Pros and Cons of an Acrylic Bathtub: Which Acrylic Bathtub is Best?

A bathtub is one of the most expensive plumbing fixtures. People are willing to pay decent money, because it serves not only for swimming, but also for relaxation after a hard day. The whole question is what exactly you have to pay for: for a quality durable product or for a product that will create problems and quickly require replacement.

Typically, a bath is chosen according to the following criteria: material, size, design, brand. As for the materials, among the most popular are cast iron, steel, acrylic. However, there are glass, faience, marble and even wooden models. The trend of recent years is acrylic bathtubs. Opinions about them are very different. What are the pros and cons of an acrylic bath compared to other types?

Acrylic baths are made from polymethyl methacrylate. This is a special polymer composition, which in everyday life is called sanitary acrylic, since the material is widely used in the production of modern shower cabins and bathtubs. Products made of polymethyl methacrylate are durable and lightweight, which greatly facilitates their installation.

Acrylic keeps the temperature well, does not contribute to the growth of microorganisms. The plasticity of the material is successfully used by designers: you can find acrylic bathtubs of all shapes and sizes.

For the manufacture of acrylic sanitary products, two technologies are used - extrusion and casting. The first method is simpler and cheaper, so the finished product is sold at a more affordable price.

But the products do not differ in particular strength or high technical and operational characteristics, tk. a layer of 1 mm acrylic covers the bath only from the outside. They are made from acrylonitrile butadiene tyrol, which is a type of plastic.

Sometimes extruded models are called fake acrylic bathtubs. This name is not entirely correct, but it fully reflects the estimated attitude of consumers to the quality of the goods.

The too low cost of an acrylic bathtub is a reason to be wary. It is possible that the product is made of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Tirol and is not of high quality.

Cast bathtubs are made of acrylic, reinforced with fiberglass and polyester resins, and the bottom is reinforced with special embedded chipboard sheets. Products are installed on metal frames with anti-corrosion coating. Certificates of conformity are attached to the products, and the seller is obliged to provide them to the buyer.

A high-quality acrylic bathtub made by casting can last about 20 years. Cast products are installed for permanent use, and extruded products can be purchased for summer cottages, where they are used occasionally.

One of the features of an acrylic bath is "capriciousness" in relation to care. To keep it in good condition for many years, you should strictly adhere to the rules for caring for the bathroom. The product should be cleaned only with special non-abrasive household chemicals.

Cleaning products can be purchased at any store. The label must be marked that the composition can be used to care for acrylic plumbing fixtures. If cracks, chips or other defects appear, the surface is repaired with liquid acrylic. It is better to entrust this procedure to specialists.

Advantages and disadvantages of acrylic plumbing

Like any other product, acrylic bathtubs have their own pros and cons. Among the benefits, the most valuable are:

• Light weight. An acrylic bathtub of standard sizes weighs an average of 30 kg. It can be transported, lifted, carried, installed even alone.
• Easy installation. Bathtubs made of other materials are usually placed on legs. A special adjustable frame is provided for mounting the acrylic product. It comes with a kit, no parts needed.
• Wide range of models. Among all the materials that are used to make bathtubs, acrylic is the most plastic. It can be given any, even the most intricate, shape. This property is successfully used by designers who create stylish models. For connoisseurs of a unique and aesthetic interior, this is a real find.
• Easy maintenance and repair. To wash the bath, you can use dish detergents, liquid soap, but it’s better to buy special formulations. If there is a slight scratch, it is cleaned with sandpaper. Large cracks require restoration of the coating with liquid acrylic, and this work is performed by specialized companies.
• The ability to keep the temperature. For lovers of relaxing treatments, this quality is priceless. The water cools slowly, and the surface itself is not as cold as in metal bathtubs.
• Anti-slip coating. The surface of acrylic bathtubs is smooth, but non-slip, so the risk of injury is significantly reduced.
• Hygiene. Acrylic does not rot, is not attacked by a fungus, does not promote the growth of bacteria.
• Additional accessories. If desired, the owner of an acrylic bath can purchase nozzles and massage devices that will make water procedures even more pleasant.

The main disadvantages of acrylic bathtubs include low static strength, insufficient scratch resistance of the coating and high cost. As for the price of products, it is quite justified, because high-quality acrylic bathtubs are made using complex technologies.

However, when choosing, you should weigh and compare: perhaps a cheaper cast-iron analogue will do.

Due to the plasticity of the material, it is possible to create unique design models of bathtubs of complex shapes, of any size.

Static strength is provided by a metal frame; without it, a bath filled to the brim changes shape. Special bath mats will help protect the product from scratches. They are used for washing pets and the like.

When bathing, you have to be careful: the material is easy to spoil with a sharp, hard or heavy object.

Oval-shaped plumbing fixtures are not always easy to install if the size of the bathroom is small, but in a spacious room they look incomparable

What are acrylic models?

While metal bathtubs are predominantly simple shapes, acrylic allows you to create unusual models of bathtubs of any size, incl. and non-standard. This expands the possibilities for decorating bathrooms.

Each owner can find the most convenient form that will fit into the style of the interior and will fully meet the needs of the family living in the house. Another plus is the ability to combine acrylic with various materials. This is an additional "bonus" when creating original products. Let's see what acrylic bathtubs come in shape.

