How to choose the right bath

More recently, when the word 'bath' was mentioned, the imagination certainly drew a heavy cast-iron container of white color, which was so difficult to lift up the stairs. There was no choice as such: people bought what they could find on sale and were sincerely happy with the purchase. At the present time, the situation has changed dramatically: a variety of baths are available for selection, differing both in the materials of manufacture, and in design and appearance. And this time the choice is complicated not by the lack of alternatives, but, on the contrary, by their huge number.

The best manufacturers of bathtubs – which company to choose

Traditionally, well-known European manufacturers of sanitary ware are considered the best; the presence of a bath of such a brand in the house is considered a sign of good taste among connoisseurs. Recently, domestic manufacturers have also pulled up quite strongly, offering high-quality and aesthetic baths at a very inexpensive price. When choosing a new bathtub, you should consider buying products from the following manufacturers:

1. Vagnerplast

2. Cersanit

3. Pool Spa

4. Kolo

5. Aquanet

6. Roca

Types of baths. Which one to choose?

Cast iron baths

Time-tested classics. Cast iron has been used as the main material for making bathtubs for many years, and it is still popular today. The reason for this is the physical properties of this metal. Cast iron perfectly keeps the temperature, and therefore the water in such a bath does not cool down for a long time. The cast iron bathtub is highly durable, it is unpretentious in operation and allows you to use even aggressive household chemicals for cleaning.

Advantages

• High strength;

• Durability;

• Excellent thermal insulation characteristics;

• Low cost;

• Unpretentious care;

disadvantages

• Large weight;

• Sensitivity of enamel to contact with heavy metal objects;

Bathtubs made of steel

Inexpensive models that are made from solid steel sheets by stamping. The use of different molds makes it possible to obtain various shapes and geometric dimensions of the container. Steel baths are lightweight, and therefore extremely convenient for transportation. Outside and inside, such baths are covered with a layer of moisture-resistant enamel that protects steel from corrosion and provides an aesthetic appearance and pleasant tactile sensations.

Advantages

• Low price;

• Long service life;

• Excellent heat dissipation;

• A variety of sizes and shapes;

• Low weight;

disadvantages

• Low stability, requires the use of additional stops;

• The water cools down quickly enough;

• Noisy when filled;

Acrylic bathtubs

The most popular type of bathtubs today, combining the advantages of cast iron and steel bathtubs. Acrylic is a special plastic reinforced with fiberglass reinforcement to provide the required strength and rigidity. As a result, the designers have achieved excellent thermal insulation with extremely low weight. And acrylic is very easy to process, which allows you to get the most bizarre and unusual shapes. This class of bathtubs includes plastic models covered with acrylic, which differ in similar functional features and a low price.

Advantages

• Low weight;

• Democratic cost;

• High strength and resistance to mechanical damage;

• A huge variety of colors, sizes and shapes;

• Excellent thermal insulation;

disadvantages

• Low resistance to abrasion;

• Afraid of high temperatures;

Quaril baths

Trying to level the disadvantages of acrylic, the engineers went even further – they invented a new type of material, characterized by both high strength and low weight, and excellent heat resistance. The name of this material was given to kvaril, and quartz appeared at its basis, in addition to acrylic. It is he who is responsible for the basic characteristics of the bath and makes it so versatile.

Advantages

• High strength;

• Excellent thermal insulation characteristics;

• Good sound insulation;

• Long service life;

• Excellent heat resistance;

disadvantages

• High price;

• Small variety of shapes;

Marble bathtubs

Not everyone can afford marble baths, and, incidentally, not everyone needs them. These baths belong to the top segment and are rightfully considered elite. Their main feature is an aristocratic appearance, as well as excellent thermal insulation and low noise level. They are made of marble chips, which are joined with special synthetic resins.

Advantages

• Graceful appearance;

• Absorb noise;

• A huge variety of colors, shades and sizes;

disadvantages

• High price;

• Whimsical to service and use of household chemicals;

• Large dimensions and weight;

Artificial stone baths

The characteristics of such models are in many ways similar to those found in marble baths. They are distinguished by an aesthetic appearance, high strength and heat resistance. There is practically no noise during water intake, and such a bath cools down for a long time. Thanks to a special manufacturing technology, a wide variety of colors, shades and shapes are provided, which allows you to choose a bathtub for almost any interior.

Advantages

• Classic design and stylish appearance;

• Perfectly keep water temperature;

• Almost completely silent;

• A huge variety of colors, shades and sizes;

disadvantages

• High price;

• Whimsical to service and use of household chemicals;

• Large dimensions and weight;

Natural wood bathtubs

Phoenix reborn from the ashes. Wooden bathtubs were widely used by our ancestors several centuries ago, and thanks to new woodworking technologies, wooden baths have acquired a new look. Stylish, practical and very beautiful, they have excellent thermal insulation and are practically silent.

Advantages

• Graceful appearance;

• Excellent performance;

• Variety of models;

• Moisture resistance;

disadvantages

• High price;

• The tree is whimsical to care for and tends to dry out;

Bath selection options

Size and volume

The size and volume of a particular bath is important. When choosing a suitable model, it is necessary to take into account the area and geometric dimensions of the room, as well as the width of the doorways.

The form

This parameter is purely individual, but you should also pay close attention to it. Classic oval-shaped bathtubs are popular to this day, but semicircular, corner, and square models are no less popular.

Availability of massage systems

A bathtub is not only a hot water tank. The most advanced models are equipped with a large number of modern systems that directly affect functionality. For example, the most expensive models are equipped by default with modern air massage or hydromassage systems, allowing you to take a fresh look at bath procedures.

Easy to clean

You should also pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the care of the bathroom during operation. There are a number of materials popular among buyers that are afraid of abrasion or the use of aggressive household chemicals. These features should be known so as not to spoil the bath after the first wash.

Heat capacity

A parameter that reflects how much a particular material is able to retain heat. It depends on him how long it takes a hot bath to turn into a cool one. For example, cast iron, marble and artificial stone perfectly 'keep' heat, but steel cools down rather quickly.

Strength

An indicator showing the resistance of the bath to mechanical stress. The stronger the material from which the bathtub is made, the lower the likelihood of damage due to falling of a sharp or heavy object.

Which bath to choose?

1. For a small apartment, the best option would be an acrylic bathtub or a model made of quaril. Such models are distinguished by excellent performance characteristics, and their low weight will allow you to easily raise it to the desired floor;

2. For a large and spacious house, the best option would be a bathtub made of artificial stone or marble, the color and texture of which will match the design of the room. You can choose both an ordinary single bathtub and a model for two;

3. An inexpensive cast-iron or steel model, simple and unpretentious in operation, is best suited for a summer residence;

How much does a bath cost?

1. Steel baths are the cheapest. The price for such models is in the range of 4000-8000 rubles;

2. High-quality cast-iron baths with an enamel coating are somewhat more expensive: their cost is 12-23 thousand rubles;

3. Acrylic and quartz models are also quite expensive – the average cost of acrylic models is 20-25 thousand rubles, quartz baths are even more expensive, about 30-32 thousand rubles.

In the following articles, our experts tell you how to choose the right heated towel rail, the secrets of choosing a bathroom sink, the features of choosing a bathroom faucet and the main criteria for choosing a bathroom tile.

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.