Menu

Which bath is better: cast iron or acrylic? Acrylic bath or steel: what is better.

Gardening

Acrylic baths are made of durable polymer reinforced in several layers. At the stage of popularization, a color is added to it that gives the color of the bath.

The thicker the wall of the acrylic bath, the more stronger; The recommended thickness is at least 5-6 mm.

Advantages of the bath from acrylic:

  • Variety of shapes and sizes. A acrylic bath can be selected for any room size and to your taste. When installing it in the corner, you can additionally save space.
  • Surface stability to mechanical effects.
  • Color stability to any changes. Tint acrylic can be chosen to your taste and in accordance with the interior design of the bathroom.
  • A light weight
  • A good, allowing for a long time to maintain the temperature of the water in the bath.
  • Easy to care - to clean the surface, it is enough to wipe the sponge with soap solution.
  • Acrylic bath can be restored. Irregularities can be pasted, and chages fill in acrylic mass and clean it.
  • Ecology and safety material. The surface of the bath is opposed to the reproduction of bacteria and fungus.
  • Do not hear the noise of the water gaining in the bath.

Disadvantages acrylic bath:

  • The acrylic bath is not mounted in the wall during installation, i.e. it is possible only to the passing method, in which the water leaks can be leaked to the floor due to the insufficiently good sealing of the junctions between the bathroom and the wall.
  • Over time, white may be yellowed from the effects of tap water.
  • High quality acrylic bath is quite expensive, and cheaper analogues are subject to scratches, cracks and other defects on the surface. In addition, pets can damage the inexpensive acrylic plumbing.
  • When washing or soaking colored tissue tissues in hot water, the surface of the bath can be painted.
  • For cleaning it is impossible to use abrasive or potent chemicals.
  • For non-acrylic bath professionals, it is a rather complicated process, so it is necessary to trust this by a specialist.

A rather high price of an acrylic bath justifies its advantages - durability, strength, ease of care and environmental safety material.

When choosing an acrylic bath, it is necessary to take into account that, the higher the quality and reliable manufacturer, the higher the cost will be.

At the same time, there is a guarantee that such a bath will last long, will not change its color, it is not formed on its surface over time cracks and chips.

When purchasing it is worth paying attention to the presence of a complete configuration necessary, as well as to ensure that the edges of the bath are performed in terms of, otherwise the drops will be noticeable in the height of its walls.

If the acrylic bath has wide and straight without rods, at an angle of 90 degrees, sides, water on the inertia will escape on them inside the bath, and on the floor.

Choosing acrylic bath With many different accessories, technological holes in hydromassage models, it should be remembered that a large amount of flexible tubes for water supply over time have a clogging property, clogging with mud and mucus.

Their cleaning must be regular and takes a lot of time. In addition, when installing such models, easy access to the drain of water and the bottom of the bath from any sides for possible repair should be provided.

Acquire a bath with the basis of metal grid or fiberglass, with a wall thickness more than five millimeters. It is better if it is made of cast acrylic, and not extruded, it can be found about it from the seller.

It will be a mistake to buy such plumbers from the manufacturer without warranty and at a low price.

It is preferable to choose a bath with the simplest geometry, because for the manufacture of complex forms is often used fine acrylic. When choosing acrylic should pay attention to the fact that the accessories of the metal, not plastic, will increase its service life.

The acrylic bath of good quality has a homogeneous shade, the same wall thickness, a smooth surface without any defects, a sharp chemical smell should come from it.

Comparison of acrylic and steel bath

Steel baths are a good alternative for those who for some reason feel distrust of modern acrylic, and traditional baths. They are made of conventional steel coated with enamel, or stainless.

Enameled steel is much cheaper than stainless steel, so the second option does not use high demand, although it is a safe, environmentally friendly material that is not in corrosion.

When comparing, which bath is better, - acrylic or steel, consumer reviews will differ. First you need to highlight the disadvantages and dignity of the bath from this material.

Advantages of a metal bath:

  • Low cost
  • and durability, the period of which is up to 15 years.
  • High resistance to temperature drops, aggressive chemical cleaning agents.
  • Variety of shapes
  • A light weight
  • The smooth surface of the enamel does not allow to multiply by bacteria.

Bath disadvantages from steel:

  • Small metal thickness. With large loads of the wall of the iron bath, can be deformed, and cracks and chips can appear on the surface of the enamel.
  • Bad thermal insulation, resulting in the fact that hot in such a bath quickly cools.
  • Noise at the set of water
  • Because of its lightweight weight, steel baths have less stability.
  • Smooth Surprising Bath Surface
  • Steel bath need to ground
  • The possibility of plaque

Reliable steel bath has a weight from 30 to 50 kg., Baths are less than 30 kg. And with a low cost, as well as less than 3 mm. represent a poor-quality product.

