Selection of baths. Which bathtub is better to choose: useful tips for choosing bathtubs for an apartment

What better way to unwind after a busy day than a comfortable, beautiful, hot bath? That is why most apartment owners try to place such a useful device even in the smallest bathroom. Fortunately, modern bathtubs are very diverse: in size, design, price, and many other indicators.

When figuring out how to choose a bathtub, you should first decide on the material from which it is made. Most often, modern bathtubs are made of steel, cast iron or acrylic, as well as other modern materials.

Steel - cheap and cheerful

Steel bathtubs are an economical option, the main advantage of which is its low price. In almost all other respects, a steel bathtub is inferior to models made from other materials. It is not very strong or durable. A stream of water falling to the bottom of a steel bath makes a characteristic and quite loud noise.

The metal heats up quickly and cools just as quickly, and the water collected in the bath cools down along with it. With proper care, an enameled steel bathtub can last about 15 years. The price for such a product is usually in the range of 90-220 dollars.

A steel bathtub, despite its shortcomings, can look quite advantageous in the interior. It is important to choose the right model, install it correctly and use it carefully

And yet, steel models occupy a certain segment in the plumbing market. They are much lighter than cast iron, so they will not require large transportation costs. Installing such a device is also quite simple. Most often they are purchased for a summer residence or as an inexpensive temporary option before installing a more convenient model.

If you place a rubber mat on the bottom of such a bathtub, it will dampen extraneous noise. A lightweight product is not highly resistant, so it is recommended to consider installing a steel bathtub on a layer of sand or polyurethane foam. Such a product is quite suitable for use and has every right to exist, especially if the buyer is willing to put up with its shortcomings.

Cast iron – traditional, reliable, heavy

Many apartments of old construction have cast iron bathtubs, which have served faithfully for generations. The main advantage of a cast iron bathtub is its exceptional reliability. The service life of a regular cast iron bathtub is 50 years, but with good care you can use this product much longer.

Cast iron perfectly accumulates heat, so the water in such a bath does not cool down immediately. It is not surprising that when deciding how to choose a suitable container for the bathroom, many apartment owners prefer the traditional cast iron option.

Cast iron bathtubs are characterized by exceptionally high strength and long service life. The weak point of such a product is the enamel, which must be protected from scratches and chips.

The cost of such a product, of course, is higher than that of its enameled steel counterpart, and the design is not very diverse. In addition, you should remember that cast iron bathtubs are very heavy. This makes their transportation and installation somewhat difficult. When installing a large cast-iron bathtub, it is necessary to take into account the increase in load that falls on the floor and foundation in order to correlate these data with the overall load-bearing capacity of the building.

It is believed that the heavier the cast iron bath, the higher its quality. When purchasing, it is important to pay attention to the condition of the enamel: it should be smooth and evenly applied. Another way to ensure the high quality of a cast iron bathtub is to pour water into it. If during the process the sound of drops falling to the bottom sounds evenly and slightly muffled, it means that the bathtub is made at a fairly high level.

The Russian market offers domestically produced cast iron bathtubs, as well as products from Turkey, France, Spain, and Italy. A typical cast iron bathtub can cost an average of $250-$350. With additional features such as easy-grip handles or a semi-automatic flush, the price can rise to $500.

Design delights are also reflected in the price, for example, chrome or gold fittings, beautiful exterior decoration, twisted legs, etc. The cost of luxury products can reach thousands of dollars.

Acrylic – maximum practicality and variety

Acrylic has been used for the manufacture of sanitary ware relatively recently, but the advantages of such bathtubs are obvious:

these are lightweight and at the same time quite durable products;
the bathtub can be given almost any shape and color;
low weight makes it easy to transport and install acrylic products;
you can choose a model with additional functions (hydromassage, etc.);
retain heat perfectly;
have a long service life;
The acrylic surface is easy to clean from dirt.

When determining which acrylic bathtub to choose, it is worth considering the disadvantages of such models. Of course, acrylic is not as durable a material as cast iron. Sometimes you can feel how the bottom of the bathtub bends under the weight of the person in it. Extra care should be taken when renovating a bathroom.

If a sufficiently heavy object is dropped onto the surface of the product, the bath may simply break. Although small scratches on the acrylic surface can be restored even at home.

Acrylic bathtubs provide the widest possibilities for interior design. They can be made in a wide range of colors, while they are made in different sizes and shapes

The typical lifespan of an acrylic bathtub is about twenty years. Prices for the product range from $250-600 and even higher. They depend on the size, shape and additional functions of the model, as well as on the quality of the material. To paraphrase a well-known advertising slogan, we can say: not all acrylic is equally durable.

To assess the quality of the material, you can do the following:

Try to illuminate the side of the product with a regular flashlight. If light does not penetrate through the thickness of the acrylic, it means that the quality of the material corresponds to the level stated by the seller.
Press as hard as possible on the bottom of the bath. It should not bend under the weight of the future owner.
Inspect the cut of the material (if possible). Low-quality material, made from a mixture of acrylic and plastic, is multi-layered, but the cut of a high-quality bathtub has only two layers: acrylic and resin.
Pay attention to the design and configuration of the model. A large number of broken lines hardly indicates the high quality of the product, since good acrylic is difficult to give a complex shape.

