In the process of repairing or equipping a bathroom, apartment owners have to choose the appropriate bath model. At first glance it seems that it is easy to choose, 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 construction, which will be not only an integral part of the modern bathroom, but also a worthy decoration of the interior.
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 consider the features of iron and acrylic bathtubs, we will deal with their poles and minuses, and we will also give professional advice related to installation. But for self-assembly, you need to study all the pros and cons of steel bathtubs, which are listed below. This will allow you to make a real masterpiece from the bathroom.
Kinds
So what are they? Steel baths are divided into two types:
The first type includes products from steel and stainless steel. Stainless steel models are not very popular among the population, so they are extremely rare on the market and should not be considered.
Steel bathtubs - benefits and choices
Reviews note such advantages:
- low weight;
- reasonable in price;
- have great thermal conductivity. These baths are heated almost immediately, which allows you to comfortably enjoy water procedures;
- the plasticity of the metal allows you to make baths of the desired configuration;
- eco-friendly and hygienic;
- easy to clean - amenable to cleaning and sanitization.
disadvantages
Reviews note such disadvantages:
- thin walls - iron baths should have walls of at least 0.4 cm, but most manufacturers try to save on metal, as a result - many products are easily deformed;
- cool quickly - high thermal conductivity is not only a plus, but also a lack of steel baths;
- noisiness. Steel baths under the pressure of water thunder strongly, so the noise of pouring water is heard almost throughout the apartment. This causes some discomfort for households.
All metal bathtubs have the same pros and cons, because they are mainly associated with the material of manufacture. The main disadvantages of steel baths are low thermal insulation and high noise. These flaws can be quickly fixed. Today you can buy soundproof pads attached to the walls. Also, for this purpose, you can use ordinary mounting foam, cork and foamed polyethylene. This will allow you to increase sound insulation, as well as make the coefficient of thermal conductivity less. 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 bathtub against the wall, then this option is suitable. And if you place it in the center, such an upgrade is not good.
While 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
Among the advantages:
- durability - cast iron is characterized by good performance, therefore, products from this alloy have a long service life;
- good thermal insulation - the material heats up more slowly than steel, while retaining heat longer;
- wear resistance - cast iron bathtubs are very durable, they are not afraid of mechanical influences (with the exception of products with enamel coating). They are not afraid of temperature extremes and exposure to aggressive cleaning agents;
- good noise reduction - cast iron well absorbs the sound of water, which beats strongly against the bath. Therefore, noise discomfort does not occur.
Among the cons:
- large mass - pig-iron models weigh a lot, which complicates their transportation and installation;
- more expensive - even though cast-iron models are classified as budget ones, they still cost more than steel products;
- meager assortment - the properties of cast iron and the technology of its production do not allow to make bathtubs of various shapes and sizes, so in stores most often there are several similar models.
Comparing the pros and cons of cast-iron or steel baths, we can definitely say that the former are more optimal. In terms of heat and sound insulation, cast-iron bathtubs are more preferable. There is no need to invent anything else.
Acrylic
Consider the pros and cons of acrylic bathtubs. Among the advantages:
- comfortable;
- a wide variety of configurations (rectangular, asymmetric, shaft, streamlined, angular, double, round and even hexagonal models) and colors;
- resistant to mechanical stress (but still chips, cracks and scratches may appear);
- low porosity, so dirt and grease are not eaten into the bath;
- easy to integrate hydromassage;
- a light weight;
- low thermal conductivity.
Minuses:
- susceptible to high temperatures. The material melts at 160 ° C, and begins to deform at 90-95 ° C;
- fragile. Hard, heavy objects can pierce acrylic when dropped;
- moody when leaving. Acrylic needs special cleaning and washing products;
- expensive.
By comparing the pros and cons of steel types of bathtubs with acrylic models, you can immediately decide on a more optimal model.
Dimensions
We all want to bathe in a spacious bathroom, but a roomy bath does not fit in any bathroom.
It should not impede 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 120 cm long are considered sedentary, so they save room space. But with these models you do not need to rely on comfortable water procedures. Models with a length of 140-150 cm are more convenient in this regard, but tall people in them will also be uncomfortable, since they have to bend their legs. But many prefer to install precisely these 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. 200 cm long models will allow you to truly enjoy water procedures.
The width of the choice of bathtubs depends on the parameters of the room and the person: full people are uncomfortable swimming in bowls 70-75 cm wide. Models in which this figure is 50 cm are comfortable in depth.
Enamel quality
Considering the pros and cons of steel baths, it is worth paying attention to this issue. During a visual inspection, it should be borne in mind that the surface of the bathtub should be smooth, it should not have dimples, roughnesses, cracks and other defects. This suggests that the manufacturing technology has been fully respected and there is no marriage.
Enamel is the protection and decoration of the bath. Good manufacturers coat products with durable formulations 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 tones (beige, blue or white). The choice of color depends on your preferences, but keep in mind that it should be combined with other elements of plumbing. On the market you can find exotic models with black or red enamel, but you need to choose them with caution, otherwise the bath will show your tastelessness.
When tapping the walls of a high-quality bath, a clear and very even sound should be heard without any vibrations.
Some models may include head restraints and comfortable handles. Some steel models include hydromassage. In the process of using such a bath, the 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 nozzles allow the body to relax and enjoy a massage.
The form
There are many bath options on the market today:
- rectangular and oval products suitable for any room. 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 with rectangular models;
- round bathtubs are very beautiful, they are placed in the center of the room, therefore more space is needed;
- asymmetric models are complex products that are suitable for spacious rooms. If the room is spacious, you can install the bath on the podium, which will look very impressive. Another ideal solution is a high-quality backlight mounted in the floor or on the podium. Such a decision will make the room visually larger and focuses on the beauty of the bath.
Wall thickness
The strength of the product directly depends on the thickness of its walls, which must tolerate high loads from water and humans. Heat transfer and sound insulation also depend on this, so you need to choose models with walls with a thickness of at least 2.5-3 mm. It is more expedient to immediately take products with thick walls from 4 mm.
Often manufacturers manage to increase the thickness in the technical documentation. To do this, they make thick walls on the sides of the bathtub, where a section is visible. If the client wants to see the butt, then it will seem to him that everything is normal. Therefore, to understand that you are not lying, you need to look at the mass of the product. A bath 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 not be superfluous. Many reviews of the owners of steel baths speak about their practicality, durability and reasonable cost. Enamel protective layer protects the product from cracks and scratches. Steel models have been in operation for an average of 30 years.
conclusions
So, we examined the pros and cons of modern steel bathtubs. High performance, a variety of forms and configurations makes them very popular among customers. 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.