Comparison with acrylic bath

If you compare, which bath is better - steel or acrylic, then the explicit advantage of steel will be the low price and stability of its surface to form scratches.

However, the metal bath can be deformed if its walls are too thin.

Thus, judging by the cost, the steel bath is better, but if possible, an independent light restoration of the surface is superior to acrylic.

Acrylic bath holds warm inside for a long time, which is not typical for the bathing bath.

Therefore, lovers for a long time to spend in hot bath You should choose acrylic. Similar advice and for those who prefer to choose a bath with various additional features, for example, with hydromassage.

In addition, the steel bath does not withstand competition with acrylic on its noise when setting water, but if desired, if you make some efforts to sound insulation baths from the outdoor side, this deficiency can be partially eliminated.

For comfort lovers, the acrylic bath is more suitable - her surface is warm, pleasant to the touch, smooth, but not slippery.

As part of the durability of the coating, the steel bath wins on the acrylic background, since the latter has a soft upper layer, unstable to scratches and, moreover, to the effects of heavy items. Enamel, covering the metal bath, reliably "comes out" into the upper layer, which prevents the formation of various defects.

But all the listed disadvantages of both options relate only to low-quality with low cost.

When choosing expensive models, both options for plumbing, from steel and acrylic, have equal indicators of strength and reliability, but high-quality acrylic baths are always more expensive than the functions of metallic.

The thicker the wall of the steel bath, it is more resistant to deformations, high loads, so it follows its metal with a thickness of at least 4 mm. and enamel no less than 1.5 mm. At the same time, the weight of a high-quality bath from steel should not be less than 30 kg.

The walls of the bath must be perfectly smooth, with a uniformly scratched enamel, without chipping, cracks, influx.

Some features should be taken into account for durable steel baths due to its instability and lightness. For this, specialists are usually invited.

In general, one should be guided by personal preferences, in particular, the dimensions and shape of the metal bath, as well as the combination of it with the rest of the bathroom.

Cast iron or acrylic?

Despite the diversity of plumbing products offered in the modern market, cast-iron baths remain the most popular at the middle consumer.

Maybe this is the power of habit, since acrylic baths are relatively recently in the Russian market, and maybe the experience developed by years.

Be that as it may, cast-iron baths can compete with acrylic, and steel.

Cast iron casting is a complex process, but still does not slow down the pace for the production of plumbing.

In order to compare which bath is better - acrylic or cast iron, you need to consider the advantages and disadvantages of pig-iron bath.

The advantages of the cast iron bath:

  • The high strength of the cast iron allows you to reach the service life of up to 50 years, without exposed to deformation.
  • Large heat capacity that allows you to maintain water temperature for a long time.
  • With low vibration, cast iron has high noise insulation, which allows you to muffle the sound of pouring water.
  • Resistance to corrosion
  • The cast-iron bath can be mounted into the wall, not with an appropriate way to create a single tile on the wall without visible joints.
  • Bathroom care may include abrasive and aggressive chemical detergents without risk damage the surface.
  • Affordable price
  • The wall thickness of modern cast-iron baths Less than before, which made it possible to reduce their weight, increase the useful volume while maintaining quality characteristics. In addition, they are often equipped with comfortable handles and screw legs that allow you to adjust the height of the bath.

Disadvantages:

  • A large weight that creates difficulties when moving and mounting.
  • Monotony forms. Pig-iron baths are mostly manufactured rectangular or oval form.
  • Enamel restorations in the case of chips or cracks
  • Over time, the enamel coating can braid. The porous surface is easily contaminated, yellowing, with time it may be difficult to decleavable stains.
  • The cast-iron bath is heated for a long time.

The cast-iron bath is a durable plumbing with an affordable price, but rather monotonous models and high weight.

Comparison with acrylic bath

Cast iron bath will become optimal option For those who prefer a traditional plain bath, since all models are the same. Unlike her, the acrylic bath will be the ideal option For lovers of unusual plumbing with various shades.

The available price of the cast-iron bath makes it attractive for the middle man in the street, while high-quality acrylic plumbing is quite expensive.

The cast iron bath, unlike acrylic, is convenient to - it can be adjusted under the walls by mounted in the tile, and under the irregularities of the floor with the help of screw legs.