If the product has a rough surface, it is better to refuse the purchase. Typically, such baths lose heat very quickly. Another warning sign is a strong, unpleasant odor. Sellers can assure that it will fade over time, but very often this does not happen. Often the smell only gets worse and soon the bathtub will have to be replaced with a new one.

The diagram shows the structure of the frame of an acrylic bathtub, which gives the product additional strength. When purchasing, you should inspect the frame, as well as examine the acrylic for strength and study the condition of the cut of the material

To increase the service life of acrylic sanitary ware, you should properly care for its surface. Do not use powdered household chemicals or products containing solvents for cleaning. Regular soap and a soft sponge are suitable for cleaning. After cleaning, it is recommended to wipe the bathtub dry.

Acrylic bathtubs are produced both in Russia and abroad. The Czech company “Ravak” produces high-quality products, the thickness of acrylic is 5-6 mm. Special fiberglass is used as a substrate. Typically these are ergonomically shaped bathtubs that are highly resistant to physical stress. However, not all models of this company are equipped with accessories.

Acrylic bathtubs from the Polish company “Cersanit” are distinguished by an optimal ratio of quality and price. They are quite comfortable and quite roomy. All products of this company are certified, the manufacturer provides a seven-year warranty on all products. However, the thickness of acrylic (4 mm) does not allow the installation of a hydromassage system.

The Dutch manufacturer “Riho” uses high-quality Lucite acrylic with a thickness of 6-8 mm to produce bathtubs. These products are lightweight and exceptionally durable.

Aquanet acrylic bathtubs are made in Russia from durable five-millimeter acrylic. Almost all models are equipped with special armrests and other convenient elements.

The products of the Polish manufacturer Kolo (“Kolo”) are distinguished by their modern design and relatively low price, but it is not recommended to install a hydromassage system on such models.

Useful information about choosing acrylic bathtubs is presented in the following video:

Cast marble and quarry - high technology

It is worth mentioning the options for bathtubs made from more modern materials. These include products made from so-called cast marble. In fact, such bathtubs are made from marble chips combined with polyester resins. The composition is so durable that bathtubs made from it do not require an additional frame, like acrylic products.

Cast marble can be painted in different colors, it perfectly retains heat, absorbs noise and withstands high mechanical loads. However, such a model weighs quite a lot, it is not easy to install and, of course, a bathtub made of cast marble is very expensive.

Bathtubs made of so-called cast marble effectively imitate the texture of natural stone. However, in reality they are made of marble chips and special resins

Another high-tech novelty in the world of plumbing is bathtubs made of quartz, a mixture of quartz and acrylic. This material is almost as heavy as cast iron, so in this case a frame will not be needed either. The quaril surface is extremely resistant to external influences and is difficult to scratch or break.

What to look for when choosing a specific bathtub model?

There is no clear answer to the question of which bathtub is best for a bathroom. Much depends on the budget allocated for these purposes. First of all, you should pay attention to the features of a particular bathroom, its size and configuration. For a spacious room, a large model is suitable, but for a small one you will have to carefully calculate everything.

If the bathroom looks like a narrow rectangle, it makes sense to install a rectangular bathtub at the end of the room. For a small bathroom, a small corner model with ergonomic contours may be the ideal choice.

For a small bathroom, a corner model of an acrylic bathtub with ergonomic contours is best suited. It will look great in the interior and will allow you to conveniently place the rest of the plumbing fixtures

Regarding the volume of the bathtub and its internal dimensions, it is recommended to adhere to the following rule: a person should be placed in it reclining without experiencing discomfort. Your feet should rest against the edge of the bathtub, and the depth should be such that the water covers your knees. Only in this case will the bathroom be convenient to use.

The length of a standard bathtub usually varies between 150-180 cm, its width can be 85, 80 or 70 cm, and its height - 65 cm. It is believed that if there is a gap of at least five centimeters in width between the walls of the bathtub and the person in it, then then it will be quite comfortable.

Whatever the configuration of the bathtub, it is important that its internal dimensions allow a person to fit comfortably. In width, a gap of 5 cm is required between the body and the walls, in depth - the knees are covered with water, in length - the legs rest against the side

The shape of the bathtub is not only a matter of convenience, but also of design. Today they produce models of the most varied configurations: rectangular, angular, oval, semicircular, etc. It is believed that the use of rectangular models helps reduce water consumption. Freestanding bathtubs usually look more impressive in the interior.

It is preferable to have an automatic drain and overflow. A convenient element is special handles that help when you need to get out of the bath. If there is an elderly person or person with special needs in the house, this detail is simply necessary.

