How to choose an acrylic bath?

Acrylic bathtubs appeared recently on the domestic market, but immediately took their rightful place next to the long-familiar cast iron bathtubs. This is due to the huge number of advantages that plumbing made of acrylic has, for example, significantly less weight, original shape and, of course, price. However, as you know, the greater the choice, the more difficult it is to make it. Today we will tell you how to choose an acrylic bath so that it is of high quality and durable.

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Acrylic bathtubs - what are they?

In order for the plumbing you have chosen to serve for many years, you need to find out about existing production technologies, installation methods and proper care for it. Let's start in order.

Acrylic Bath Production Technology

The following materials are used for the production of acrylic bathtubs:

• Cast acrylic.
• Extruded Acrylic.

Important! Unlike durable cast acrylic, extruded one has significantly lower mechanical strength and lower heat resistance. In addition, extruded acrylic is prone to spontaneous cracking over time.

The technology for the production of acrylic bathtubs is as follows:

1. The acrylic sheet is heated to the pour point of the material.
2. When heated, acrylic is placed under the press.
3. A special form extrudes a bath from the material.
4. After cooling, the bath of extruded acrylic is reinforced externally with a mixture of epoxy resins. The thicker the reinforcement layer, the stronger the font.

As you can see, acrylic bathtubs have different properties, depending on the material. The main thing is to decide for what purposes you choose plumbing:

1. Extruded acrylic bathtubs are good where their operation occurs from case to case, for example, in the country. Under such conditions, an extruded acrylic bathtub will last up to ten years, which means that it makes no sense to overpay.
2. If we are talking about buying plumbing for a city apartment or a country house where you live permanently, then you should not save money and it is better to buy a bathtub made of cast acrylic.

Important! To correctly determine the material of the plumbing, while shopping, independently visually evaluate the number of layers of the bath. This can be done if you inspect the edge of the plumbing side:

• if you have counted 3 layers, then this bathtub is made of extruded acrylic;
• if 2 layers - then the bathtub is made of pure cast material.

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Advantages and disadvantages of acrylic bathtubs

Real genuine models are quite expensive, justifying the price with their quality. What attracts us to this plumbing? The answer is simple, of course, the positive characteristics:

• Acrylic bathtubs perfectly keep heat. Due to the heat-insulating properties of the material, the water in such a bath cools much more slowly than in cast iron, and even more so - steel.
• Plumbing has sufficient strength and resistance to damage due to the plasticity of acrylic. You don’t have to worry that an object falling inside the plumbing will damage the enamel.
• Ease of care for the font. Acrylic bathtubs are easy to wash, just rinse it with water and wipe dry. For more serious contamination - use special detergents for acrylic.
• Light weight (up to 40 kg), which makes it easy to transport and install the bath.
• Excellent sound absorption, which allows water to accumulate almost silently.
• Design variety of fonts. Due to the plasticity and viscosity of the material, bathtubs are produced in various shapes and colors.
• Additional functions, such as hydromassage, will make your stay in the font unforgettable.

Before you choose an acrylic bath, you must consider the disadvantages of this option.

Weaknesses of acrylic:

• Sensitivity to detergents. It is necessary to choose plumbing care products carefully so as not to damage the inner coating of the bathtub.
• Plastic. A person with a large weight will not be very comfortable, since the bathtub sometimes bends under weight.
• Tendency to scratch. In no case can an acrylic font be cleaned with abrasive products, since the inner surface is instantly damaged.
• Insufficient static strength. A bathtub filled with water to the brim keeps its shape worse than a cast-iron or steel font. Most acrylic bathtubs require the installation of a special frame. If bathtubs from cast material can still do without a frame, then for bathtubs from extruded acrylic it is required.
• Exposure to high temperatures. The font may become softer and warp due to very hot water.

Important! To prevent the bath from warping from hot water, first fill it with cold water.

• High price. High-quality acrylic bathtubs are expensive, and together with a limited service life (for cast acrylic - 20 years, for extruded - 10 years), the price can be a serious drawback.

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How to choose an acrylic bath: expert advice

For the sake of such an important purchase, be sure to visit the construction supermarket, where you can see the variety of plumbing at different prices. In a small store you are unlikely to find exactly the model that suits you in all respects.

Before making a purchase, listen to the following recommendations of specialists.

Step 1: Decide on the parameters based on the individual characteristics of the household (height, weight) and space

Pay particular attention to your own convenience. A bath is not just a hygiene item, it is a place where you can relax and unwind. According to experts, choosing an acrylic bath is worth it this way:

• Length: 150-180 cm. If the model has a headrest, then for a person with a height of 180 cm, a bathtub with a length of 165-170 cm is suitable. If there is no headrest, then for a person with a height of 180 cm, choose a bath directly by its height.
• Width: 75-80 cm. This parameter also depends on the growth and configuration of family members. For example, a fat person 75 cm wide will not be comfortable, take a closer look at other models with a width of 100-120 cm and even more.
• Depth: 50-60 cm. The parameter is calculated from the bottom plane of the bowl to the level of the overflow hole. In a shallower font, the water level will not completely cover a person’s body, and in a deeper font, the head of a person taking a bath will not be in a very comfortable upright position.
• Height: 65-70 cm from the floor. This value equalizes all family members, since not only adults, but also children should use the bathroom.