In an acrylic bath, water remains warm longer than in the cast iron, and the sound of the recipe water is quieter. When you hit the surface of the bath, the acrylic can be easily renovated, but difficulties may occur with cast iron.

But if you choose the simplicity of caring for plumbing, it is worth staying in the first embodiment, since the porous surface of the cast iron requires some effort in cleaning.

According to the hygienicness of the surface, the acrylic bath is superior to the strength - cast iron.

Plus acrylic plumbing in its weight, which gives a lot of advantages when loading the bath in an apartment and when necessary to move it, unlike the cast iron.

The functionality of the acrylic bath represents a lot of opportunities for embedding additional accessories, hydromassage nozzles, which is impossible in a standard cast iron bath. However, this will require additional investment and maintenance.

Unlike acrylic, cast iron bath can be installed own forces, not attracting the help of specialists.

Despite the strength of such a material as cast iron, it is necessary to take into account the fact that when exposed to point impact from a heavy item, cracking over the entire length with the impossibility of recovery, unlike acrylic.

Summarizing all the above, in favor of an acrylic bath against cast iron, we can say the following: light local restoration, flexibility of forms, sizes, shades, diversity of functionality and light weight.

In turn, the cast iron has the following advantages: a long service life - up to 50 years, reliability and stability, the absence of a surface deformation that is not affected by a heavy weight.

How to choose a cast-iron bath

Before buying a cast-iron bath, you must make sure of its parameters of the bathroom sizes, including the doorway, otherwise it is not to avoid dismantling it.

Enamel should be smooth and brilliant, without chipping, scratches and influx, otherwise it is not to avoid further growing chipping and yellowing irregularities. Its thickness should be at least 1.2 mm.

It is necessary to draw the bathing of the baths are symmetrical and are located in terms of level.

Thus, steel baths are an economical option, pig-iron reliable and traditional, and acrylic differ in variety of forms, modern design, and the possibility of light restoration.

Despite the variety of models and from which they are manufactured modern bathsIt is necessary to pay attention to their quality and manufacturer based on personal preferences and financial capabilities.

The opinion of experts can be found from the video:

It is quite difficult - to decide which bath is still better: cast iron, acrylic or steel. Or the choice would not stand behind the bathroom, if it were decided to install a shower cabin into my bathroom. Of course, each material has its own advantages and disadvantages, but so I want to not be mistaken with the choice of plumbing. To make a right decision, it is necessary to carefully study the peculiarities of the product and take into account all the nuances.

Features of structures

It is extremely important to equip a bathroom in the apartment so that all households are as comfortable as possible. The center is undoubtedly the design of the bath, so it is worth it to approach its choice with special attention.

The form also can be diverse:

  • rectangular;
  • oval or just rounded;
  • trapezoidal;
  • angular;
  • triangular.

In the question of choosing plumbing, its size and dimensions of the room itself are also extremely important. Before installing, you need to prepare well: measure all surfaces, draw drawing and markup at the place of installation.

Designer cast iron bath

By installation, all designs can be divided into:


Modern models can also be equipped with internal illumination, aero, turbo or hydromassage functions, as well as aromatic or chromotherapy. In order for the floor, the splashes did not appear and the water accumulated, you can protect the sides with special curtains for the baths. They can be almost from any waterproof material, have a rounded, rectangular or asymmetric form. The canvas are swollen, sliding and folding, like roll-curtains.

Modern curtains in the bathroom

So what a perfect bath must be:

  • reduced heat capacity - it is important that water cooled as slowly as possible;
  • non-slip enamel is due to the comfort of the use of the bowl during water procedures;
  • durable enamel - it is desirable that scratches, scuffs and chips are not formed. Also, the surface should not be sensitive to cleaning products and other chemistry;
  • easy to care - the bowl inside should be comfortable, and pollution should not be absorbed into the enamel texture;
  • strength - bath walls should be stable and not too thin;
  • weight - Capacity should not be too heavy so as not to damage the base of the floor;
  • design - design should be harmonized with the interior and fit into the overall space by style, color gamma and sizes;
  • presence of a drain - it is very important to pay attention to the plum-overflow for a bath, which is a special pipe, which is supplied to the hole in the design and protective bathroom from flooding;
  • a suitable mixer - not every model of the mixer will be compatible with all types of cups. Products must be combined by technical characteristics and design. In addition, you can install the mixer on board the bath or embed it into the wall, but it is better to buy ready-made kits.

So what kind of bath is still better: acrylic or steel, from cast iron or stone? To choose with the mind and understand the features of this plumbing, you need to explore the characteristics of each type separately. If you clearly understand what the pros and cons is not difficult to quickly choose a bowl into your bathroom.

