Which bath is best for an apartment?
Acrylic, steel and cast iron are the three most common bath materials. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, but it is with the choice of material that the process of finding a font in the bathroom begins.
How to choose?
The choice of plumbing is the acquisition of items that will last at least a decade. Mounting and dismantling a bathroom requires effort, money, and does not tolerate mistakes. For this reason, buying a font is an issue that needs to be considered from all sides.
5 tips for choosing a bath for your apartment.
- If a thing is purchased with a purely practical purpose (water procedures, washing, soaking), then a rectangular font would be the best option. If the desire to sit in the bathroom is put to the fore, and for a person bathing is a whole ritual, then it is worth taking a closer look at the corner models, as well as the bathtubs with legs.
- If washing in the bathroom is not included in the plans, you can pay attention to the combined acrylic models.
- If you choose a design for relaxation and health improvement, then you should invest in an acrylic bathtub with air massage or hydromassage.
- Those who follow the novelties and love modern technologies in everyday life should take a closer look at the kvarilovy baths. Kvaril is a modern composite material with acrylic, quartz and environmentally friendly polymer additives.
- If a person makes a luxury renovation, then marble structures will be the best choice.
The selection scheme involves several steps: first you need to decide on the material, on the type of installation of the model and, finally, on the presence or absence of additional options.
Variants
Budget option: steel bath
Steel plumbing will fit into a budget, in which the main task will be to save money and maintain a balance of price / quality. Reliable performance properties only add points to such models.
Advantages of steel equipment:
- steel products will cost less than other options, while outwardly they look very dignified and fit into the concept of a modern bathroom;
- technological capabilities of steel make it possible to make a product of any shape;
- such a structure will weigh relatively little, which means that it is easy to mount and, if necessary, can be easily transferred from one place to another.
Cons of steel baths:
- high background noise when collecting water;
- high thermal conductivity - the collected water in the steel product will cool faster.
At the same time, the opinion remains that a steel bathtub cannot be beautiful. There should be no questions about the decorative characteristics of this model. And if a person is satisfied with some of the disadvantages, then a steel bath will be a good option from a line of inexpensive models. But alternative designs are in many ways more advantageous than the steel version.
Cast iron
Cast iron construction - it is a durable purchase that is reliable and convenient. In such a bowl, water will be drawn almost silently, and it does not threaten to cool quickly.
Advantages of cast iron products:
- usually manufacturers cover cast iron with smooth enamel, while the product does not hold back dust and rust - this means that it will not be difficult to take care of the bathroom;
- the product surpasses competitors in durability;
- design availability.
Cons of a cast iron bath:
- the product weighs quite a lot, therefore, difficulties in installation may arise;
- restriction on the choice of forms in the line of cast-iron models - baths of an unusual configuration cannot be made of cast iron.
Today, many owners of modern apartments with a large footage are trying to choose a bathtub with legs - in a small bathroom such a design will be inappropriate. But if the footage allows, an elegant font will decorate the space.
If the bathroom has a window, a cast-iron claw-foot bathtub will look even better.
Acrylic
Such models have appeared relatively recently, but are not inferior in popularity to the classics. Acrylic is a polymer material with enviable strength.
Pros of acrylic:
- when heated, acrylic becomes plastic, due to which it is easy to process, which means that you can make a font of any shape from acrylic;
- in order for the product to gain greater strength, it is additionally reinforced with polymer resin and fiberglass, so the durability of the structure is beyond doubt.
Cons of acrylic:
- instability to deformation - the surface can be covered with scratches (although it is worth noting that these scratches can be removed);
- ability to stain - it is not worth washing colored clothes in an acrylic bowl.
Each presented option has its pros and cons. But the choice is huge, and any of the options can be a good purchase.
In addition to the pragmatic choice of material, there is also a choice of aesthetic design. Many apartment owners want the bathtub to look not only dignified, but also stylish in the design of the bathroom. In this case, it is worth taking a closer look at brick models.
Brick bath
A structure made of bricks, aerated concrete blocks, solid cast - all these are fashionable options, but in a standard bathroom they will be simply impractical.
Brick construction is suitable:
- owners of a spacious room for a bathroom;
- for those who want an exclusive bathroom and are willing to take risks.
But to save money on this option, of course, will not work, and the very process of making such a bath is quite laborious. In this case, there are two options: to make an original design or to finish the surface of a standard bath with tiles. In the first case, a simple solution would be to build a rectangular structure. Bathtub laying is actually no different from the construction of partitions, but complex shapes are a more serious task, and you cannot do without professionals.
If it was decided to make the finishing of the structure with tiles, then you can get the result of a space in the style of a Turkish hammam or Roman baths. It is worth noting that with such a finishing solution, a special grout for tiles must be chosen.
A decent option would be epoxy pool grout. These grouting resins can provide a smooth joint surface and zero water absorption.
Stages of building a brick bath
This is a trendy, contemporary solution that can really be a good choice for those who want an original design. Construction involves several stages.
- Plumbing. It is better to carry out communications before work begins on the installation of the walls. If you postpone work, it will be difficult to do it in a cramped environment. For cleaning as a drain, it is recommended to install not the usual strapping, but a ladder for shower rooms - this way you can get access to technical cleaning from above.
- Bathtub construction. You need to start with measuring the premises, drawing up a project, calculating the amount of material. After this, the brick is laid directly. Aerated concrete blocks are the most popular material, but an alternative is possible. The masonry is carried out using standard masonry mortar.
- Waterproofing. This is perhaps the most crucial stage of the entire construction, so you should entrust it to professionals. It is done in two layers, the seams of which must necessarily overlap. When only the final finish remains, a primer must be created on top of the waterproofing layer prior to tiling. This is necessary for better adhesion of the glue.
- Finishing. What the tile will be is up to the owner of the apartment. The best choice is considered to be a small tile, the design of which will make it possible not to undercut. Mosaic as a decorative finish is preferable in this regard.
A brick bathtub is an interesting solution, but not everyone can master the construction. However, not only materials affect the effectiveness of the model - you can make the design of the space more interesting due to the type of installation of the structure. For example, you can replace a wall model with a corner model.
Bath installation type
Wall-mounted models are fixed closely with the side to one of the walls of the room. They may also be remote from them. Corner options are installed in one of the corners of the bathroom. The back-to-wall type, of course, is rich in shape variations. The most popular of these are the oval, as well as the ellipse, circle and figure eight. Corner structures are often in the shape of a quarter of a circle. Asymmetric corner patterns are much less common.
Modern models are equipped with additional options. For example, if cast-iron and steel structures can only be a font, then acrylic bathtubs will delight you with hydromassage, chromotherapy, as well as a disinfection system for an empty font and a water level sensor.
Beautiful examples
Below are 7 ideas for beautiful modern bowls.
- Oval fontwhich will not take up much space in the room. The owner can only be envied.
- Corner option finished with mosaic tiles.
- Cast iron product on legs for lovers of elegance in design.
- Small bathroom can be very beautiful.
- Another interesting arrangement option small bathroom.
- Stylish option in a small space.
- Legged hot tub in a room of 3 sq. m.
For information on how to choose the right bath for an apartment, see the next video.