Models made of acrylic and cast marble can be equipped with such a pleasant addition as hydromassage - a system of directed water jets mixed with air. Of course, the cost of such a product will be noticeably higher, but it will also be very pleasant to use and even beneficial for health.

When choosing a hydromassage bath, you should consider the following points:

features of the control system;
number of nozzles;
pump power.

Special nozzles, of which there can be six or more, are mounted on the bottom and walls of the bathroom. There are models of hydromassage baths that are equipped with several dozen nozzles. A compressor and pump are used to supply water from the nozzles under pressure. Water enters through a system of pipes.

To control the hydromassage process, a special remote control is used.

The number of nozzles in a hydromassage bath can be in the dozens. For such a product you will need several powerful pumps that will ensure the most convenient use of the product

The pump power should be selected depending on the volume of the bath. 1 kW of power for every 250 liters of water is considered suitable. In addition, if a model with a large number of nozzles is selected, it will require a more powerful pump. An interesting option might be to use two pumps in one hydromassage system.

One of them will supply water to the nozzles located at the bottom, and the second is intended for additional nozzles that provide back massage. This design is more expensive, but it is more convenient to use, since it allows you to turn on all the injectors or only part of them at the same time. As a result, you can slightly reduce energy costs, as well as reduce equipment wear.

The compressor supplies air to the system, which improves the quality of the massage. In some systems, the owner can independently regulate the amount of air entering through the nozzles. The whirlpool bath is controlled either via a pneumatic system or via an electronic control unit. The latter option is more expensive, but more convenient, since it allows the owner of the hot tub to use a wider range of settings.

For example, you can turn on the nozzles alternately, change the intensity of the impact of water jets, etc.

Buying a bath is a serious matter and must be approached responsibly. And the first thing you will need is knowledge about how to choose the right bathtub, what it is made of and which manufacturers you should give your preference to.

What parameters should you use to choose a bath?

A bathtub is not just a large white container used for hygiene purposes. This is expensive plumbing equipment, which must be chosen wisely. First, let's define the parameters and characteristics of the bathtub that you should pay attention to when studying models.

All these characteristics are summarized in the list below:

the material from which the plumbing fixtures are made;
bathtub shape;
lenght and width;
bowl depth;
bath manufacturer;
the cost of a specific model;
reviews about this bath;
complete set – are the legs and fasteners sold with the bathtub?

Important! It would also be a good idea to pay attention to the presence of additional functions, such as disinfection, chromotherapy, water heating, and a filling sensor. If you have a lot of money set aside for the purchase of plumbing fixtures, it is advisable to purchase one of these bathtubs. Otherwise, if you have a small budget, it is not advisable to overpay for additional functions at the expense of the quality of the material.

Having decided on the list of bathtub characteristics that you should pay attention to, we will create a plan of action to be taken when choosing plumbing fixtures. The most convenient way to present it would be step-by-step instructions.

Step 1. Determine how much money you are willing to spend on buying a bathroom. Write down the lower and upper limits of the cost of a plumbing product that will be acceptable to you.

Step 2. Take measurements of the area of your bathroom and the old plumbing, if it has not yet been dismantled. This action will protect you from purchasing an overly large product that simply won’t fit in your space.

Requirements for the size and free space in the bathroom and combined bathroom

Step 3. Determine who will use the bathroom and what height and build they are. This will directly affect the size of future plumbing.

Step 4. After comparing your desires with your budget, decide what material you will buy a bathtub from.

Step 5. Based on the data obtained in the second and third stages, select the shape, length, width and depth of the bathtub. Here it would be advisable to determine not exact numbers, but ranges, upper and lower limits.

Step 6 Find the nearest plumbing stores in your city. Study reviews on the Internet and recommendations from friends.

Step 7 Explore the range offered by these plumbing stores. Choose those bathtub manufacturing companies that have proven themselves only from the best side.

Step 8 Based on the selected material, size, optimal price and manufacturer, select the bathtub model that suits you best.

Important! It is advisable to select for yourself not just one model, but several - if a particular product is not available in the store, you can always purchase another one with similar characteristics.

Now let's move on to a detailed and more thorough study of the parameters that are taken into account when choosing a bathroom.

Choosing the material from which the bath is made

And let's start with the material - one of the most important characteristics of such plumbing products. The strength and durability of the product, comfort of use and ease of maintenance depend on it.

Let's present the materials used in the manufacture of bathtubs in the form of a list:

cast iron;
acrylic;
steel;
quaril;
ceramics and other exotic materials, including wood.

Cast iron bath

The most popular material from which bathtubs are made is cast iron - an alloy of iron with a large amount of carbon. It is from cast iron that most of the old plumbing fixtures are made, which still serve regularly in some houses and apartments. Since cast iron is a relatively brittle alloy, bathtubs made from it are made with very thick walls. Therefore, only a very strong blow (or even several blows) with a heavy sledgehammer can damage such a product in any way.

It should be understood that all the advantages of acrylic bathtubs indicated above are valid only for high-quality products created by manufacturers who have proven themselves only from the best side. When buying plumbing fixtures of unknown origin, you risk encountering the following problems.

