Which bath is better to choose: acrylic, cast iron or steel?

When a bathtub loses its aesthetic appearance, they either try to restore it or buy a new one. The modern market offers many options at different prices, shapes and other criteria.

Which bath is better to choose: acrylic, cast iron or steel? The COLADY editorial team offers to consider the advantages and disadvantages of all types of bathtubs so that you can make the right choice.

The content of the article:

Acrylic bathtub – pros, cons, housewives advice, the better is an acrylic bathtub?

Such a product of modern technologies as an acrylic bathtub has long had many admirers. In comparison with the same cast-iron bathtub, in acrylic – many advantages:

• High strength and reliability despite visual fragility.
• Lightness – the bathtub is much lighter than cast iron, and any owner can move it without the help of a specialist.
• The presence of a metal frame for stability and binding legs.
• Glossy, non-slippery surface, pleasant to the touch.
• Sufficiently long preservation of color (+ lack of yellowness over time) and ample opportunities in its choice.
• Antiseptic properties (on selected models).
• Slow cooling of water, fast heating of the bath, high level of heat capacity.
• Sound absorption. There is no noise when filling the bath.
• Such a bathroom is more than easy to take care of – a light rubbing with a sponge and soap after use is enough.

Disadvantages of an acrylic bathtub:

• The use of strong chemical and abrasive agents is prohibited. for cleaning.
• On acrylic, with illiterate use, there may be scratches… They are removed with polish, and deep chips are removed by pouring liquid acrylic.
• If you drop a heavy thing into the bathtub, acrylic can crack… True, this bath will be easy to repair.
• Bathing your four-legged friends in such a bath is also not recommended.

Cast iron bath – advantages and disadvantages

Both here and abroad, cast iron baths are the most common. True, foreign baths have some differences. For example, adjustable feet, thinner, different enamel composition, handles and anti-slip layer. But our modern cast-iron bathtubs also boast a number of advantages:

• The main plus of a cast-iron bath, especially in comparison with a steel one – high strength… Cast iron is a unique material of its kind, known to ancient metallurgists. In Russia, such baths first appeared during the reign of Peter the Great, and since those days their popularity has not declined.
• Caring for a cast-iron bathroom does not cause any particular difficulties… There are no pores on the enamelled surface, so timely rinsing the bathroom with the same sponge will ensure its constant cleanliness.
• One of the most significant advantages – ability to retain heat… The cast iron bath cools down the longest of its competitors.
• A cast iron bath cannot be broken, bend (like steel) or damage like acrylic. It will stand for decades until it occurs to you to update it or replace it with another, because you are “tired”.
• In this bath, you can safely bathe children with a bag of heavy toys and wash your favorite pets.

Of the disadvantages of a cast-iron bath, it can be noted:

• Impressive weight (about 120 kg). Taking a bath, of course, you don’t think about it, but there are many problems with its transportation and rearrangement.
• The enamel coating wears off over time.
• A cast-iron bath heats up longer than a steel or acrylic bath.
• The shapes of the cast-iron bath are not particularly original – as it is right, they all look alike.

Of course, imported cast iron is more perfect. Because the value of this bath is not only in the material, but also in the enamel, which is of higher quality from foreign manufacturers. And the weight of the imported bath will be less.

Steel baths – all pros and cons; How are steel bathtubs different from cast iron and acrylic bathtubs?

After asking a salesperson in a store about the pros / cons of a steel bath, you naturally never hear anything bad. As a result, you may have the impression that she simply does not have any shortcomings. Although they are:

• The bath, the walls of which do not have sufficient thickness, deforms after some time. As a result, the appearance of cracks and chips on the enamel. By the way, the cost of a bath with thicker walls will be higher than usual. Strength indicator – wall thickness from 3 mm.
• High thermal conductivity. That is, the bath heats up quickly, but the water also cools down quickly, in comparison with the two previous options.
• Loud noise when filling the bathtub (as opposed to acrylic). This problem can be partially solved by soundproofing pads.
• The use of abrasive cleaning agents is strictly prohibited – otherwise the enamel will quickly deteriorate.
• Grounding the steel bath is a must.
• Instability.

Benefits of a steel bath:

• Low cost is the biggest plus.
• Weight – four times less than a cast iron bath.
• Hygienic enamel coating (absence of pores conducive to the development of bacteria).
• Wide range of shapes and sizes.

Which bath to choose – video

Which bath is better to buy: acrylic, steel or cast iron? Share your opinion with us!