Bathtubs made of ferrous metals and alloys are gradually becoming a thing of the past. They have long had worthy rivals, who turned out to be much more practical and reliable. Thanks to the achievements of modern technologies, a lot of materials have appeared that could not only fully replace steel and cast iron, but also surpass them in some indicators.
One of the leaders in today’s market is stone bathtubs, available at https://www.aquaticabath.co.uk/category/stone-bathtubs. Being surprisingly beautiful, they are in no way inferior to metal ones. Acrylic bathtubs, which have unique advantages in lightness and ease of use, have also entered the trend superbly.
Briefly about materials
Many buyers ask: how safe is acrylic and what is it? The official name of this material, which has found wide application in plumbing, sounds like polymethyl methacrylate. In wider circles, it is also known under the names: plexiglass and plexiglass. Its distinguishing feature is rigidity and some other mechanical properties, which it strongly resembles classical glass. By adding various modifiers and colorants, it can be given additional strength, chemical resistance, and any color.
Stone resin can be considered a rival of acrylic. For its production, natural stone is used, which is crushed and bound with a base of a polymer mixture. Such materials are environmentally friendly, easy to process, allowing you to form products of various shapes. Thanks to its respectable appearance, any luxury stone bathtub will perfectly fit into the design interior and style of any room.
Front interface
There is a common property that both acrylic and stone resin baths have in common. Both materials are quite flexible and in no way limit the designer’s imagination, allowing you to create products in any unpredictable configurations and scales.
The acrylic bathtub in the standard living space and the stone resin freestanding bath can be made in any color scheme, which allows for designs that can blend in well with any interior.
Comfort and convenience
Both materials allow you to create products that are considered to be among the most comfortable for bathing. The advantage of an acrylic bathtub is a perfectly smooth surface.
No worse in this regard are stone bathtubs, the surface of which is always a pleasure to touch. Modern technologies make it possible to polish materials based on polymer resins, obtaining products with perfectly even and smooth surfaces that can be easily cleaned.
Ability to store heat
Acrylic bathtubs tend to warm up relatively quickly. However, this means that they also actively release heat. For this reason, they often have to add water during procedures.
Baths based on stone are characterized by excellent thermal insulation, the water in them does not cool down for a very long time.
Weight
This is one of the most important parameters, on which the convenience of delivery and installation largely depends. A modern acrylic bathtub weighs no more than 60 kg, which makes it easy to install such structures in almost any room. Depending on the overall dimensions, the installation may require a welded base with uprights, which will prevent deformation under a large weight of water.
With stone products, everything is much more complicated. They are massive and bulky; a luxury stone bathtub can weigh several hundred kilograms. Accordingly, it is very problematic to transport such a product to the upper floors and place it in an apartment. It is not uncommon that a stone freestanding bath is not suitable indoors for safety reasons. Being filled with water will create a noticeable load on the floors, which is not always acceptable according to building codes.
Maintenance and care
To clean acrylic and stone baths, do not use products that contain abrasive components. They can leave small scratches on the surface that will become clogged with dirt.
Acrylic bath surfaces are easy to clean using ordinary soap solutions or special gels.
Stone baths are recommended to be cleaned regularly with special products using a soft sponge. With a certain frequency, they will need to be polished with wax.
Advantages and disadvantages of acrylic bathtubs
Acrylic bathtubs can always be purchased at a bargain price, so they are widely represented on the market in a variety of modifications. Having excellent strength characteristics, with regular use, acrylic is able to last a long time, as it resists cracking very well. The resulting damage can be repaired quite easily and cheaply.
You can install an acrylic bath on your own, as it is easy and will not create any problems during the delivery and installation process.
These products will be an excellent solution for those who are trying to find an original solution that goes well with both luxurious and traditional designs.
The negative properties of acrylic structures can be considered the following.
- They may become stained or discolored over time.
- Brittleness is the main disadvantage of this material. Bathtubs can sag under the influence of the mass of water, which over time leads to the formation of cracks and deformations.
- Due to low-temperature resistance, acrylic can be deformed by regular temperature fluctuations.
Instead, modern manufacturers have created analogues of acrylic, which are more durable and reliable, but are much more expensive.
Advantages and disadvantages of stone baths
Many properties are known, due to which stone bathtubs are considered one of the most reliable and durable. They continue to be a sign of wealth and prosperity. The natural properties of stone allow it to perfectly retain heat and guarantee the most pleasant bathing experience.
Bathtubs made of stone resin do not require special care, they are easily cleaned from any kind of pollution.
Due to the excellent mechanical characteristics of the raw materials, products based on stone and polymer resins remain extremely durable and perfectly resist any kind of damage.
The surfaces of such bathtubs are even and smooth, neutral to chemicals, bacteria that contribute to the formation of mold do not start on them.
Of course, a luxury stone bathtub will cost much more than an acrylic one.
Over time, they can wear off the gel coating, then the surfaces become slightly rough. This can cause unpleasant sensations when bathing and creates additional difficulties in the cleaning process.
It will be difficult to answer the question about the best material for a bath. Copper, cast iron, and porcelain have positive features that distinguish them from the general background.
The specific choice depends on some factors, including cost, delivery, and ease of installation. For some people, the color scheme will be the decisive criterion, while others will focus on the durability of the structure. In any case, you will have to strike a reasonable balance between cost and performance.