Iron and acrylic bath. Installation of iron bath

Modern man, accustomed to comfort, it is hard to imagine daily life without visiting the bathroom, equipped with quality sanitary equipment. Someone makes a choice in favor of a shower booth, but the baths are still very popular. This classic bathing device is unlikely to ever be out of use.

Materials for the production of bathtubs

When it comes to choosing a quality and beautiful bath, it's time to get lost, since their choice in the sanitary ware market is very wide. Modern fonts differ also by a material of manufacturing, and presence of every possible additional functions, and, accordingly, cost.

As for the materials, iron, steel and acrylic are the most common, baths of glass, faience, copper, natural and artificial stone and even wood are less common, and even the most modern ones are quarried. The first three of these materials are most in demand, while the rest are rather exotic or luxury goods. Cast iron is a long-living material in the manufacture of bathing containers, acrylic is one of the most modern trends in plumbing. As for steel, such fonts occupy some intermediate position in the consumer rating.

First of all, I must say that iron in its pure form is not used at all for the production of any kind of products, plumbing including. But in the people the concepts of "steel" and "iron" are often mixed, and the steel cup is referred to as the iron bath, although it is made of an alloy of iron with carbon, sometimes enriched with some other chemical elements. However, in everyday life this inaccuracy is completely forgivable.

Advantages and disadvantages of various materials: cast iron

Let's start with the most conservative material - cast iron, which for a long time simply did not have an alternative. But, I must say, cast iron is not that bad. Baths from it are very heavy: depending on the size, their weight lies in the range of 100-150 kg, and it is unlikely to cope with the installation of the product alone. This, of course, is a minus, but, on the other hand, it is thanks to an impressive mass that such containers are stable, durable and reliable.

Low heat conductivity of cast iron allows water in such fonts to cool down for a long time, which will please fans of long bathing. Particular care requires the coating of a cast-iron bath. Recover damaged - with deep scratches and chips - enamel will be difficult. To the conventional disadvantages of cast-iron baths can be attributed the lack of diversity in their forms, because casting of cast iron is not the simplest technological process. Oval or rectangular troughs - that's the whole choice.

Steel in comparison with cast iron

It was steel for a long time was the only competitor to cast iron in the production of sanitary products. Therefore, the iron bath (photo, see in the review) is a certain compromise between the cast-iron capacity and the font from a more modern material - acrylic. The steel bowl is at least three to four times lighter than cast iron, which has the same dimensions. In a sense, this is a plus, since it greatly simplifies the process of transportation and installation of sanitary ware. But the steel bowl is less stable, and this must be remembered and take appropriate measures to avoid overturning it during operation.

Advantages of steel sanitary ware

About how to fix the iron bath, the conversation will go a little later, and now a few words about the merits and demerits have become as a material for plumbing. The technological process of producing tanks from it is such that it allows to give the bowls the most diverse form. Therefore, iron baths are often non-standard sizes , and the forms are original. The tub is round, oval, with several seats, iron corner bath - the configuration can be found for every taste.

The application of enamel to a steel bath occurs at high temperatures, as a result of which the coating literally sintered to the surface of the tank and therefore rarely flakes off - of course, if it is a high-quality product. To look after the enamel on steel is simple, since such a surface is not porous. The iron bath is also less sensitive to impact loads, rather than cast iron. Add to the already listed advantages a reasonable price, and it becomes clear why consumers sometimes make a choice in favor of steel baths.

Disadvantages of steel baths and ways to eliminate them

Having listed all the advantages, it would be unfair to hide the shortcomings characteristic of steel sanitary ware. If the consumer is not warned, an unpleasant surprise for him will be noise when recruiting water in such a bath - the capacity of this literally rattles, especially if a thin-walled product is purchased. In addition, bowls with insufficient wall thickness under heavy weight of users can easily deform, and this, in turn, can lead to cracks and chips on the enamel. It is best to choose products with a thickness of side walls 3.5 and more mm.

Steel is a material with a high thermal conductivity, so water, poured into such a bath, cools down much faster than, for example, in a font made of cast iron or acrylic. But the iron bath itself very quickly becomes warm to the touch, unlike cast iron, and this is a big plus if it's about bathing children.