A comfortable bathing bath is built into mini-podium

Comparative analysis of 5 important characteristics

The modern market offers a consumer a great many options and bath configurations for every taste and color: here you can find both standard acrylic and cast iron containers and designer models from stone, glass, ceramics, and even wood. But we will consider the most common designs that are most popular and available.

Bath Durability Design Installation Practicality
Cast iron the highest rates of resistance to exposure ambientHowever, complete instability to mechanical damage requires careful circulation and special care Behind the product. On the surface of the enamel, cracks, scratches and chips appear quickly;they do not differ in variety of architectural sophistication and beauty. Most often it is a bowl of standard geometrically correct shape, symmetrical and unpaired, with thick durable walls;since the product weighs a lot, installation work will be time consuming and complex. Installation is possible only on concrete overlappings, since any other material is simply not able to withstand such weight loads;the resistant coating that does not fade, enamel can stay snow-white and not deteriorate. The cast-iron coating does not create additional noise when pouring water, able to keep warm well. Enamel is resistant to cleansing soap and aggressive chemicals, it is necessary to acquire blessing agents. Also even SAMIA hot water It is not able to deform the bowl;
Acrylic is a specially treated plastic; There are two types: cast (protected from rust, resistant to sharp temperature changes, has light weight) and combined (in addition to plastic, various additional synthetic components include less durable in comparison with the cast). Any plastic despite all positive qualities can quickly wear out (the service life can reach from 5 to 10 years), then the product should be dismantled and replaced;assortment of cups of various shapes and configurations amazing imagination. Acrylic plastic, so you can have from something to choose: interesting bends, rich in the palette of colors;easy installation, the design of the design is attached to the housing itself. The material is flexible and supportive, so it is easily drilled and cuts into separate parts. In order for the product to be firmly installed in the bathroom, the frame can be enhanced by making the bottom more hard;perfect preserves warm temperature Waters, not allowing her to cool for a long time. The material is warm by itself and pleasant to the touch, can quickly warm up. However, care for such a bath should be careful, since the coating is extremely sensitive to the effects of chemical solutions. It is better for cleaning products to acquire specially intended for acrylic. However, it is impossible to pour too hot water inside, otherwise the product can be deformed and spoiled;
Steel it is flexible, but it is easily corrosive under the influence of an aggressive environment; 7 years later, rust can be covered.these are exclusive stainless steel models, which look elegant and stylish in any interior;for a safer and reliable installation, you may need to install an auxiliary frame (several supports from wood or metal under the bowl) so that the bath does not "go" when the man moves during water procedures. The products are also most often installed on the construction foam for greater stability. Sometimes a brick or foam blocks can be materials for a reinforcing frame;environmentally friendly material, products require special care, since water flows and lime floods can remain on the surface. Enamel can not firmly fit and stay on the surface for a long time, so it will have to update periodically appearance Such a bath. It is also a large risk of chipping, microcracks and roughness, products made of steel can deform with time;

The cost varies depending on the complexity of forms and shades. The budget is the standard white models of the usual geometrically correct oval or rectangular shape. The main thing is to always remember the ratio of price-quality. These principles are relevant when choosing a bath from any material, so it is pointless to compare prices.

Products from these materials are ideal for mounting in the bathroom of urban apartments, a country house, cottage and even small studio apartments. When choosing models of a particular manufacturer, it is recommended to pay attention to its reputation, as well as the equipment of the bath itself, for example, the presence, hydromassage or aeromassage function. The video below describes in detail how to determine for yourself, what a bath is better: acrylic, steel or cast iron.

How to choose: pros and cons

Of course, I want to choose a good bath so that you do not have to return to the store or independently not eliminate defects during the use of plumbing. A high-quality product can last to serve in its owner, you only need to decide on the material. So it is better: acrylic, steel or cast iron? Let's try to figure out, considering each separately.

Many are resorted to the color therapy to remove the stress after stress or just a working day. To do this, you can install a bath of any pleasant shade, such as red, mint or blue. Such a product will become a real art object in the room and will be like a mood to raise.

Compact built-in angular bath from acrylic olive color

Acrylic

In the production of acrylic bowls, various polymers are used, with which individual sheets are obtained, which are further under the action of vacuum bend and take almost any shape.

  • the plasticity of the material -, consequently, the wealth of forms and design solutions;
  • easy installation with which even a beginner can cope;
  • lightness;
  • high degree of noise absorption;
  • hygiene use;
  • anti-slip and antibacterial surface;
  • long service life - can reach 20 years;
  • maintainability - You can update the surface of the bowl and remove defects.

