Bathroom

Which bath is better to choose

Bathtub in the interior

Many owners of small apartments equip their bathrooms with compact showers. But at a certain moment comes the realization that a very valuable element has been lost in which you can relax and rest. It is easy to remodel the room, but another problem arises - how to choose a bath so that it fits the size and fits into the interior of the room. There are many types of such an item. To understand, you should familiarize yourself with the features and characteristics of each.

Production material - advantages, disadvantages and features of the installation

In a standard apartment, it is difficult to place a bathtub of the desired shape and size, only a familiar item will do. The situation is changing in a private house, during the construction of which you can lay in the project any size shower. Production material, dimensions, shape of amenities can be any. The choice depends only on personal preferences and financial capabilities.

Bathroom

Steel bathtubs

Such bathtubs are made of metal blanks with a thickness of at least 2 mm. Sheets are placed under a press and squeezed out products of any shape, covered with enamel. Special programs on automatic stamping lines fully control the process, determine the thickness of the bottom and walls. Thanks to such accuracy, high-quality products with a minimum reject rate are obtained.

Light steel products can be mounted even in dilapidated buildings without fear of collapse. They instantly warm up. To make the bottom warm, just rinse it with hot water. The lineup is diverse. You can choose a product of any shape, with a headrest, stand for shower accessories. The set may include adjustable legs, special sound-absorbing stands. These are necessary additions for comfortable use, as steel makes a loud sound under the pressure of a stream of water. The minimum life of the product is 15 years.

The main advantage of a steel bath is its low price. This option is not in great demand, since it has a lot of disadvantages. Water cools very quickly. After bathing, the walls and bottom should be wiped dry so that the remaining water does not drain and do not leave noticeable drips. The bath cannot be cleaned with hard brushes and abrasive products. In places of cracking of the enameled surface, corrosion immediately appears.

Steel bath

There are two ways to set a bathing item.On special legs that come with the kit, or on a brick pillow. In any case, for reliability, it must be additionally fixed by fastening it to the wall.

Cast iron bathtubs

The production of cast-iron mini-pools for swimming was mastered in the 19th century. A modern cast-iron bathtub is a reliable, durable product with a long service life (from 25 years). Due to the large weight, it will never move away from the wall, it will not stagger with any volume of water. More often, the shape of the products remains traditional, since the material is difficult to process and model.

A special manufacturing process significantly increases the characteristics of the product, the main of which is unconditional strength, resistance to mechanical damage. The material does not respond to temperature fluctuations, retains heat for a long time. Any surface care product can be used. Enamel retains gloss for a long time, the appearance of cracks is excluded. Cast iron has excellent sound insulation. You can install additional handles, headrest. According to the aging period, no material can be compared with it.

Cast-iron bathtub

In addition to the obvious advantages, the cast iron version has some disadvantages. Apartments in houses of long-standing construction are equipped with precisely such models that are firmly settled in their places. A heavy element is easier to restore than to landfill. The average weight of the product is 150 kg. The disadvantages of using a cast-iron bath include the following factors:

  • Massiveness, bulkiness, big weight;
  • High price;
  • Limiting the diversity of models;
  • The complexity of installing hydromassage systems, air massage.

Cast iron bathtub installation is best done before tiling. This will help to achieve a minimum clearance between the side wall and the wall. The font is turned over, and special high-strength legs are screwed. Iron plates are placed on the floor to level the surface, the legs of the product are placed on them.

Acrylic bathtubs

Made from special polymeric substances. Depending on the production technology, fonts are divided into cast and extruded. The special characteristics of acrylic allow you to make bathtubs of various shapes and sizes. The outer side of the sidewalls is coated with epoxy resins. The kit also includes a special metal frame. Material is often used to make designer models.

The advantages of acrylic products for bathrooms include a huge assortment of such plumbing. The light weight of the item allows you to transport, do it yourself. Initially, warm acrylic promotes slow cooling of water. You can hide the unsightly lower part of the bathtub with the help of a special screen that comes with the product.

Acrylic bath

The disadvantages of acrylic fonts are associated with the features of the material itself. It cannot be durable. Under the weight of a person or from hot water, it can easily deform. The integrity of the product can also be violated from a strong blow, when a heavy object falls. During operation, the acrylic product quickly loses its original appearance, scuffs and scratches form.

