Thanks to the latest developments in the modern plumbing market, new products have appeared - acrylic bathtubs. The pros and cons of these products compared to their steel and cast iron predecessors speak for the quality of the product, which is gaining more and more popularity. They have become a worthy replacement for their heavy counterparts in terms of price and quality characteristics.
Acrylic bathtubs have several advantages over other types of baths
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Why are acrylic bathtubs good. Pros and cons
Acrylic baths have high strength and are absolutely not inferior in this parameter to products made of cast iron or metal. They are significantly lighter, so you can install them without assistance. For their manufacture, a unique method of vacuum forming acrylic sheets is used. After this stage, the baths are reinforced with glass mat or special resin. For large sizes, the bottom of the structure is reinforced with chipboard panels and fixed to a metal frame treated with compounds that reduce corrosion.
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The service life of acrylic products directly depends on the number of molding layers used during molding, the quality of the reinforcement. Manufacturers do not limit the service life of such baths to a 10-year limit. With proper care, they will last a long time.
Acrylic asymmetric corner bathtub
Acrylic. Material description
It is a synthetic rubber-like polymer with an adhesive structure. In the process of heating, the acrylic sheet becomes soft, plastic, so products of any configuration can be molded from it. The strength of the finished product is directly affected by its thickness, used in the manufacture of sheets. Baths made of acrylic plates with a thickness of 0.5 cm or more are considered to be the strongest and most durable. Cheaper options are made from thin sheets and can burst even under insignificant loads.
Colored acrylic bathtub
Usually, cast acrylic is used for the production of bathtubs, which in some of its properties resembles glass and can crack. Co-extruded acrylic products are much more durable. This new generation material has been used in the manufacture of bathtubs not so long ago; it retains its shape for a long time and meets the main quality standards.
Helpful advice! Products with too complex shapes are made only from thin sheets, since they are easier to form.It is not worth choosing such structures for long-term operation.
Acrylic bathtub with screen
Advantages of acrylic baths
Knowing about the advantages of the product, it is easy to figure out which bath is better than acrylic or steel. The positive qualities of acrylic bathtubs can be listed endlessly. In addition to their aesthetic appearance, they are pleasant to the touch, do not slip at all, and maintain the set temperature longer. Here are some more of their advantages:
- do not turn yellow from bad water;
- lightfast;
- are made in any shape and color;
- have excellent soundproofing performance;
- do not provoke the growth of colonies of fungi and mold;
- easy to clean, resistant to detergents.
Freestanding bathtub complex geometric shape
The main positive quality is the ability to repair acrylic bathtubs. To eliminate small chips, scratches on the surface, use a special polishing paste. It is easy to repair the damaged top layer with your own hands.
The nuances of choosing an acrylic bath
What parameters should you pay attention to when choosing an acrylic bathtub? The pros and cons of the product present the consumer with a significant choice. On the one hand, there are many positive properties, on the other, a huge minus is the high price.
Compact corner bath
If the high cost is not a problem and the choice fell on the acrylic option, then first you should consider the sides of the bath in the light. Products made from thin sheets can shine through, they should not be purchased. To do this, you can use a regular flashlight. A quality product cannot be less than 0.5 cm thick.
The hardness of the product is checked by simply pressing in the middle of the bottom or wall. If dents appear, which then return to their place, the quality of the product leaves much to be desired. You can additionally check the number of reinforcing layers, the more there are, the better the product is.
Bathtub with hot pink plastic screen
Unscrupulous manufacturers can issue products combined with plastic for full-fledged acrylic bathtubs. The use of such material significantly reduces the cost of the manufacturing process and the final result. You can determine this yourself by simply examining the edge of the bath rim. The combined version consists of a thick layer of cheap plastic, a thin acrylic coating and a reinforcing layer. Such a "cake" should be much cheaper than its homogeneous acrylic counterpart.
Bathtub tiled with white and gold mosaic
An unpleasant smell also indicates the poor quality of the materials used. If there are any defects on the bath surface: bumps, scratches or even dents, and the color of the product is uneven, then the product is defective.
Standard sizes of acrylic baths
Gradually receding into the past, the domestic production of baths made of steel and cast iron had a small size range. The products were made in standard lengths of 150, 170 and 175 cm. The width was also not varied, the standard size was 70-80 cm. With such a meager model range, it was not possible to bring interesting design fantasies to life.
Standard sizes of rectangular baths
Standard design acrylic bathtubs are up to two meters long. Larger options can be called mini-pools. Their width varies 70-120 cm and more, if necessary. There are also models of various shapes. Asymmetric corner acrylic bathtubs are in high demand among plumbing store customers. Their dimensions can be 160x110, 150x90, 140x140. You can buy products in large sizes.
Sizes of corner acrylic baths
The ideal size is one that allows the tub to fit seamlessly into the washroom. It should also be comfortable for every family member. In particular, this applies to asymmetric corner acrylic baths.Installation of full-size rectangular products in small-sized apartments is almost impossible.
Helpful advice! When an adult is fully immersed in the bath, his head should be above the water on a special side. This becomes possible when choosing products with a depth of 45-50 cm.
Oval bath
Do-it-yourself acrylic bath installation
Due to the low weight of such products, the installation process is greatly facilitated. There shouldn't be any special difficulties when installing and connecting an acrylic bathtub. Here are the main stages of the work carried out when installing an acrylic bath with your own hands:
- To begin with, the bath is placed upside down and the frame is assembled according to the attached instructions.
- The assembled structure is installed on legs and is adjustable in height. If you plan to additionally install a screen, then the height from the side of the bathroom to the floor should be about 60 cm.
- The finished product is installed in the prepared place, using a level, check the horizontal.
- Next, mount the siphon, connect the pipes to the sewage system and check the tightness of all joints.
- Now you can fix the bath and treat the joints and cracks near the walls with silicone sealant.
Acrylic bathtub with hydromassage
You can fix the bathtub securely to the wall. For these purposes, manufacturers have provided a special mounting kit that comes with the bathroom. So, in order to install an acrylic bathtub with your own hands and fix it to the wall, you must:
- attach the mounting brackets to the wall and mark the places where the holes will be drilled;
- after drilling, the corners are fixed parallel to the side of the bathroom, so that its lower edge lies on them;
- holes are also drilled for mounting studs;
- fixation takes place by fixing the staples to the studs with nuts.
Comfortable and comfortable acrylic bathtub
Acrylic bathroom care
It should be noted that acrylic is easily damaged by metal objects. In baths made of this material, it is not recommended to wash dishes, bathe animals, wash clothes with metal parts. Detergents used for care must not contain acids, chlorine, abrasive elements. Usually, a special repair kit is sold with the bathroom. If scratches do appear, they are filled with acrylic, then they go through with sandpaper and the entire bath is polished.
It is necessary to take care of the acrylic surface using special products.
Helpful advice! When rubbing the surface, sandpaper No. 0 is used, and for polishing - liquid polish.
Knowing all the intricacies of the production of acrylic bathtubs, their lineup, familiarizing themselves with their advantages and rules of care, you can easily make your choice. It is now quite easy to answer the question: which bath is better than acrylic or steel. However, you shouldn't skimp on its quality.
How to choose a bath (video)