Each such bath has an amplifying frame, which is manufactured individually under a certain model. It is a steel frame, covered by a protective layer and non-corrosive. The height of the legs can be adjusted to any value.

Acrylic design with frame

  • the product is deployed when exposed to aggressive chemicals;
  • for acrylic destructive boiling water, various paints and varnishes (if suddenly dropped drops), hot air from the hair dryer, etc.;
  • instability to mechanical strengths. Also when falling into a cup of severe item, the material can crack or progress, dents will appear.

If you have chosen the product of the intricate form, deformations in the process of use can not be avoided.

White Asymmetric Bath

Cast iron

Models Chashes from cast iron can not boast of abundance of design solutions. Most often in building stores, the buyer is ready to offer only white baths (small selection of colors) of a rectangular shape.

Benefits:

  • cast iron retains warmth well, water inside does not have time to cool;
  • the material is almost not subject to scratches and cracks;
  • not sensitive to cleaning chemistry;
  • ease of care;
  • good sound absorbing properties.

Cast iron construction is a solid - the bowl will not "walk" and move away from the walls of the bathroom. You will also need an optional frame for amplification.

Sustainability of cast iron guaranteed

Disadvantages:

  • heavyweight - 60-80 kg;
  • well collect contamination on the surface;
  • a rust may appear;
  • fragility, the bowl may suffer at accidental strike.

To establish such a heavy design one wizard is hardly under power, so it is better to hire a brigade or call assistants.

Snow-white cast iron container on beautiful carved legs

Steel

Before buying, it is necessary to make the selected product as much as possible for the presence of defects: cracks, chips and just a factory marriage. The walls must have sufficient thickness - from 3 mm, and the weight should be from 18 kg. Important also the fattened geometry in the form and design of the model. Enamel (with its presence) should be applied evenly and neatly, and the casting is performed qualitatively.

  • little weight - an average of up to 20 kg;
  • easy transportability and installation;
  • the enamel layer has no pores and does not accumulate pollution on its surface;
  • instant and uniform warming;
  • steel is plastic enough, so you can find models of an interesting form and any dimensions;
  • long does not lose production shine and whiteness.

It cannot but please the durability of the steel structure - the service life can reach 15 years with competent care and careful terms.

Reliable stainless steel bath

  • enamel can easily be squeezed due to mechanical and power damage (blows);
  • low noise insulation, no ability of sound absorption, water is severely noise when filling steel bath;
  • increased heat capacity, in view of which the walls of the product quickly take the heat of water, turning it out.

Installation of insulating plates

When it comes to plumbing in the form of bathrooms, it is better to choose models from better durable material than to periodically make disassembly or cosmetic update. It is difficult to determine the definitely, which bath is better: acrylic, cast iron or steel, but the reviews of experienced specialists in the video below will help.

The choice of bathroom bath is the most important task when arranging a plumbing unit. It is necessary to take into account many factors: ergonomics, durability, care characteristics. Only on the basis of the comparative analysis of these and some other parameters, you can determine which bath is better: cast iron, acrylic or steel.

Most. durable material, from the presented in the review, is cast iron. This is a metal that is characterized by high resistance to the long-term effects of the aggressive medium. At the same time, it is subject to destruction under shock loads. A well-enameled cast iron bath will serve for many years with neat operation, but one strike will be enough in order for a crack in the day.

Steel is more flexible than cast iron, but, together with this, it gives up corrosion. Considering that Enamel has a flap to swell over time, the steel bath after 7 years of use can start rust. Of course, the first time it does not cause any inconvenience, with the exception of aesthetic. But in the future, the bottom can progress and the bath will begin to leak.

Acrylic is plastic, which is processed under the temperature effects (up to 1250 degrees Celsius). There are two types of acrylic used for the manufacture of baths:

  • Combined. These plastic add certain synthetic components. This approach can significantly reduce the cost of making baths, but affects their strength;
  • Pure cast acrylic. If you take an acrylic bath, then only from pure acrylic. It does not rust, perfectly transfers the temperature differences and is known for its ease. But even this does not save plastic from wear. The average service life of such a bath varies ranging from 5 to 10 years (for example, Huskarl, Triton or Aquanet Libra). After it is necessary to change the upper layer of enamel or impose an acrylic liner.

Bath coating

This item directly affects the previous one. Depending on the coating of the bath, its service life may vary. Steel and cast-iron are covered with enamel. This is a liquid mass consisting of glass, dyes and synthetic additives. It has a characteristic glossy gloss and has the ability to glaze the surface of metal products.