The acrylic bathtub is easiest to install on special legs. But such a solution is only suitable for traditional models. Thin side walls also need support. To maintain them, use a metal frame, a brick pillow.

To make sure the bottom of the acrylic bath is even, you need to carefully inspect it, illuminate with a flashlight.

Wooden models

In addition to functional significance, they play the role of an independent decor item. Mass production of wooden bathtubs is not observed. Such items are often made to order, manually. Natural wood in the interior of any room always looks beautiful.

The advantages of wooden bathing tanks include a high level of environmental friendliness.It is pleasant to be in such a bath; when heated, it exudes an amazing aroma. The long service life of the product is ensured by proper, systematic care.

Wooden bathtub

The reason for rejecting a tree in a damp room may be a number of drawbacks, the main of which is the high price. The disadvantages of a wooden product include the complexity of care. The tree does not respond well to sudden changes in temperature and moisture indicators. Natural material instantly absorbs dirt, soap residues, various fats remaining at the bottom after bathing. Such a capacity will not have an attractive appearance for long.

You can not install a bathtub made of wood close to the wall. It should be evenly ventilated from all sides. Depending on the shape of the item, it is placed on a special pallet made of the same wood or on legs.

Faience baths

Production steps are identical to earthenware sinks and toilets. Such a bathing tank serves as a decor of a room to a greater extent than a functional product. The material requires careful handling, it can become cracked from a simple pressure of water. Only true connoisseurs of luxury acquire these containers who do not mind the money for expensive jewelry.

They make earthenware baths by casting a mixture of quartz and clay into special forms. After drying, enamel is applied. Her color can be the most diverse. Despite the difficult production, the passage of several firing procedures, the product is not durable. The cons of faience baths also include a lot of weight.

Faience bath

You can mount the earthenware font only on a flat surface. More often, bowls are placed directly on the floor, but it is possible to install them on legs or on a special stand. Due to the large weight of the tank, work is best done with a partner.

Glass models

The glass bath will not leave indifferent even the most sophisticated lover of exotic. To install such a model of the house not everyone will decide.They make an absolutely transparent font from high-strength two-layer glass, which is almost impossible to break.

Glass bath has many advantages. All models are visually perceived as light and miniature. Stunning properties and original design allow the subject to fit into any interior. Glass is easy to clean with a soft sponge and liquid cleaners.

Glass bath

The main disadvantage of glass baths is the high price. The state of the material must be constantly monitored, carefully rubbed, without leaving stains. Due to the nature of the installation, most models can only be mounted in the center of the room, at a certain distance from the wall. Only owners of spacious rooms can afford this option.

If during operation the glass bath is deformed, malfunctions, it is already impossible to repair it.

Stone baths

Stone bathtubs are gaining more and more popularity. Despite the high price, original models are installed even in small rooms. Natural material is rarely used due to the complexity of manufacturing a sanitary container. More often you can find artificial products from a mixture of granite, marble, quartz sand. During the production process, at the time of adding resins, other components, a diverse texture and surface color is created.

Stone models for wet rooms have a perfectly flat and smooth surface. The top layer of environmentally friendly material is not a favorable environment for the reproduction of microbes. In addition to the beautiful appearance and antiseptic surface, stone baths have the following advantages:

  • Resistance to damage;
  • Low thermal conductivity;
  • Good sound insulation;
  • Durability;
  • Resistance to vibration;
  • Resistance to temperature differences;
  • A variety of shapes, colors;
  • Lack of radiation background;
  • Ease of installation work;
  • The possibility of repair.

Stone bath

Of the minuses, the predisposition of the surface to staining can be noted. It is not recommended to wash colored clothes, to merge coloring compounds in such a container. The bottom and sides can easily be scratched if improperly cleaned using hard tools.

Installation methods are no different from other options. Most models have a holistic design and a rectangular shape, so they are put in a corner and mounted directly on the floor.

Copper bathtubs

Such a font will make you feel like an heir to a noble family. Copper baths often have a traditional look, are installed as a design novelty. The main advantage of the pompous product is natural antisepticity. No bacteria survive on the surface. In addition to the main positive aspects, a copper object is characterized by strength, durability, reliability.