Deflection of the walls and bottom of the bowl of an acrylic bathtub under high pressure on it.
Damage and undesirable changes in the shape of acrylic sanitary ware at high (more than +70°C) temperatures.
In addition, acrylic bathtubs require careful and more careful selection of detergents - not every household chemical is suitable for such products, this is not an “indestructible” cast iron product.

Important! When choosing an acrylic bathtub, pay attention to the thickness of the walls - it is advisable that it be more than 3-4 mm. If this condition is met, then the plumbing fixtures you purchased will not bend under the weight of a person and the water collected in the font.

Not long ago, the material quaril was introduced to the plumbing market, which in the future may become a serious competitor to acrylic. The material was originally created by Villeroy&Boch AG for the restoration of plastic bathtubs. Quaril is a composite created on the basis of quartz crystals, each of which is covered with an acrylic shell. Bonded together, these particles form a material that has the look and feel of PMMA, but is much stronger, more durable, and more resistant to high temperatures.

As a result, bathtubs are obtained from quaril, which combine the advantages of cast iron and acrylic products, but without their inherent disadvantages. The only problem with plumbing fixtures made from this composite is the cost - bathtubs made from quaril will seem unnecessarily expensive for many.

Bathtubs made of ceramics and other materials

Exotic among sanitary products are bathtubs made of stone and various types of ceramics. Due to its low popularity, such plumbing fixtures are, whenever possible, made only to order and have an appropriate cost. But for a lot of money you get an extremely durable product with a perfectly smooth surface in which you can relax for hours. In addition, by purchasing a custom-made ceramic bathtub, you can independently choose the shape and size of the bowl you need.

Video - How to choose a bath

Choosing a bath manufacturer

In addition to the material, the manufacturer is of great importance when choosing a bathtub. It is advisable to trust your money only to those companies that have already proven themselves to be the best, that have experience in the manufacture of sanitary ware and entire lines of successfully selling bathtub models. The following is a list of such companies, their features, advantages and disadvantages.

Roca. This Spanish company is a well-deserved leader in the production of bathtubs, dating back to the beginning of the last century. During this time, Roca has accumulated enormous experience and now many of its factories located around the world (including in Russia, in the Leningrad region) produce hundreds of thousands of sanitary ware units per year. The main advantage of this company is a huge selection, a wide variety of shapes and sizes of bathtubs. In addition, Roca has a network of hundreds of service and dealer centers where you will have the opportunity to purchase high-quality plumbing fixtures with warranty service and without fear of receiving a fake.

Next, it is worth highlighting this brand, under which various plumbing fixtures and accessories are manufactured in Poland and Romania. Acrylic bathtubs from Cersanit are strong, average, with low cost and an acceptable level of quality.

Ravak- a Czech company that produces plumbing fixtures under this brand is known for its quality, the use of thick acrylic sheets and a wide variety of shapes, sizes and product configurations. In addition, their whirlpool bathtubs are considered the best in the middle price class among all those on the plumbing market.

Among other manufacturers of acrylic bathtubs it is worth noting Triton, BAS, Pool-SPA, Aquanet, Alpen and Riho.

Important! When choosing plumbing fixtures for your home, be careful - today there is a risk of purchasing a counterfeit that masquerades as products from well-known companies with a good reputation. As a rule, such products cannot boast of quality - they are produced from the cheapest materials with violations of technological processes.

It is also worth noting companies that produce high-quality bathtubs made of cast iron and steel - we have combined them into one list presented below:

"Universal";
Lipetsk Pipe Plant;
Bette;
Jacob Delafon;
Estap.

Prices for Roca baths

Five best bathtubs – rating of models

Now, from individual companies, let’s turn our attention to certain models - the table below shows the five most popular bathtubs, which have earned a considerable number of positive reviews.

Material	Dimensions, LxWxH, cm	Volume, l	price, rub.
Cast iron	170x75x42	185	27 000
Steel	170x70x41	111	15 500
Cast iron	170x70x40	182	26 500
Acrylic	150x90x42	200	9 999
Steel	170x70x40	195	7 800

Please note that all prices indicated in the rating are current at the beginning of 2017, and over time they may change in one direction or another.

Roca Malibu 170×75

Kaldewei Saniform Plus 170×70

Roca Continental 170×70

Cersanit Joanna 150×95

Roca Contesa 170×70

Sizes and shapes of the bathroom - nuances of choice

Choose the dimensions of the bathroom based not only on the size of the bathroom in which it will be located, but also taking into account the size of the people who will use this plumbing. For most people, bathtubs 170-180 cm long and 70-80 cm wide will be just right. But if necessary, feel free to make your own adjustments to these figures.

Interesting! A simple way to determine the desired width of the bowl is to measure the width of your heat and add 10-20 cm to the resulting figure.