Advantages of enameled bathing:


Plastic baths are covered with acrylic. Liquid acrylic - highly viscous material, which is based on plastic. It documented under the influence of high temperatures and is applied to the bath with rubbing or spraying.

Earlier, masters were actively used by spraying acrylic on enamel (during the restoration of metal baths) or plastic liner. This is an affordable and easy way of applying, which can be easily implemented in the household conditions. But he has its drawbacks - the spraying technology does not allow to introduce plastic into the deep layers, as a result of which the diffusion is incomplete. Over time, such an acrylic is peeled and crumbs, because of which the unkredible "cobs" are formed on the walls.

Rubbing more practical, albeit expensive event. During such applied acrylic, experts achieve the thickness of the protective layer from 1 to 2 mm. Three such layers are quite enough for durable protection of the bath from rusting and cracks.


Advantages of acrylic bathing baths:

  • Caring for acrylic is simpler than enamel. Most modern cleaning products are designed specifically for plastic cleaning. For example, formic acid used in the overwhelming majority bath cleaners are destructive for enamel. Not to mention alkali;
  • Almost any cracks on acrylic can be cleaned with their own hands. With enamel it will not be able to cope;
  • Plastic coating also shines and glitters. In addition, outwardly, these baths look more richly than cast-iron.

Thermal conductivity

Another one an important indicator When choosing a material from which the bath will be made is its thermal conductivity.

Thermal conductivity - the ability to give heat. For pig-iron baths in this parameter there are no competitors. Fat metal perfectly keeps the temperature, but precisely because of this, it is heated for a long time. This parameter does not change, even if they are put into a cold room (without heated towel railways and batteries).

Steel baths are heated a little faster than cast-iron, but also warmly gives significantly better. To increase their thermal conductivity, experts recommend additionally insulate them with housings or boxes. It is also actively practiced by the method of protecting the walls using an insulating foam.


Acrylic baths are insulated directly in production. Plastic liner is formed, cooled and removed from the shape (template). After its inner side, a thick layer of thermal insulation foam is applied, by type, assembly, but easier and resistant to moisture. So that this layer does not confuse future owners, it is closed by the second liner.

Features of care

Most important parameter, on which the durability of the bath is depends - correct care. This includes not only cleaning, but also periodic inspection and repair (cracking of cracks, restoration).

Consider the features of clean-iron, steel and acrylic bath.

To choose the right cleaning agent, you need to carefully examine its composition. If the composition includes chlorine or any acids - it cannot be used to clean the cast-iron enameled baths. Such products contribute to the thinning of enamel. As a result, it loses his shine and becomes fragile. Similarly with alkaline compositions and acrylic.


Specialist advice, how to properly care for cast iron and steel baths:

  • It is impossible to form the formation of microcracks and chips. This is especially true of Soviet baths. In the USSR, it was customary to combine enamel with zirconium salts. This allowed the fastest to apply the coating, but reduced the corrosion-coating glass coating. Therefore, when cleaning the cast iron, it is not recommended to use rigid brushes or abrasive products;
  • The best option for cleaning the cast iron enamelled bath is a lying or economic soap. It will help to eliminate the gray and traces of rust on the coating and give it shine.

With baths covered with acrylic, things are going to a little better. First, they can be cleaned with acidic means. Plastic is not terrible formic, weak and other "soft" acids. But, at the same time, you need to avoid alkalis, salts.

  • For cleaning perfect suitable lemon acid. It is capable of removing a lime flaka quickly and without harm to plastic.
  • It is advisable to use either natural brushes or a sponge of medium hardness. Naturally, it is necessary to avoid metal rams and other sharp fixtures for cleaning capable of damaging the protective layer;
  • This is the only type of coating that is allowed to be cleaned by abrasive means. These can be specialized pastes or powders.

Video: What baths are better cast iron, steel or acrylic

Comparative analysis

Specialist Council - which bath is better: cast iron, acrylic or steel, cannot become decisive without analysis. Therefore, we collected in the same table the main parameters and visually compared them.

Finding into the store, you can get confused in a wide range of the proposed plumbing.

Dimensions and shape of the bath will be prompted by the size of the room, the design is taste preferences. What about the materials?

What is better: acrylic or steel bath, what option will be most practical?

We will review the advantages and minuses, reviews and features. And what to choose, to solve you already.