Copper bath

Copper baths weigh an average of 50 kg. This allows them to move freely around the room when moving or during repairs. Given the great complexity, considerable material costs, such an element of plumbing will be very expensive. They make it by casting. It is then waxed for copper or the surface is matte.

Kvarilny baths

The main manufacturing material is a mixture of acrylic and quartz sand. Kvarilny containers are plastic, durable, look very aesthetically pleasing. With the help of additional mixtures and pigments, the necessary color and texture are adjusted. Type of manufacture - casting in special forms. Then the surfaces are varnished, making them smooth and non-slip.

Due to hardening additives, the product becomes heavier, the average wall thickness is 10 cm. Kvarilnaya plumbing has the following advantages:

  • Impact resistance. An accidentally dropped object cannot damage the surface;
  • Rigidity of a design. For installation, you will not need to make an additional frame;
  • Good sound absorption. Acrylic softens the noise from pouring water;
  • Long service life. The special composition makes the walls of the tank highly durable;
  • Attractive appearance. A homogeneous, smooth surface has a characteristic sheen.

Kvarilny bath

Dimensions and shape of the bathroom

Familiar rectangular products have standard sizes. If no type of parameters meets the needs of the consumer, the bath can be made to order from almost any material. To determine the right size, you must consider the following conditions:

  • Convenience and safety. A new bath should suit all households. When buying, one must take into account the age, height, and family members.
  • The area of ​​the room. The product must not interfere with free movement. In apartment buildings, showers are equipped with standard models. In private housing, it is possible to install absolutely any option. The main thing is that the subject passes through the doorway.
  • The volume of the sanitary ware. The possibility of saving water depends on the internal dimensions of the container. But you can swim in comfort only lying in a spacious bowl.
  • The presence of additional accessories. Significantly increase the dimensions of the bathroom accessories. This may be a sink above the container, shelves, niches, armrests, a large angle of inclination of the sides.

Bath shape

In mass production, each type of font has certain forms and parameters corresponding to GOST. The most popular models are rectangular horizontal. A compact sitting product fits perfectly into a small room. For oval and round you will need a large bathroom. Corners are used to save space when combining two rooms. Non-standard options and special-purpose models are established based on the needs of households.

type of instalation

The installation option for the bathroom is chosen based on the ability to move, lay new communications. Before starting work, it is necessary to adjust the sewerage and water supply.The easiest installation option when a new plumbing product is put in place of the former. With a global rearrangement, it is necessary to think through all the stages of work to the smallest detail. By type of installation, all models can be divided into three groups:

  1. Freestanding. None of the sides of the bath is not adjacent to the wall. Such installation can be realized both in spacious rooms and in rooms with a modest area.
  2. Recessed. A convenient but costly solution. Only suitable for private homes. You can mount the bath in the floor, in the niche. More often it is placed on a special podium made of moisture-proof drywall. The whole structure is lined with tiles or wood.
  3. Wall. The most popular option. Differs in simplicity of installation, compact arrangement. The product is pushed to the wall with the straight side and mounted on a frame or metal legs.

Type of bath installation

Availability of additional features and accessories

Properly selected additional accessories will create a solid space, allow the design to have a finished look. All elements must comply with the general style of the room. Additional constructive equipment can be installed on a product of any kind, but is more common in acrylic and quartz models. The following systems are built in:

  • Auto disinfection. After bathing, the tank is automatically cleaned with sanitary facilities;
  • Chromotherapy. A special purple glow kills microbes, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of blood vessels;
  • Hydromassage. Continuous water circulation relaxes well, relieves muscle tone;
  • Liquid level sensor. The capacity of the tank with water is determined automatically;
  • Air massage. A lot of air bubbles are supplied into the font, which creates a drilling effect.

Bath features

Optional accessories can be made of any material. It is only necessary that they harmonize with the bathroom itself. Each shower room must have towel holders, shelves.The design itself is supplemented with armrests, inflatable pillows under the head. Anti-slip coatings are laid at the bottom.

