Acrylic bath will require an informed choice. To make it durable, comfortable, fit well into the interior and not collapse in a couple of years of operation, you will have to figure out what materials it can be made of, what thickness it should have, what color it should be. And also remember the small checks that you can arrange in the store: where to look? Where to knock? How to use a flashlight?
Content of this article:
Differences from other materials
Acrylic is a relatively young material. He appeared on the construction market only ten or fifteen years ago and is not yet as common as other, more familiar materials. It is a strong plastic, which can be given any color, any shape, faked for any other material.
Acrylic bath can be any color
You want a marble bath, but the stone is too expensive and heavy? Acryl is definitely suitable for solving this problem.
It has a number of specific advantages:
- Low thermal conductivity. For baths This is very important because it is not too pleasant to lie in fast-cooling water. Acrylic also keeps the temperature unchanged for about half an hour, and he also has a special heater.
- Plastic. Acrylic can be given any, most bizarre, shape. He can go in waves, he may have unexpected angles. There are even firms that manufacture custom-made acrylic.
- Ease of care. Acryl is not located to the formation of a layer of dirt on it, pathogenic microorganisms do not linger on it. It is enough just to rinse with warm water after each use.
- Low weight. It is easy to raise the acrylic bath to the desired floor, and it does not have a particular effect on the floor.
- No noise. Falling water produces a dull, faint sound.
- Reliability. Acrylic will last longer than two decades, if you buy a structure not at the lowest price, and then carefully use it.
- Special coating. Unlike cast iron, the coating of which is usually slippery, acrylic is coated with a special plastic, on which, with external smoothness, it is very difficult to slip and fall. For the house where the elderly person lives is very useful.
Acrylic - relatively young material
But there are also disadvantages:
- Special care. Acrylic is easy to clean, but if it does get dirty, you have to use specialized soft products that will not harm it.
- Temperature sensitivity. Like any plastic, acrylic melts if the temperature rises too high. Models with a small price can even be deformed if you pour too hot water into them. In any case, it is usually recommended to pour cool at first, and then turn on the hot one.
- Mechanical Sensitivity. Acrylic can be scratched, and impact resistance varies from product to product. If in a model with a low price to drop something heavy, it is likely that it will crack.
The material is not located to form a layer of dirt on it.
If you compare acrylic with iron and steel - traditional materials for the manufacture - you get the following result.
Characteristics of steel:
- strength - low, sensitive to chipping, cracking, scratching;
- heat insulation - low, the water quickly changes the temperature and cools down;
- weight - relatively small, bring the steel structure into the house easier than cast iron;
- noise - strong, when the jet hits the bottom, can be heard on the whole apartment;
- the form - well defined, rectangular or slightly rounded corners;
- price - low, which is the main advantage of the steel structure.
It has a low thermal conductivity.
Characteristics of cast iron:
- strength - the highest, it is difficult to break the cast-iron bath, even if you decide to do it on purpose and will use construction tools;
- heat insulation - high, but half of the temperature will be spent on heating the cast iron itself, as a result of which the water will cool down anyway;
- weight - huge, to bring the cast iron into the house is not easy, plus it presses on the floor;
- noise - medium, you can hear the water, but if you close the door, the sound will be muffled;
- the form - strictly defined, or rectangular, or slightly rounded;
- price - high, which is justified because of the high reliability of cast iron, which can last for several decades and only slightly peel off.
Acrylic will last longer than two decades.
Characteristics of acrylic:
- strength - low, dropping heavy objects in the bath is not worth it;
- heat insulation - high, enough to keep the temperature for half an hour;
- weight - small, like any plastic, easy to bring into the house, the overlap does not press;
- noise - absent, since plastic suppresses sound;
- the form - any, up to the one invented by a specific buyer;
- price - high, which is justified because of the quality of the product.
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It is worth buying acrylic if you need an intricate form or high thermal insulation. In any modern interior, it will also fit best.
Falling water produces a dull, faint sound
Indicators that affect service life
To acrylic construction served for many years, you need to pay attention to two main indicators - how, from what it is made and how it provides strength.
return to menu ↑Material and thickness
Of course, acrylic always has acryl in its composition - but it can be combined with other materials, and in what proportion it depends on how long it can be used.