Having decided on the length and width, you need to choose the bath height and bowl depth that suits you. Yes, don’t be surprised, these are slightly different parameters. Height is the distance from the floor to the top edge of the sides of the bathtub, on average it is 60-70 cm. The depth of the bowl is the distance from the bottom of the font to the siphon hole for draining. For a person of average build and height, 50-60 cm is enough - the water will cover you up to your neck. If you have small children in the house and they will also take a bath, then it makes sense to choose plumbing fixtures with a shallower bowl depth - it will be safer.

After choosing the length, width, height and depth of the bowl, pay attention to the shape of the plumbing fixtures.

In this regard, baths can be of several types.

A rectangular wall-mounted bathtub is a classic that fits the standard bathrooms of most apartments in the CIS.
A wall-mounted corner bathtub is a product that, despite its relatively small size, provides enough space for comfortable spending time in the bathroom and washing in it.
Wall-mounted corner asymmetrical bathtub is a subtype of the previous form. It is an intermediate option between rectangular and angular.
Round and oval bathtubs are in most cases quite large products that are the central element in the room. It, in turn, must have a significant area so that such plumbing can be installed without any problems.

Corner asymmetrical bathtub

Also, when purchasing plumbing fixtures, be sure to familiarize yourself with what is included in the kit - you may have to purchase some parts separately. It would also be a good idea to study analogues of the bathtubs you have chosen, but with various additional functions, such as hydromassage, disinfection and chromotherapy.

Roca Malibu 170×75

Kaldewei Saniform Plus 170×70

Roca Continental 170×70

Cersanit Joanna 150×95

Roca Contesa 170×70

Cast iron bathtub 170×85 Newcast

expert assessment;
real operating experience;
ergonomics and bowl design;
soundproofing;
strength of structural material and coating;
installation method;
additional options;
decorative value in the interior of the bathroom.

This manual discusses the most successful options for the design of bathtubs, and not entire collections or manufacturers. Therefore, the rating contains products from famous brands and particularly successful models from little-known companies.

Compared to acrylic, steel stamping is more wear-resistant and stable due to its weight and low center of gravity. Compared to iron casting, production costs are reduced and installation is an order of magnitude easier, since the steel product is much lighter. The prices for steel bathtubs are also pleasantly surprising.

The main disadvantages are the loud sound from a stream of water falling onto the surface of a steel bowl from a mixer, deformation under the significant weight of users, the need for additional fixation to the wall, and decoration with panels/screens from the outside.

In the TOP 10 under consideration, the Russian-made Antika VIZ model is exactly in the middle, at the fifth level of the rating. There are no more domestic companies here. The main evaluation criteria were characteristics - price, comfort, service life, warranty, decorative qualities, ease of maintenance.

Kaldewei Saniform Plus

The Saniform Plus model takes first place for a number of objective reasons:

This modification does not have an anti-slip corrugated surface or a special Anti-slip coating. But the inside of the bowl is coated with a self-cleaning composition Easy-Clean.

Most often, the choice of a steel bathtub from this German company is determined by the unique properties of steel enamel, the formula and technology of which is the intellectual property of Kaldewei. After high-temperature treatment, the enamel has the appearance of glass, a perfectly white noble color that does not darken over time.

The shape of the bathtub is classic - a small flat bottom surface, rounded side walls around the perimeter, a gentle slope of 10° under the user’s back. Possible installation along the wall, between two partitions, embedding into the floor, podium.

Bathroom decoration with panels

It is equipped with side support handles with a symmetrical arrangement on the sides. The company produces side and end panels for decorating large-sized sanitary ware in the bathroom interior.

BLB Universal

In an expert assessment of bathtubs in terms of quality, the Universal line took the top step. However, in the overall ranking, plumbing products from Portugal could only rise to second position for a number of reasons:

Location of magnetic soundproofing mats

The Universal collection is labeled HG, which translates to “heavy gauge.” Soundproofing mats are tailored to the shape of the bowl, attached with magnets to the steel surface without gluing, and can be dismantled at any stage of operation.

Roca Contesa

The Contesa collection from the Spanish manufacturer Roca includes several bathtubs of various sizes of the same shape:

The shape of the bathtub is modern, the project developers used the following technical solutions;

The manufacturer produces side panels only for bowls with a length of 1.5 - 1.7 m. For models 1 m, 1.2 m and 1.4 m, you will have to take screens and panels from third-party companies.

The capacity of the Contesa series bathtubs is 90 – 195 liters with a length of 1 – 1.7 m, respectively. Wall or built-in installation. In the horizontal projection, the long side and short end sides of the bowl are mated with a radius rounding, which makes it difficult to seal the gaps between the bathtub and the wall and install panels and screens.

Kaldewei Eurowa Form Plus

The next model from the German manufacturer Kaldewei is called Eurowa Form Plus and has the following characteristics:

These are high-quality bathtubs in the budget category costing 10–11 thousand rubles. The multi-layer coating can withstand repeated drops of fairly large accessories without chipping. Eurowa models are preferred by housewives who often wash large items in particularly hot water.