If the question arises between the acrylic and steel, most likely:

  • At the owner high floorand deliver a heavy cast-iron container will be problematic.
  • You need to meet the limited budget.
  • Or it is assumed not just a repair, but a design approach to the interior. After all, these materials allow manufacturers to create products of various shapes. A variety of models can enter into any style of the room.

However, the appearance is not all!The level of comfort affects the thermal conductivity (than it is lower, the better), how the container resonates when the jet of water is inhabited, how durable its coating, ease when leaving and so on.

Characteristics of Steel

Thermal conductivity. There is a commodity opinion that the thermal conductivity indicators have become much worse than that of the same cast iron. In fact, they are about the same - fluctuate at 50 - 60. The snag is that steel baths are traditionally produced by thin-walled, therefore, in contrast to cast iron, the steel walls are quickly heated and quickly cooled, affecting the water temperature. If you take the capacitance with the walls of 5 mm and more, the problem will not be as noticeable.

Steel bath

Noise.If the jet of water is hit on the bottom and walls, noise is created. How loud it will be depends on many conditions. This is the strength of the head, and the wall thickness, the uniformity of the jet and the depreciation of the bath area, where the jet falls.

Some manufacturers complete with the bathroom sell special linings by gluing which on the walls, you can make a stream of water absolutely silent.

Weight. Depends on steel thickness. Do not chase the lightweight - the bath must be durable and reliable. It is not a basin that is easy to throw out and buy a new one.

Steel bath with decorative legs

Coating. Coating layer steel baths Reliable than the acrylic and cast iron. Enamellation is carried out at high temperatures and deeply "comes out" into the metal. It does not clog, does not lose shine for long years, it does not get dark and easily washed with a unwitting sponge with soap or detergent. The dirt-repellent coating collects droplets that simply flow down. At the same time, if the product is thin-walled, cracks and destruction of enamel can appear on it in places of deflection, which reduces all the advantages of the coating.

In addition, the enameled surface is slippery. It is necessary to use it carefully.

Steel bath of an unusual shape

Other features:

  • Steel bath can replace the coating without resorting to the grand repair work In bathroom.
  • Static electricity accumulate, the container needs to be grounded.
  • There may be products with handles, which is very practical, and will like not only the elderly.

Pay attention to the legs. This element, many manufacturers do not pay sufficient attention. There are models whose legs are attached to the bar, and the plank, simply glued to the bottom. This design will not be stable and will require additional tricks (bricks, for example). High-quality legs must be securely attached, some make it possible to adjust the height.

If the weight of some of the households exceeds 80 kg, do not buy a bath with thin walls (up to 5 mm), the defects on the coating may appear in the first week of use.

Characteristics Acryla

There are two types of materials that are sold under the generalized name "Acryl". It:

  1. Polymethyl methacrylate.
  2. ABS / PMMA

The first option is a pure plex, plexiglass. It is reliable and more than a second type, where the PMMA accounts for about 10%, and the base is acrylictrylbutadienstyrene. The service life of the second option is less than half a half.

Corner acrylic bath

You need to know that the thicker the upper layer, the longer the design serves. If you look at the upper bending cut, you can determine the quality of the capacity. Less than 0.5 mm is not suitable, very quickly "has come out". The thickness of the upper layer in 2 - 3 mm will last about 3 to 4 years, and the thickness of 5-6 mm is enough for 10 years. The total wall thickness should be more than 8 mm. At the bottom more - up to 11 - 14 mm, otherwise the design can break. The bottom thickness is difficult to determine the eye.

There is a small trick: to one side attach a bright flashlight or laser pointer. And on the reverse side, make the "dimming" palms and look: if the light is clearly visible - the thickness is insufficient.

Beautiful acrylic bath in the interior of the room

Look at the upper cut. If the layer is three, then this is a less qualitative view with the use of ABS. If two layers are visible - this is a reliable design of PMMA and the reinforcing shell.

Acryl today is increasingly in demand in the market. This, as well as the fact that the production process is quite complicated, makes these products more expensive than steel.

Why it is worth spending additional means and acquire such plumbing:

  1. Weight is very easy. It can be easily delivered without difficult.
  2. Thermal conductivity acrylic 0.21. It is hundreds of times better than the metal analogues! Therefore, the surface of the product is always warm, pleasant for the body. Water in it long remains hot.
  3. The jet does not create noise, hitting the bottom and walls.
  4. The coating is smooth (the sensation from the hand on a high-quality surface should be the same as the sensations from the glass), it is easy for it to care.
  5. Such products have a wide variety of forms, they are ergonomic and comfortable.
  6. Damage can be restored using liners or liquid acrylic.