- Three layers. If you are used to the fact that the more layers there are, the stronger the result is, then here this habit will fail - three layers in an acrylic bathtub say that it does not differ in high quality. The internal material of her ABS - cheap porous plastic, which is used as a base because of its low cost. Then it is covered with a thin layer of acrylic (not more than ten percent), and then the final structure is reinforced. As a result, after about five years, the reinforcement is wiped off, as is the layer of acrylic, and only the ABS remains, which is quickly absorbed by moisture and becomes unusable. This is worth the purchase, only if you intend to use it infrequently - or you will still change it in the near future.
- Two layers. This consists of acrylic completely, and the top is covered with a reinforcing substance - sometimes in one layer, sometimes in several. The result is more expensive, but it will last much longer. It almost does not wear out, it is very difficult to ensure that a crack appears on it.
It is enough just to rinse with warm water.
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To check how many layers a vending structure consists of, just look at its very edge - the one that often bends down. Layers on it can be seen with the naked eye.
In addition to the material, it is also important how thick the walls are:
- two or three centimeters is very thin - it cracks easily, serves for a short time;
- four centimeters is a medium - it cracks less often, lasts longer, up to ten years;
- six centimeters is thick - it is hard to make a crack on such a structure; it can serve for decades if not cleaned with a metal sponge.
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To check how thick the walls of the bath are, it is not necessary to have a ruler with you; it is enough to light them with a flashlight. If light is visible from the other side, then the wall is too thin. Additionally, you can knock it with your knuckles - the sound should be deaf.
Reinforcement and frame
Reinforcement of acrylic is a mandatory procedure, since plastic itself is not very durable. Epoxy, fiberglass or polyurethane are commonly used. They protect the bath from mechanical damage, from abrasion, from small cracks and chips.
Check how well carried out reinforcement, you can apply the following tricks:
- inspect the edges - they should be visible reinforcing layer, and what it will be thicker, the better and stronger will be the design itself;
- press on the walls, the bottom - they should not bend, and if they bend, it means that the manufacturer has cheated and applied a thicker layer on the edge than on the rest of the structure;
- re-use the flashlight - the light should be equally clearly visible (or not visible if the design is expensive) from all sides;
- sniff - poor quality materials for reinforcement have a pronounced chemical smell, which will intensify when you pour hot water into the bath.
Has temperature sensitivity
Additionally, it is worth checking how slippery the reinforcement material is. To do this, put his hand on him and try to hold it to the side. If the skin slips, then it will definitely be possible to slip, getting out of the bath, which means it is better to look for another design. At the same time, the surface should also not be rough, which indicates a low quality.
Realizing how high-quality reinforcement material, it remains only to inspect the frame - a metal frame that supports the entire structure.
Stylish large bathroom option
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If the frame of the most ordinary rectangular bath for some reason is reinforced, too complicated, this indicates low quality. Without a complex frame, it simply can not stand.
The final stage - check for defects. The surface should be flat, smooth, without bulges, cracks, chips. Otherwise, it will look bad, plus it will be inconvenient to wash.
return to menu ↑We affect convenience
From the material, frame, reinforcement depends on how many years will serve. But it depends on the shape and size of how well it fits into the interior, and also how comfortable it will be to use it.
Non-standard product
The size
Bath size should be calculated based on the growth of those who will use it, as well as on the characteristics of the bathroom in which it will be placed. There are only four parameters:
- Height. The standard is about seventy centimeters - an elderly person, a teenager, and a child will be able to step over such a side. High altitude is suitable for people who like to relax in deep water.
- Depth. The standard depth is sixty centimeters - from the edge to the drain hole. If you do less, the water will not cover the body lying inside. If more - the head will have to keep straight so that it is not covered with water.
Hi-tech style in the bathroom
- Width. The standard width is eighty centimeters, but here it is more than in other cases, the height and weight of the person who will use it matters. Obese eighty will be too small and you should think about buying a bath with a non-standard width - and they are a meter, a meter twenty and even wider.
- Length. There is no standard bathing length - everything is very individual here, it depends on preferences. Twenty meter is sedentary, you cannot lie in it, but sit comfortably in a sitting position.Plus, such a small length makes sense in a small bathroom. Meter fifty - position reclining. Meter seventy - a person of average height can already lie down, with his head on the side. Meter eighty - can stretch to its full height.
The size should be calculated based on the height of the user.
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There are square bathtubs for large rooms, there are designs that look more like pools. There are tiny narrow baths. The choice depends solely on personal preference.
The form
Cast-iron baths are always rectangular - this is laid down by materials and, in principle, does not change. But with acrylics everything is much more interesting - they can have any shape, it depends only on budget and imagination.
