Acrylic or cast-iron bath ?Overview of the advantages and disadvantages of both options

rhythm of modern life, such that we are forced to spend most of the day at work.Coming home in the evening, we feel completely overwhelmed.bathing only with different spices allows us to relax a bit and take the stress accumulated during the day.But which is better, acrylic or cast-iron bath?Overview of the advantages and disadvantages of both options will help us to make the most rational choices.After the plumbing fixtures we get more than one year.

Compare products on their main parameters

Each type of bath has its own advantages and disadvantages, which makes us a better understanding of these nuances to come to shop in the store.The first is to talk about the strength and durability.Undoubtedly, the iron has great potential strength, and the product of this material are heavier, but steady.Even with the heavy hammer iron bath is not easy to split, so there is an obvious advantage over acrylic products.If we consider the second embodiment, it can be noted that acrylic bathtub is lighter, and the degree of its strength is dependent on the type of reinforcement material.If the valve is used metal mesh, the product is strong enough.However, it is important to understand that the durability depends also on how well cared for the equipment and its operation.

Now consider the appearance and value of both options.Cast iron baths are covered with high quality enamel coating with a uniform gloss good.The advantages of acrylic include a variety of colors.Moreover, dyes are added directly into the plastic on the product manufacturing stage, allowing you to keep the original color of the bath during the entire period of operation.In the market you can find a huge variety of colors, ranging from the usual white and ending with black absolutely incredible.If you compare the price of iron and acrylic baths, you can see that they are almost the same.At the same time, there are exceptions: some models of acrylic products with sophisticated design features, exclusive design solutions, additional reinforcement are much more expensive.However, it is worth to be careful, because too much refined form of acrylic baths can be achieved only with a weak reinforcement, which reduces the strength of the product.

Compared products have very different thermal stability parameters, and apply to them the different rules of care.Cast-iron alloy in its structure contains a large amount of carbon, which gives the material a very high heat capacity.Cast iron bathtub long warming, but cooling down and no more than 1 degree 10 minutes.This is a very good indicator.And now, attention!Acrylic bath cools down on one degree for half an hour.That is, the heat capacity of the plastic three times higher than that of iron.It is because of this quality acrylic bath is preferred by those people who love a long soak in the tub with hot water.

With regard to care, the irresponsible attitude could hurt anything.Therefore, dropping heavy objects, that is, that other product is strictly prohibited.Cast-iron bath is covered with enamel, so if it is at least a little damage, then the problem will begin to grow like a snowball.Around this damage will begin to appear rust.This bath will have to be restored, which is quite time-consuming: the new enamel cover, remove the old, fill with liquid acrylic or insert a special acrylic liner.

The most popular method is pouring acrylic.Liquid plastic fills all irregularities, leveling the surface.This method ensures a long service life after repair and smooth shiny surface.In the care of an acrylic bath more demanding than cast iron, although generally quite comfortable.The main thing here is not to use too strong solvents that can damage acrylic and detergents containing abrasives.Easy enough to use as a detergent fluid and a soft sponge.For daily care it is reasonable to simply rinse bath of running water from the tap.

How to choose a cast-iron bath

If you decide to purchase a cast-iron bath, it is necessary to have an idea about the basic criteria for its selection.The first is to pay close attention to her appearance.After all, it is the main bathroom and occupies a central place there.Therefore, bath design must be in harmony with the whole interior of the premises.In order to properly select the need to focus their attention on the size and shape of the product.Appeared modern materials processing technologies in recent years, allow producers to experiment.On sale you can find rectangular, oval, round and angular products, which have become a major boon for owners of apartments with a small area.

have cast-iron baths there are two types according to the method of installation.In addition to traditional embedded models now produce and free-standing baths.They come in several stylistic options:

• Made in the Baroque style is usually characterized by an oval shape and fanciful feet, which may be, for example, the kind of lion's paws.
• baths, made in hi-tech, have strict contours of the container, chrome triangular or rectangular legs.

• products, made "antique" Today is a very fashionable as curved legs can give even the most sophisticated kind of sparse and minimalist bathroom.

bath made in recent years of cast iron, which are equipped with a variety of additional useful features:

• Whirlpool, which allows you to relax the muscles of the body, thanks to its relaxing effect.
• illumination, creating a romantic mood of the receiving water treatments.
• Fully automatic control of the water temperature, which makes it possible to be in hot water indefinitely.

When selecting the cast iron tub is worth remembering and about the quality of casting and enamel coating: good coverage is to be deprived of irregularities, roughness, stains, waves and bumps.If visual examination of a sudden you have found some of these defects, it says that the enamel has been applied unevenly, that very quickly leads to the appearance of corrosion on the enamel surface.

conclude with a brief overview of the rules of selection of cast-iron baths listing their virtues:

• excellent resistance, due to the large weight.

• color enamel has a noble and rich look.
• enameled surface does not accumulate dirt, easy to clean, will not crack or foliated.
• Good sound insulation does not create a nuisance when using a shower and pouring water.
• very long service life, measured in decades.

Among the shortcomings of cast iron bath can be noted its great weight, which creates inconveniences for transportation, lifting the upper floors of buildings and installation.

How are acrylic bathtubs

Since acrylic bathtubs today gained a lot of popularity, then a huge number of producers who cast these plastic products, often breaking all conceivable technical regulations.As a result, the consumer reaches a large percentage of low-quality products.In this regard, the purchase of acrylic baths is necessary to pay attention to the following nuances:

• important indicator of the quality of products is the thickness of the material.It is determined by the cut of a side that can be felt with your fingers.Quality product having a thickness of 5 mm.
• For strength and durability of acrylic baths is responsible reinforcing layer.Conscientious manufacturers, as a rule, tend to take care of the strengthening of its products.Valves seen on a section of a side, so it is worth considering carefully.It is best if it is made of metal.Great influence on the strength and provides a surface processing acrylic.It also must be done efficiently.
• Visual inspection does not reveal the variety of burrs on the sides of the product, roughness and potholes.
• When tapped on the product, it must publish a dull sound, indicating that the Q-bath.
• is important to have a quality certificate.After a serious company does not skimp on its production, bringing the quality of their products to the required specifications.

In addition to the above, summarize all the advantages of acrylic bathtubs:

• unconditional lightness - the weight of any acrylic bath is not more than 30 kg.
• High plasticity of the material - in vacuum conditions it is possible to blow out all sorts of geometric shapes.
• Acrylic bathtubs are very pleasant on sensations - they are perfectly smooth and level surface capable of delivering real pleasure to anyone, even the most demanding, the bather.

• This bath can easily be restored by using a liquid acrylic.

can also note a few minor disadvantages of acrylic baths:

• Acrylic is fairly brittle material, so drop heavy things in the bath is fraught with the appearance of holes.
• bottom of acrylic baths a bit of flex under the weight of a person while bathing, but this fact very soon cease to bother you, because you just get used to it and will not notice it.
• Acrylic bathtubs can be done in the form of stand-alone font, like iron.They usually have a special decorative trim that covers the space at the bottom.

In order to make the right choice between cast iron and acrylic, it is necessary to take all of the above information into account and relate it to your specific circumstances and preferences.In this case, you will only enjoy their purchase while taking water treatments.With proper care both options will serve you faithfully for decades.