Color and style

To make the bathroom after repair look beautiful and stylish, you need to choose the right combination of colors and materials. Modern production technologies make it possible to install any font model in a standard room. Cast-iron bowls are often covered with light enamel (white, cream, blue). Copper, steel remain at their color of metal. Wood is also not treated with pigment solutions. Any texture and the most unimaginable color can have acrylic, quartz products.

When choosing the style of a bathing tank, they are guided by personal preferences. The options are numerous and varied, suitable for rooms with any size. Accordingly, the style is chosen color, font shape:

  • Hi-tech, modern. A bathtub made of steel will fit perfectly, snow-white acrylic equipped with the most modern accessories;
  • Moroccan, oriental, turkish. A copper bowl in a natural color, bright of stone, earthenware, will do;
  • Country eco style. Accept only natural shades. In such rooms, models of wood, stone, glass are mounted;
  • Provence. A bathing product should look compact and gentle. Suitable fonts built into a niche, floor, freestanding faience.

Bath color

How to choose a bath manufacturer

When choosing a bathing tank, they are primarily determined with the type of model and material of manufacture. Having narrowed the circle to a dozen options, you can fully evaluate the characteristics of each in the price - quality range.

An important point is the country and the manufacturing company. You can only buy a bathtub made by a certified company. It is better to give preference to popular brands that have proven themselves on the good side, have been present on the market for more than a decade. The highest quality sanitary ware is manufactured in the Czech Republic, Germany, and the Netherlands.Products from a more affordable category are made in Poland.

Dark bath

How to choose bathroom faucets

When buying a mixer, it is necessary to take into account its operational characteristics. Particular attention should be paid to its design - the simpler it is, the better. A simple device will last much longer, and if it breaks, it’s easier to repair. For example, touch, thermostatic devices are very convenient in operation, but they often break. The sensor electronics do not tolerate humid environments, and the solenoid valve has a limited life.

By the installation method, all products can be divided into three main groups: wall, typesetting, floor. The first option is the most popular. The device mounted on the wall can be repaired without any problems and replaced if necessary. The second is more suitable for freestanding bathtubs. When installing the built-in mixer, flexible wiring is used, which must be periodically changed. An object mounted in the floor has a number of significant drawbacks; when installing it, you will need to raise the floor level, it is easy to tear out or damage it.

Bath mixer

Separately, it is worth paying attention to the material of which the device is made. There are brass, steel, bronze, ceramic, as well as models from silumin. Brass products are notable for their low cost and long service life. As shut-off and control valves, screw, ceramic crane boxes, cartridges are used. Ceramics can be called the most reliable, it is devoid of many disadvantages inherent in other varieties.

By the type of switches, push-button, lever, ball models are distinguished. The last of these are the most reliable. An important role is played by the gander. There are monolithic and movable options. The second type is universal, it serves the bath and wash basin. The shower hose can be plastic or rubber coated with a stainless braid.It is better to choose a watering can with a switch that allows you to change the pressure of the jet, the volume of water supplied.

How to choose a bath - expert advice

Manufacturers offer a wide range of bathtubs made of different materials. Each species has its own advantages and disadvantages. When choosing the most suitable model, a number of points must be taken into account:

  • Visual inspection When choosing a product, it is recommended to pay attention to its quality. Carefully inspect the inside of the bowl. It should be even, smooth, have the same color. Any, even a slight defect, in the form of a tubercle, depression, scratches indicate that the product is of poor quality.
  • Equipment. There are two configuration options. The basic consists of the device itself and instructions for use. Additional may have a decorative panel, mounting kits for mounting, drain, other elements.
  • Wall thickness. This indicator affects the strength and durability of the product. If the walls are too thin, cracks, chips, dents and other defects may appear during operation.
  • Dimensions The item must be proportionate to the area of ​​the room in which it will be installed.
  • Lifetime. The most durable are copper models. However, they are very expensive. An alternative can be a cast-iron bathtub, which has a low cost, will last its owner more than 20 years.

Bathroom interior

Conclusion

The choice of bath will be greatly simplified if you know the detailed characteristics of the materials available for the manufacture. As a cheap option, you can use steel. If you need a reliable and durable font, then preference should be given to cast iron. Modern acrylic, kvarilovye can be equipped with additional relaxing functions.



Graduated from St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technology and Design. More than 100 completed design projects.


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