ravak - Czech Republic.
The cost of foreign products is high. However, these are really high-quality products, tested over years of excellent service. A huge variety of models allows you to choose the best option. These companies are trendsetters for acrylic bowls. They manufacture products in accordance with the latest fashion trends in the design of sanitary facilities.
Domestic manufacturers do not lag behind foreign companies. They make products of decent quality. At the same time, the cost will be lower than that of foreign counterparts. The most popular domestic manufacturers of acrylic bathtubs are the Aquatec and Acryllan brands. If desired, a special acrylic liner can be ordered at these companies. It is installed in an old cast-iron or steel bath. This allows you to hide defects without changing the plumbing completely.
Preparation for installation
If you want to install an acrylic bathtub 70x170 or a product with other dimensions, you should consider this process in more detail. This is a rather difficult task. However, if desired, even an unprepared master can cope with it.
You need to choose a method that will be acceptable during installation in this case. The acrylic bathtub can be installed on a frame made of a metal profile. It is needed to give rigidity to the structure. She will not become loose when a person enters the bowl.
You can also mount plumbing on bricks. They are needed for the same purpose as the frame. You can combine these two methods. The bath is installed on the frame, but under its bottom is laid out a cabinet of bricks. This will qualitatively strengthen the design.
Before starting work, you need to prepare the necessary tools in the work. Need a drill with a depth gauge for creating holes. A perforator can be used for these purposes. You should also prepare a set of wrenches, a level, as a rule, a long ruler (more than 50 cm) and a simple pencil to create a markup.
You need to purchase a sanitary sealant. It contains special substances that prevent the development of bacteria and fungi on the material. The joints between the wall and the bathroom will be sealed with a sealant. Therefore, wanting to install the bowl in the center of the room, you can not acquire this material. Fixing to the wall occurs using special fasteners. It can be hooks or other special items.
If brickwork is to be created, cement mortar will be required. It is necessary to prepare a trowel and a container for mixing the solution. It should prepare bricks, foam.
If the bathtub is small, it can be installed on special legs (sold complete with a bathtub).
Start installation of acrylic bathtub 70
First, a metal frame is assembled. It is applied to the bottom of the bowl. Attachment points are marked with a pencil. Under the back of the bath you need to put cardboard. According to the designations created, drill holes. Depth must be at least 6 mm and diameter 3 mm. In order not to drill all the material, a mark is made on the drill. Drilling holes deeper is not worth it.
After that, adjustable legs are installed on the frame. Screw the fastening nut onto the support studs. Then the adjusting element (nut) is screwed. After that, protection from plastic is put on. Using the locknuts, the assembled leg structure is fixed at the same height. Next, the frame is attached to the bowl.
Installation complete
On the wall make appropriate markings. Drill holes on it. Next, special hooks are installed on the wall. They put on a bath. The product is substituted against the wall, exposing it strictly in a horizontal position. To do this, apply the building level and adjust the legs.
If a brick frame is to be built, there must be a minimum of 1 cm between it and the bottom of the bathtub. This gap is filled with foam.
After installation, you need to connect the drain, install a tap. Next, a decorative edge is created, a panel that will give the product a complete look. It is imperative to provide access to communications. This will allow you to quickly respond in the event of a leak. The edge between the bathroom and the wall is covered with a decorative edge, sealing the gaps with sealant.
Having considered what acrylic bathtubs are, their features, advantages and disadvantages, you can make the right decision about the advisability of choosing such a product for your home or apartment.