VIZ Antika

The Verkh-Isetsky plant has been producing steel bathtubs since 1991. Currently, there is a specialization in four independent brands - Antique with vitreous enamel, Donna Vanna with antibacterial coating, Tevro made of 2 mm steel with sound insulation, Reimar with a polymer coating of the external surface.

VIZ Antika

Manufacturer VIZ applies a layer of enamel to Antique bowls on a robotic spray line. Unlike steel, vitreous enamel has zero elasticity. Therefore, tensile stresses in the structural material caused by the weight of the user are compensated by tightening forces inside the enamel layer.

The choice is influenced by the strength and geometry of the sanitary ware. The longitudinal sides are tested for a load of 100 kg, applied at an equal distance from the support legs, included by default in the delivery set. The plant uses sheet steel of its own production, the quality of which has been the standard in the Russian Federation since the 30s of the 18th century.

Welt on the surface of the rim of the Antique bowl.

The rectangular bowl has a rim where the walls meet the rim. In addition to the stiffener, this structural element prevents household items placed on the side from falling. The flat part of the bottom makes up 2/3 of the total area of the bathtub in horizontal projection. The rounding on the drain/overflow side is radial, under the user’s back in the shape of an ellipse. This bowl shape is considered modern, not classic.

Bette Form

Among more than two dozen collections of the German manufacturer Bette, Form models have the following performance properties:

The German company used the traditional bowl shape for Russian plumbing. In the user's back area, the internal cavity is widened; towards the drain it narrows for economical water consumption.

Experts advise taking bathtubs with anti-slip coating and handles to increase the safety of users of different age categories.

The Bette company produces installation boxes, sealing systems, semi-automatic drains for its bathtubs, carries out side cuts of corners, and installs hydromassage systems. The buyer can order a bowl to fit the space available in the bathroom.

Jika Riga

In Europe, Czech sanitary ware has been popular since 1950; in Russia, steel bathtubs from the manufacturer Jika, which became part of the Laufen concern in 1991, appeared in 2006. The Riga collection occupies the seventh level of the rating and has distinctive features:

The legs are not equipped with damper pads; experts recommend gluing double-sided tape to them to prevent cracking of the enamel when tightening the adjusting bolt.

The Riga series plumbing fixtures are cheap, durable, practical, according to user reviews. Czechs use good steel and enamel glass coating from third-party manufacturers.

Laufen Pro

Swiss manufacturer Laufen specializes in ceramic sanitary ware. However, the concern includes enterprises from other countries that produce stamped metal and acrylic bathtubs. Therefore, as an experiment in the Pro series, a line of Laufen Pro steel bathtubs was developed with the following characteristics:

Bowls with a width of 70 cm allow people with an athletic and thin build to save money on purchases. Wide 75 cm and 80 cm bathtubs are more comfortable for older, obese and overweight users.

In long bathtubs, the drain-overflow holes can be located at the feet or in the middle of the bowl.

Gala Vanessa

The Spanish manufacturer Gala provides a 10-year warranty on its own made steel bathtubs. Taking into account delivery to the Russian Federation from another state, the products remain inexpensive, prices start from 13 thousand rubles. The Vanessa model collection attracts the attention of users with the following technical solutions:

White Wave Classic

The rating is completed by the products of the Kazakh enterprise Santekhprom LLP under the White Wave trademark. The Classic model is available in two versions - length 150 cm or 170 cm with the other two dimensions 38x70 cm (depth, width, respectively).

Bathtub Classic from the manufacturer Santekhprom

Features of the large-sized Classic sanitary ware from the White Wave brand are:

Each buyer receives a 1.5 year warranty for the enamel coating. The actual service life is about 30 years. The manufacturer uses enamel from a third-party company from the Netherlands, Ferro.

How to choose a steel bath

When choosing large-sized plumbing fixtures for a bathroom, we recommend paying attention to the following:

Dimensions

The most important characteristic is the overall size of the bathtub, which affects the comfort of use and the quality of the bathroom design. Our rating represents budget-class products, so the bathtubs are either reclining or sedentary, with rare exceptions (reclining 1.8 meters long).

In a separate Brezhnevka bathroom there is only enough space for bowls 150 - 170 cm long. Short baths 100 - 140 cm are used for installation across the room. Long bowls 170 - 200 cm are installed in combined bathrooms or large rooms of modern apartment building projects.

Soundproofing

To eliminate unpleasant sounds caused by the fall of a stream of water from the mixer onto the thin-walled sheet material of the bathtub, plumbing manufacturers use two technologies:

increase in wall thickness - starting from 3.5 mm, the mass of the structural material at the point of contact with the jet becomes much greater than the weight of the liquid falling on it, the noise disappears;
The bowl is equipped with soundproofing material - as a rule, these are small mats on a magnetic basis or with a layer of self-adhesive material; the installation location of the mats is indicated in the instructions for the sanitary ware.