Acrylic bath Aessel Danube

The main drawback acrylic is the fragility of the surface. It can easily scratch (for example, it can make a homemade pet claws, or a metal bucket put on the bottom).

And if a weighty item falls into it, it can and break the wall. In addition, the coating can be painted from contact with colored water (for example, by washing).

The difference between the acrylic bath from steel

  1. Steel tank is heavier than acrylic.
  2. The steel surface is more reliable, resistant to abrasions and chemistry.
  3. The acrylic walls are warm, in the bath will be much nicer to missing.
  4. For a good acrylic will have to pay more.
  5. Acrylic is not subject to corrosion, unlike steel, which rusts in the places of cracking of enamel.
  6. Acrylic does not reson when a jet falls on it.
  7. Acrylic products have more selection of models and forms.
  8. Acrylic surface does not slide, it is safer.

It must be remembered that the intraspecific variety of each option is also considerable. Steel baths can be very cheap and unreliable - with thin walls and poor-quality coating. And may be thick, durable and cost more acrylic.

Which bath is better: acrylic or steel?

If there are pets in the family, which bathe, or restless youth, then the acrylic bath will be a risky acquisition, which will have to constantly monitor the safety.

Steel device can also be chosen in the conditions of budget constraint. But too thin-walked buying is not worth buying, especially if someone in the family refers to heavyweights.

Read about the appointment and types of the device.

How nice to swim in a good comfortable bath. Sometimes I do not want to get out of it. To date, there is a huge variety of bath models, and they are made from different materials. Steel and Acrylic are the most popular of them. Only how to understand what bath can be considered better: steel or acrylic? To determine for sure, it is necessary to compare them among themselves, which will be done further.

About the features of steel baths

To properly determine the best, it is necessary to compare the qualitative characteristics of its main varieties.

Plumbing products made of steel are distinguished by a variety of forms and a flexible price grid than they cause considerable interest of consumers. They produce such baths from the sheets of steel thickness from 0.23 (thin-walled) to 0.35 cm (standard). On top of these products are covered with a thin layer acrylic enamelwhich is not as great as, for example, in bathtubs, but quite durable and durable.

The steel bath can be both traditional rectangular or oval shapes, and sufficiently original forms: round, asymmetric, polygonal, etc. Among the advantages of such products can be noted as follows:

  • Species diversity (sizes, form);
  • Resistant to wear, reliable coating;
  • Low weight;
  • Moderate price.

Properly selected bath will well fit into any interior

In addition to the advantages, there are steel and their not very pleasant features that should be considered before buying a similar product: noise (when pouring into a water bath), weak heat capacity, excessive flexibility (under the large weight of the bath can break a little).

Acrylic baths: description, pros and cons

Acrylic is the most "young" material that is used for the manufacture of baths. Speaking with simple words, it is a synthetic polymer, which is based on acrylic acid. As a result, the material turns out quite durable and smooth. High-quality acrylic bath has a wall thickness of at least 4-6 mm.

Made it in two ways:

  1. Molded method. Its essence is that acrylic is applied to the fiber frame. The product is very durable.
  2. Sheet method. In this case, an acrylic sheet is used, which is fused to the desired form in the vacuum chamber, and then strengthen the obtained billet with epoxy resin and fiberglass.

Attention! When tapping on the walls of the acrylic bath, the sound should not be very ringing. If she is precisely such, this means that the manufacturer decided to save in the production of the product and did not use high-quality reinforcement.

Acrylic: Pretty young material with many advantages

Among the advantages of acrylics are allocated as follows:

  • Excellent heat capacity;
  • Availability large number additional options (hydromassage, etc.);
  • Small weight of the product;
  • Difostern of forms and sizes.

At the same time, such products are considered sufficiently complex in care, they are sensitive to high temperatures, excessively flexible and do not differ in a long service life.

Comparative characteristics of steel and acrylic baths

To determine best bathYou should familiarize yourself with comparative characteristic Products made from various materials composed on the basis of expert reviews in 2017. So, according to the main criteria for the bath, the picture turns out as follows:


Council. Although acrylic baths and differ in a slight weight, pay attention to too light models: they can not be qualitative a priori.

Considering the above characteristics, it can be concluded: a steel bath, after all, it turns out to be the best bathroom for the aggregate of the main criteria, according to which experts counted it better.

Now, when choosing a suitable model, such an important plumbing product you will take into account all its advantages and disadvantages and can choose the best bath for yourself. Enjoy the shopping!

Video: Comparison of steel and acrylic bath