It is quite realistic to combat the shortcomings of steel baths. Certain measures for noise insulation significantly reduce both the noise level and the heat transfer coefficient. Often for noise insulation of baths, ordinary mounting foam, a technical plug and foamed foamed polyethylene or rubberized sheet materials are used. The question with the unsightly appearance of such materials is solved by installing a decorative screen. Users who know how to eliminate the typical drawbacks that are inherent in such a plumbing product as an iron bath, the reviews leave her very flattering.

Acrylic baths: virtues

Acrylic is a polymer that has a very wide application in the modern world: from aircraft construction to cosmetology. Lightness, ductility and low thermal conductivity are those qualities that are very appropriate in the production of sanitary ware. In the process of forming, the product, be it a bathtub or a sink, is reinforced for strength. Acrylic bath can be of different colors, any size and shape. This polymer is highly hygienic, easy to clean, it is silent when the bath is filled with water, which cools very slowly in such a container.

Disadvantages of acrylic bathtubs

The disadvantages of acrylic plumbing products are less than merits, but they are. First of all, the polymer surface is more easily damaged than enameled. Therefore, the acrylic bath should be used strictly for its intended purpose and not put in it any containers, including plastic ones. But, I must say, it is possible to eliminate such damage by grinding.

Another drawback of acrylic is that when washing in such a bathroom, moulting colored products, its surface may become colored. Do not let it come in contact with too hot objects: acrylic melts already at a temperature of 160 ° C. Not very high-quality product can be deformed during prolonged use. The high cost of a good acrylic bath is a definite obstacle to its acquisition.

Now that all the essential advantages and disadvantages of the basic materials used for the manufacture of bathtubs are listed, it will be easier to make a choice and decide for yourself which is better - a cast iron, acrylic or iron bath.

Additional functions

The price of any bath, from whatever material it is made, depends very heavily on the presence of additional functions in it. It can be specially equipped seats, armrests, headrests, handrails, shelves, devices for air and hydromassage and aromatherapy, lighting, functions of water heating and disinfection.

Bath installation: general requirements

First of all, the surface on which the bath is planned to be installed should be flat, and the plumbing product itself must be leveled. After connecting to the sewer, the slots between the ends of the font and the walls are sealed with silicone sealant. In advance, you need to ensure that after the installation of the bath and the final finish of the bathroom has been provided access to sewerage systems.

Any bath requires some inclination towards the drain. Otherwise, the water will stagnate and, as a consequence, this will lead to a deterioration in its appearance. As a rule, such a slope of the bottom of the bath is provided by the manufacturer, but if necessary, it can be increased by means of adjustable legs.

Features of installation of steel baths

As for the installation of steel bathtubs, they should adjoin to the three walls for better stability, while cast iron, if desired, can be placed at least in the middle of the room. In order to avoid further deformation of the container, it is necessary to leave small gaps between the ends of the bowl and the walls. As a rule, adjustable supports for such baths are included in the kit and are equipped with self-adhesive pads. It happens that bolts are used, but this is not the most ideal option, because over time they can damage the enamel.

If the owner of a steel bath has a desire to get rid of all the drawbacks inherent in the container of this material, the standard installation on the legs can not do. How to reduce noise, we have already considered. As for ensuring sustainability, it is often recommended to make several columns under the bottom of the bath or a solid foundation of bricks or foam blocks that does not reach the bottom by 2-3 cm, and this gap should be covered with a mounting foam. Indeed, this is one of the most reliable ways of installing an iron bath. Additional stops under the bottom will reduce the probability of capsizing the tank to zero.

In order to avoid deformation of the walls of the bath, a sand container is sometimes used, and the installation of an iron bath occurs directly into it. But this method has its drawbacks and is not very reliable, because the sand will inevitably permeate with time.

You can install a bath and not using legs, but on a special frame from a metal profile or bar.

Security

The iron bath perfectly conducts an electric current, therefore measures on obligatory grounding of it at installation are required. On the body of the steel tank, there is usually a special device for this, resembling a petal in kind, to which the grounding cable must be connected.