Without this, stamped steel bathtubs do not have the necessary level of sound insulation, and therefore are considered not comfortable to use. Can .

Bowl shape

Unlike cast iron, acrylic and artificial stone, steel bathtubs are stamped with giant punches inside equally large dies. In some places, the steel sheet is stretched, and the thickness of the product is critically reduced. Therefore, manufacturers of steel bathtubs usually do not use complex shapes.

Steel bathtub of complex shape with armrests

Instead of an angular configuration, symmetrical forms of classic contours are most often used - rounded corners connecting the bottom with the side walls, a flat side with or without a welt.

Manufacturer

The cheapest in terms of transport costs are logistics schemes within the Russian Federation. That is, domestic plumbing fixtures are always cheaper than similar bathtubs from foreign companies, which inevitably go through customs when crossing borders.

Most companies use the same enamel recipes, glass metal technology, and equipment from leading European brands. Herbal medicine and hydromassage in steel baths belonging to the Economy and Standard categories are not installed by default. Therefore, among additional options, a plumbing manufacturer may offer headrests, handles, faucet insertion into the side, side/front panels or screens.

Thus, a description of the ten best steel bathtubs with their detailed characteristics will reduce the user’s time studying the same information on their own, avoid mistakes, and provide a high service life.

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Now the championship has passed to acrylic models. Choosing an acrylic bathtub becomes a challenge. The article helps you understand what criteria should be taken into account and what you should not focus on when choosing an acrylic hot tub. The desire to purchase a functional model leads to the study and comparison of manufacturers. How well-known a name in the plumbing market will be a guarantee of reliability in purchasing a high-quality acrylic hot tub.

For buyers, the first requirement for plumbing fixtures made of any material is its long service life. The criterion of price-quality ratio of a product is no less concerning. For example, the domestic manufacturer Radomir was recently criticized by buyers for the fact that the products were not maintained in this combination of parameters.

Not only by design. The consumer pays attention to the manufacturer as a guarantor of quality and reliability. After all, companies have been earning a name for years, and the consumer properties of their products are constantly improving. But sometimes the consumer is faced with another problem: inflated prices not because of the additional functions of the product, but because of the brand.

This leads to the conclusion that you need to choose taking into account two important factors:

manufacturer's name;
whether the manufacturer maintains the tandem of price and quality.

Brand selection problems

The answer to the question of which brand of acrylic bathtubs is better takes a long time to find for two reasons:

There are a large number of manufacturers representing acrylic bathtubs on the market. The manufactured products have.
Many no-name companies have appeared.

Therefore, it is still worth stopping at proven brands.

Criteria for choosing an acrylic bathtub

The price of the hot tub chosen by the consumer leads him to the question: which acrylic bathtub is better to choose based on the following parameters:

The material affects the price and quality of the model.

The production process is based on technical cast acrylic, which is covered with a reinforcing layer. There is also industrial acrylic. Technical has antibacterial properties. Thanks to the additives, the products will be comfortable and harmless to use. Large models are made from cast acrylic, but they are light in weight and meet all the requirements for reliability and structural strength.

In the sales area of stores there are models made of plastic (ABS) coated with acrylic and a reinforcing layer. They are lower in price, but also worse in quality.

Knowing the differences between these models will help you buy the right acrylic bathtub. If there is no conscious desire to purchase a model at a low price (from ABS), then it is recommended to study the section of the structure. A hot tub made of cast material has 2 layers, and one made of ABS has 3 layers. The consultant may say that the thickness of the model is 8 mm. This is not true, 3-4 mm is the thickness of the acrylic structure.

The beam from the flashlight does not shine through the walls of a high-quality model. Only poor quality acrylic allows light to pass through. The durable bathtub is made of opaque material. Good acrylic bathtubs can compete in reliability with steel and cast iron products, despite the fact that they are much lighter. High-quality products can withstand loads.

Checking the structure for strength. She doesn't bend. You can easily verify this by pressing on the bottom with your hand. There are models in which the defect is hidden by a good frame, but a high-quality product should not “play.”
A long warranty period is a guarantee of the quality of the model. After all, the manufacturer is confident that during this time he will not be bothered about replacing the product. For example, a manufacturer from Germany provides a 5-year warranty.
A glossy and uniform surface is an important sign of quality. The absence of stains, darkening and roughness on the surface confirms the originality of the design.
The quality of the outer layer depends on the material used. A conscientious manufacturer uses polyurethane. Then the surface from the outside will be smooth and dark. There should be no roughness or unpleasant odors. If fiberglass with synthetic resins was used, then it is worth frankly saying that saving on material and such a bathtub cannot be purchased.
The stability of an acrylic bathtub depends on the design of the frame. It looks like a bathroom mounting frame with adjustable legs and corner supports. A regular frame for the sides will be an unstable frame.
Additional features mean additional cash costs. You can save money if you buy a regular acrylic bathtub. Tips for buying a whirlpool bath: It is worth researching the manufacturers who develop and produce such models.
Model stability. A simple form is strength and stability. The more complex the bathtub configuration, the higher quality the design should be. Hence the price increases.
The price increase is also influenced by the design of the drain-overflow system: traditional, semi-automatic, automatic. This will not affect the quality of the models. Therefore, the buyer independently chooses which acrylic bathtubs are best for him.