Option #1 - Rectangular

These are universal models that can be installed in rooms of any size, except for very cramped ones. They look nice, are comfortable, but most often they do not differ in originality and sometimes seem too bulky.

Rectangular bathtubs in a small room may seem too voluminous, but they look great in spacious rooms.

Option #2 - oval

The smooth curves of the oval bath are suitable for any interior and blend well with other shapes. However, many simply got tired of rectangles and ovals, which were very popular in Soviet times.

In a spacious room, decorated in a classic style, an oval bath complements the smooth shapes of the rest of the objects.

Option #3 - asymmetrical

The interior of the bathroom with an asymmetric model is completely transformed. The room looks ultra-modern and stylish. Asymmetric products are made right and left. Depending on the shape, they can be installed in a corner.

The only caveat: when buying, you need to purchase a special panel for finishing, since tiling can be difficult.

Asymmetry is always advantageous in the interior. An unusual bathtub made of combined materials attracts increased attention, therefore it requires especially careful care.

Option #4 - corner

In popularity, they compete with asymmetric ones. Corner models are installed in order to individualize the interiors, visually ennoble and at the same time arrange the plumbing as compactly as possible.

These bathtubs are very easy to use, but when washing, there is a slight difficulty: due to the large width of the product, you have to climb inside it to reach all surfaces.

Corner models are not only beautiful, original, but also very convenient due to the fact that they fill the space in the corners.

Option #5 - round

Such bathtubs usually have a large diameter and are suitable only for large rooms. In a modest room, they will occupy the entire area. Washing round models is just as inconvenient as corner ones.

Acrylic round hot tubs are a real luxury. If you install such a model in the middle of the room, this will solve the problem of the inconvenience of caring for a sensitive surface.

Compare materials and draw conclusions

To understand which acrylic bathtub will be better for specific operating conditions, it is necessary to compare their advantages and disadvantages. The most common materials are steel and cast iron, which were often used to make bathtubs in the recent Soviet past.

Many are simply tired of them, and this is one of the reasons for the growing popularity of acrylic models. Owners of apartments and houses are looking for diversity. But how justified is the replacement of cast iron or steel with acrylic?

Cast iron is durable, with proper care for decades does not lose its appearance, is extremely durable. The disadvantages of cast iron are a large mass (up to 120 kg), the lack of a variety of models. It is impossible to make an exquisite product of complex shape from this material. Acrylic is significantly inferior to cast iron in strength, durability, resistance to mechanical stress.

But it is many times lighter, easier to install, and a diverse design is amazing. Water in an acrylic bath cools twice as slowly. If you compare the cost, then buying a cast-iron bath will cost about 20% cheaper.

Steel is inferior to cast iron and acrylic in almost all respects. The material does not hold temperature well, the water in such a bath cools quickly, and the noise that occurs when a jet of water hits can be heard throughout the apartment.

The ductility of steel is higher than that of cast iron, but lower than that of acrylic. It is possible to create models of various designs from it, and yet there is no such diverse assortment offered by manufacturers of acrylic bathtubs.

When buying a steel model, you need to remember about its instability. It is better to mount the product on the frame, because. it can wobble on its feet. The advantage of acrylic bathtubs in this case is completeness. Models are immediately delivered with frames. The advantage of steel is that it is cheap.

It is worth mentioning the existence of quartz baths. They are made from a material that is a mixture of acrylic and quartz. These bathtubs, like acrylic ones, can be of any shape and size, they look very attractive. The advantage of quartz over acrylic is less susceptibility to cracking. Otherwise, the materials are very similar.

However, the prices for quartz products stop many buyers.

Acrylic-steel models are made using sophisticated technology. Bathtubs consist of several layers - sheets of steel and acrylic, between which a special fastening layer 1 cm thick is placed.

These products are light, keep their shape perfectly, have clear contours, and are easier to tile. But they cost significantly more than conventional acrylic models and not every buyer can afford.

For the manufacture of baths, more exotic materials are also used - faience, wood, marble, glass. Exquisite designer faience and glass bathtubs are extremely expensive and impractical, but incredibly beautiful and look status. Wooden models perform an aesthetic function more than a practical one, and only a very wealthy person can afford marble.

Models made from these materials may look more presentable than those made from acrylic, but the price is too high.

A beautiful branded bathtub with additional nozzles can be of any size. Some manufacturers offer bathtubs designed for two

Compare the pros and cons of different bathtubs, decide which product is right for you. If you opt for an acrylic model, it makes sense to find out which brands are in demand among our compatriots. Ravak (Czech Republic) is considered the best brand. The advantage of Czech baths is the wall thickness of 5-6 mm. These models can withstand heavy loads without problems.

Usually, stepping on the bottom of the bath, a person feels some "fragility". Products from Ravak are pleasantly different from analogues of other companies. The walls of the baths are stronger, but this does not affect the plasticity of the material and the variety of shapes.

Also pay attention to the products of the trademarks Сersanit (Poland), Kolo (Poland), Pool Spa (Spain). When choosing a particular model, try to collect as much information about it as possible, read consumer reviews.