Which bath to choose?

The bathroom is not only a place of cleanliness, but also, to some extent, a place for our relaxation. There are few people left who can do without bathing in the bathtub. Perhaps, as an alternative, preference is given to a shower cabin, but this is a separate topic.

The service life of a bathtub is at least fifteen years, so the question of which one to choose is important, the approach must be thorough. And here you can’t decide which bathtub to choose - cast iron, acrylic or save money and buy a steel one. But the question is not only about durability, but also about hygiene, how comfortable you will feel in the bathtub.

Therefore, it will be useful to know in advance about the main advantages and possible disadvantages of different types of bathtubs. Otherwise, after you buy a bathtub, you may be in for some rather unpleasant surprises.

Cast iron bathtub

Cast iron bathtubs, which have been familiar to many for a long time, are still in demand. And people decide to choose cast iron bathtubs not because they are used to them. They have both disadvantages and advantages. The main fact that speaks in favor of buying a cast iron bathtub is durability and strength. But you are unlikely to want to choose a cast iron bathtub if you live on the upper floors. Cast iron is quite heavy, and even though modern technologies allow you to make cast iron bathtubs thin, they still weigh an average of 120 kg. Significant weight guarantees the stability of the bathtub after correct installation. In other words, a cast iron bathtub will not move away from the wall, tiles can be glued tightly to it.

The enamel coating of a cast iron bathtub has a higher gloss compared to acrylic, but requires more careful maintenance. Restoring the enamel surface can be problematic if you accidentally drop a heavy object into the bathtub. When you come to the store to choose a cast iron bathtub, be sure to pay attention to the enamel - chips are unacceptable under any circumstances. The enamel should be uniform in color and without streaks. With proper care without caustic detergents, the enamel will not turn yellow or be rough for many years.

Heat retention is also important. The heat capacity is quite high - it takes a long time to heat up, but the water temperature also lasts a long time ( cooling to room temperature occurs on average in an hour and a half). In terms of shape, you can only choose a rectangular cast iron bathtub. Cast iron is a material from which it is difficult to make a bathtub of a more intricate shape. That is, if you want to choose a triangular or round bathtub, you will have to look among acrylic or steel.

Acrylic bathtub

Acrylic bathtubs have appeared relatively recently, but have already managed to earn great popularity. Acrylic is essentially plastic, for the production of bathtubs it is strengthened ( reinforced), otherwise it would bend under the thickness of water. The quality of the bathtub itself and, naturally, its price depend on the quality of acrylic and the number of reinforcement layers. Many people prefer to choose acrylic bathtubs because of their light weight.

This greatly simplifies delivery and installation. In addition, you can choose an acrylic bathtub of any shape. But you should not be too sophisticated either, it is difficult to give high-quality acrylic a complex shape, so the variety of curved lines in the bathtub should be alarming. Armrests will be quite enough, the rest is unnecessary. The color range is also varied, so you can easily choose an acrylic bathtub of the desired color. The color of the acrylic is given at the manufacturing stage, so you should not be afraid that the bathtub will lose its original appearance.