- Rectangular. A classic that does not grow old - it looks familiar, does not get out of nowhere, does not require any costs for fitting into the interior, it will be easily integrated into any room, even the smallest one.
- Square. The variety is rectangular, but it looks completely different. Original, stylish, looks interesting and unusual. In such a bath (especially if you buy with a jacuzzi function) you can spend your evenings with your loved one.
Rectangular option
- Oval. In essence, it is the same as a rectangular one, but it looks somewhat more old-fashioned, and therefore original. It is deprived of sharp corners, which a child or an elderly person can catch on, and smooth lines look cozy and reassuring.
- Round. It is rare because it requires a large amount of space in the bathroom. It looks original and pleasant, especially if you hold the backlight, it is good to choose a color - like a luminous bowl with boiling water. It can be a real interior decoration.
- Sitting. This is usually a rectangular or oval design, which has a special projection on the bottom, so that it is comfortable to sit in it. It looks somewhat unusual, but is well suited for older people who find it difficult to climb, seated on a flat bottom.
- Corner. Bath for a small room, in which, however, really want to start your mini-pool. More than usual, allows you to stretch out to its fullest, it is a triangle, and it is important to take into account whether it is right or left - it depends on which corner the design fits.
Interestingly, the long side can be both a classic straight line and a curved semicircle, which gives the bath a kind of charm.
Corner option
- Whimsical. This form is usually expensive, but also looks appropriate. It can be a flower or a beautiful bowl, it can be a wave or a blurry blot. The main advantage is beauty. For aesthetics with such a bathroom can not be compared with no other. But it is hard to fit into the interior (if it was not originally sharpened specifically for it), and you also need to pay special attention to the presence of protrusions and cavities - it is important that they do not stagnate water after draining.
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To have a good idea of how a bath of a certain shape will fit into your interior, draw a floor plan and see how it comes up. To do this, be sure to measure the length, width of the room, as well as the main indicators of the bath.
We influence aesthetics
Of course, to some extent, both size and shape influence aesthetics. But their main purpose is to provide convenience. And there are indicators that have little effect on him, but they significantly affect the appearance.
Oval product
Colour
The overall impression it will produce depends on the color of the bath - to a much greater degree than anything else. Since acrylic is plastic, the proposed palette is large, includes a huge number of colors. It may be:
- White. The traditional color of the bath, which is familiar to the eye, fits perfectly into any interior, makes it bright, adds spaciousness. The only drawback, like all light colors - any dirt on it is very noticeable.
- The black. Original, but gloomy - it looks good either in a contrasting interior, where everything is radiant and white, or in a raid of Gothic, where everything is dark.It looks good as a complementary color - because acrylic can be several colors at once.
- Light warm colors. They add a room of comfort - pink, peach, beige always make the interior a bit lighter, more pleasing to the eye. More original than plain white, they have the same drawback - they can see all the dirt.
In classic style
- Light cold shades. Give the room austerity, go well with mirrors, metal. Add space to a small room.
- Dark warm shades. These are the saturated colors of any spectrum that make the room brighter, more contrast, more interesting, but less so.
- Dark cold shades. The same problem as with black - strict, hard to enter. But if it works, the result will be very original, interesting.
In addition to standard colors, there are also more interesting solutions:
- Transparency. There is a kind of acrylic that looks like glass. This can be matte, it can be absolutely transparent, it can be colorless, it can be colored. In any case, in combination with water, it will look like a sparkling jewel - especially if you correctly position the backlight and arrange the room so that the accent is on it.
- Imitation stone. Acrylic perfectly imitates natural stone - so much so that sometimes it is even called an artificial stone. You can order a marble, granite and any other bath from it - you can only distinguish it by weight and somewhat lower reliability.
Often used color - white
You can include "glass" or "stone" elements in the design of a color bath - if combined correctly, this will give it a "zest". For example, to make a transparent wall, behind which the illuminated water will mysteriously boil.
In addition to tips on specific colors, there are also tips on what color to choose relative to the interior:
- Suitable for everything else. If everything is pink - it should be a slightly different shade, differing only in tone. If everything is blue - the same blue. This combination makes sense if, in addition to it, there is already a bright accent or if you want to leave the room without an accent at all. Look, however, may be somewhat monotonous and boring.
- Neutral. White, light shades of other colors - a great neutral solution that allows you not to allocate a bath, but at the same time not fit it into the interior so that it blends with it. Somewhat more traditional.