Choosing a bathtub by size

It doesn’t matter if you buy an acrylic bathtub for a large or small family. determined by the level of comfortable immersion of the tallest and largest member of the family. We must not forget about the other residents. Therefore, details are thought through: armrests, handles, the presence of a shower.

Comparative characteristics of manufacturers

Comparative characteristics of manufacturers - guarantors of the quality and reliability of their models, lead the consumer to the answer to the question of how to choose a high-quality acrylic bathtub. A description of the pros and cons of each brand allows you to create a rating of manufacturers of acrylic bathtubs.

Czech company "Ravak". In the production of bathtubs, acrylic sheets 5-6 mm thick are used. High quality designs are produced with a backing made of special fiberglass. The strength and rigidity of models with ergonomic shapes and capable of withstanding loads are noted.

Poor equipment of some models with additional components is a shortcoming in the company’s work process.

Polish company "Cersanit" (Cersanit). The manufacturer has achieved a combination of affordable prices and product quality. Antibacterial acrylic is used in production. Comfort is explained by the capacity of the products and their ergonomic shape. A long warranty period of 7 years increases the number of fans of Cersanite plumbing fixtures. All products are certified.

The thickness of the acrylic sheet of 4 mm prevents the installation of hydromassage on the manufactured bathtubs.

Dutch company Riho (Riho). The company's production process is based on the use of environmentally friendly Lucite acrylic for the manufacture of sanitary ware. Its thickness is from 6 to 8 mm. Therefore, the manufacturer claims that acrylic structures are resistant to deformation and are of high quality. The brand is famous in Europe.
Russian company Aquanet. Acrylic 5 mm thick, high quality is used. Models on sale come in different configurations: asymmetry, rectangular or oval. Bathing comfort is ensured by designed armrests and special walls.

Polish manufacturer – company Kolo (Kolo). The company specializes in producing modern design models at an affordable price for the average buyer. Consumers who chose a bathtub with a hydromassage from a Polish company were faced with a problem: insufficient rigidity of the installation of the hydromassage.

Russian manufacturers

The characteristics of the model range of acrylic sanitary ware from Russian manufacturers must begin with the arguments of its competitiveness. A person believes facts. Logical justifications will lead to the idea that Russian companies should be trusted:

The cost of domestic models is lower due to the absence of surcharges: for customs fees; for long-distance transportation costs; to pay for warehouses at points of intermediate stay. All this is “paid” by the buyer.
Russian designers and technologists develop acrylic structures taking into account the mentality of their citizens. Many nuances are taken into account in the attitude of Russians to technology, everything that colleagues from abroad bypass.
There is a wide variety of products on the market and there is plenty to choose from.

The Aquatek company is the best in terms of price and quality ratio. Cast acrylic 5 mm thick. The set includes a metal frame, which allows us to talk about the reliability of the installation of the hydromassage.

The Bas company's technological process is based on Italian and English equipment. Therefore, the models are superior in quality to analogues from other companies. 2 production technologies are involved. The first option: acrylic reinforcement is made with fiberglass. Second option: acrylic is reinforced with PU foam, which significantly reduces weight.
The third place of honor is occupied by the Triton company. The hot tubs are made from high quality materials. A small minus is that this reinforcement is carried out with glass fiber.
The plant in Kazan is known under the 1Marka brand. Over 15 years, it has become the best on the market not only in the development of acrylic bathtubs, but also in other areas of plumbing. The manufacturer develops original model designs in its own design bureau. Technological engineers take on the creation of individual designs. According to the choice of prices, baths are presented for the population of different strata.
Young manufacturer "Alpen". In a short period of time he entered the list of the best. Production technology is constantly being improved, taking into account both the developments of competitors and their shortcomings.
In terms of convenience, the Aquanet bathtub model is a leader. They are inferior in quality. The models are made from sheet acrylic. And although the thickness of acrylic is 5 mm, the performance is still lower. With careful care, the acrylic structure will last a long time.

Buyers are familiar with the products of the Trading Company "Radomir", "Akrilan". Domestic manufacturers offer a wide range of acrylic bathtubs to choose from. The decision on which bath to choose should be made based on your goals and financial capabilities.

Price range of acrylic bathtubs

Manufacturers are developing price regulation policies as this affects the attraction of buyers. A general overview of the prices of some brands will allow you to navigate the choice of their products. Prices for the standard model in the table are presented in rubles.

A single bathtub of a standard shape (oval or rectangle) can be purchased for 10,000-30,000 rubles. The model is not equipped with hydromassage and other additional options. If the quality level is above average, then the product from Russian brands or from Europe will be priced higher. General price fluctuations range from several thousand rubles to hundreds of thousands of rubles.