All plumbing can be divided into 2 types:

• Longitudinal, which is installed along one wall.
• Corner - is installed directly in the corner of the bathroom.

Important! Among these species, there are models of acrylic font with the most incredible and diverse design. Choose the style and shape of the bathroom to your liking. The only thing that should be noted: the choice of the shape of the plumbing (rectangular, oval, angular, round) depends on the size and layout of the room in which it is supposed to be installed.

Step 2: Inspect the bath structure

To choose the right acrylic bath, pay attention not only to the plumbing material, but also the number of reinforcing layers and the width of the acrylic.You can determine this by the edge of the side: it looks like a layer cake.

Important! The total number of reinforcing layers can be from 1 to 5. The thicker the acrylic layer, the longer the bath will last.

The average trend is this:

• if the acrylic layer is 2-3 mm, then the bath will last 3-4 years;
• if the layer is 4 mm - the service life is up to 7 years;
• if the acrylic layer is 5-6.5 mm, the font will last 10-12 years.

However, it should be remembered that this method of verification is well known to unscrupulous manufacturers and, often, they reinforce the sides better than the bowl itself. Therefore, do not be content with a cursory inspection, but push on the walls and bottom. If the product is of high quality, then it must remain elastic and not bend.

Important! To check the acrylic thickness more carefully, take a small flashlight with you to the store. Attach a flashlight to the bottom of the bathtub and inspect this area from the other side (cover it with your palms to darken). If you see a distinct light and the bath is visible from the outside, this means that the bottom is thin and will not last long.

Step 3: Examine the condition of the inner surface of the font

In a high-quality acrylic bathtub, the surface should not have cracks, damage, tubercles and roughness. The surface should be perfectly smooth and even. Smoothness should be such that if you put a palm on the surface, the hand should not slip, but as if slightly stick. For example, if you draw your palm firmly against the window glass, the effect with a high-quality acrylic coating should be approximately the same.

Important! The color of acrylic should be uniform and uniform. Darkening and yellowing indicate that plumbing has problems.

Step 4: Check the structural strength

Regardless of the acrylic used, all fonts are installed on a special welded or prefabricated metal frame. It is the frame that acts as the base and restraint of the bath from excessive deformation when fully filled. The simplest design can only withstand the pressure of water and the weight of a person, and more complex frames are an additional support for the side walls. This design can extend the life of the plumbing.

Important! To determine the quality of the bath and its strength, pay attention to the racks and legs of the frame. If the bath is of high quality, then the frame has supports only in the corners. Conversely, the more racks, the less durable the font.

Step 5: Check for additional plumbing options if they are provided in the model

The most popular and healthy, is considered an additional option for an acrylic bathtub - a jacuzzi. Unlike taking a regular bath, a jacuzzi is characterized by the fact that the human body is exposed to hydromassage. In some models, chromotherapy is also provided, that is, exposure to the surface of the skin with UV rays.

There are such nuances that you need to know about in order to choose an acrylic bathtub of good quality:

1. Hydromassage is carried out due to the bubbles continuously entering the water through bronze or chrome nozzles in the side walls of the font.
2. Chromotherapy occurs through LED backlights with prismatic reflectors built into the side walls of the bathtub. The maximum effect of chromotherapy depends on the power of the lamps and properly focused reflectors.

Important! High-quality hydromassage and chromotherapy can only be in the plumbing of well-known and serious manufacturers.

In addition to a jacuzzi, a modern acrylic bathtub can please the owner with other useful options:

1. Models with a built-in special shelf are very popular for placing a laptop or plasma TV model.
2. Another interesting option is a direct connection (or via wi-fi) to the central module in the “smart home” system.

As you can see, engineering has no limits.

Step 6: Decide on the manufacturer

The range of such products on the market is very large, so you need to understand what is really the difference between manufacturers in order to choose an acrylic bathtub that is optimal for your budget and home:

1. Among foreign manufacturers, Germany and Italy hold the palm in quality and price. The quality of the bathtubs of these manufacturers is very high, but the price is also not low.
2. With more adequate prices and fairly high-quality products, plumbing is presented from the Czech Republic, Poland and Spain.
3. You can choose a very simple and cheap acrylic bathtub from manufacturers from Turkey and China.
4. Among Russian manufacturers of acrylic bathtubs, one can distinguish products Bell Rado, Radomir, Doctor Jet, Aquatec. The products of the Russian-German company Aquatika can also be attributed to this. All manufacturers are trying to produce only high-quality plumbing.

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Acrylic Bath Care

If you chose an acrylic bathtub on the advice of an expert or your personal opinion, then take care of it, and listen to the tips for caring for acrylic bathtubs:

• Use only liquid cleaners.
• Close the faucet tightly after using the bath so that no rust forms on the surface.
• Do not place rough heavy metal objects on the surface of the bathtub.
• If you are going to bathe a pet in the font, then take care of the rubber litter.
• Do not wash dishes in the bathroom and do not soak things with steel elements.

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Stock footage

We hope that thanks to the information provided in our article, you were able to choose the right acrylic bath and enjoy water procedures. Enjoy your shopping and experience!