- Contrast. The solution that gives the room brightness, drive. Bath dramatically stands out in the spotlight, making the interior more pronounced and interesting. It is very important, however, to choose the color so that it fits perfectly, and for this use the tables of contrast from the Internet.
Add some contrast
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Pick a color thoughtfully. Compare Make a sketch. And if you do not want to spend time - take the traditional white, which fits everything.
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Additional functions
Functional baths in our time is much more extensive than at least ten years ago. It includes a whole list of useful or eye-pleasing features, including:
- Massage. In fact, such an acrylic bath has a Jacuzzi function - thin streams of water or air bubbles massage the skin, help to relax after a hard day, plus an aesthetic look, especially if the design has a transparent wall.However, the pump is relatively noisy, the cost increases significantly, and the holes through which water or air passes must be carefully flushed so that they do not get clogged. Also, over time, some of them will fail and will need to contact the master.
- Chromotherapy. It is proved that a different color causes different sensations in a person. Blue adjusts to sleep, green calms and helps to focus, red leads to increased anxiety. Chromotherapy involves the presence of built-in lights in the design of the bath. When a person goes to bed after a busy day, the light begins to flicker slightly, soothing, lulling. In addition, the backlight is beautiful, especially when combined with transparent elements.
With whirlpool function
- Headrest. This implies a special headrest made of soft material that does not slip. A person goes to bed, arranges his head and can even take a nap - it is much more convenient than to rest his head on a hard, cold, slippery edge. From an aesthetic point of view, it can be a contrasting element if you choose a suitable color for it.
- Pens. Not very aesthetically pleasing, but very convenient for an elderly person who finds it difficult to get out of the bath without a support. You can give them an interesting shape or choose a beautiful shiny metal.
Pens go well with glass.
- TV or player. They allow you to watch your favorite movies and programs or listen to your favorite music while lying in the bath, which is soothing. As a rule, they are arranged so that it is comfortable to watch, they have a special coating that does not deteriorate from water.
Stylish interior room
- Control screen. If it is equipped with all the new devices to ensure comfort, their work is synchronized using a special screen. From it you can turn on and off the massage, set the time when the water starts to flow, set the desired temperature and do many other useful things.
- Sensors. Show temperature and water quality. It is very useful if there is a child in the house who needs to be bathed in good water of a certain temperature.
- Heating. Allows you to maintain the temperature of the water at the same level for a long time, or heat it from scratch if the hot water is turned off.
- Communication with other devices. The newest development, which allows you to control the bathroom at a distance with the help of a phone and give the filling command just on the way to the house. It also allows you to connect to the system of "smart home", which is only gaining popularity.
The more features - the more expensive as a result of the bath, but the greater the pleasure of its use. Their choice depends solely on the size of the budget and the wishes for comfort.
The more functions, the more expensive the product.
Optional accessories
To make acrylic look good in the interior, it remains only to surround it with additional accessories that will be combined with it. Among them:
- Mirror. Very useful for performing hygiene, usually hung over the sink. So that its harmony with the acrylic bathtub becomes complete, you can hold the backlight of the same color that stands on the backlight of the bath - when they turn on at the same time, there will be a very pleasant effect.
- Curtain. Like any bath, acrylic need a curtain so that water does not flow on the floor to hide a bathing person to complement the interior. Sometimes it is neglected - if the appearance of the bath is such that it does not harmonize with textiles in any way. Most often they choose such color and pattern so that they are well combined with the color of the bath. If it is white, the curtain should also be light. If black - then either light for contrast, or the same black.
In modern style
- Shelves. Usually angular, if it is not very large, and, as a rule, they are located near the bath, so that it is easy to reach them, to take shampoo or soap. However, it should be remembered that acrylic is a fragile material. If something falls on it from a height of a shelf, a dent or crack may remain. Therefore, it is better to move them to the opposite corner.A good idea, by the way, if a bath with a transparent wall is to make them from the same glass.
- Procedure accessories. Can be embedded in the bath or mounted on the edge, and can be placed around. It is good if they approach it in color, even better if it is in design. For example, a round and semicircular soap dish, a stand for toothbrushes, a dispenser for shampoo will look great for a classic round design.
The general idea of the interior should work and the mat on the floor - let it be soft and of a similar color - and a towel holder, and handrails, which the old man can take.
Acrylic fits perfectly in high-tech and minimalism, in the loft and even in eco. The main thing - to choose exactly the combination of shape, color, size and accessories that fits your interior.
return to menu ↑VIDEO: How to choose an acrylic bathroom?
Acrylic bath
How to choose?
