Steel bathtubs - time-tested popularity (24 photos)

Many lovers of water procedures are firmly convinced that a steel bath is the best option on the plumbing market for a comfortable stay. Indeed, in some respects, metal products are superior to acrylic or cast-iron bathtubs.

Steel Baths: Pros and Cons

The nature of the product is determined by many factors that have both positive and negative sides.

Advantages of steel bathtubs:

• light weight - the product is easier to install and transport; in case of repair, it is easy to dismantle the structure and remove it from the bathroom;
• durability - a container with a wall thickness of at least 4 mm will last about 30 years with proper care. It is worth noting that the service life is also affected by the good quality of the coating, and thin enamel can quickly turn yellow and wear out;
• easy maintenance and hygiene - the bath cover is resistant to light scratches and occasionally can be used for cleaning detergents with a small amount of abrasive additives. For everyday use, it is enough to wash the bath with liquid cleaning compounds;
• various bath installation options: on supporting legs, bricks, frame support or metal corner;
• price - the most affordable plumbing market. Cost is determined by the size and quality of the manufacturing company. The best steel baths can cost more than cast iron, but each buyer has his own preferences in the price segment of steel products;
• plasticity of the material allows you to create products of any shapes and parameters;
• A wide range of products allows you to choose products for bathrooms in different interior styles, taking into account the area of ​​the room and the color scheme of the environment. Stainless steel products are suitable for high-tech styles, and bathtubs of strict rectangular shapes fit perfectly into the style of minimalism. Moreover, some models can rightfully be considered the main element of the design of the room (oval products on bent legs or round bathtubs).

The disadvantages of steel baths

• Due to the high coefficient of thermal conductivity, the water in the tank cools very quickly. Soaking in hot water for a long time will not work;
• a thin bottom can bend under the solid weight of residents, which reduces the service life of the enamel layer;
• loud noise when filling the bath. Plumbing manufacturers propose to use special noise-absorbing linings to solve the problem. They are attached to the bottom and walls of the sink and are invisible with a protective screen. Another tip to solve the noise problem is to cover the outer surface of the bathtub with a thick layer of mounting foam (an unaesthetic look can be hidden behind a decorative screen).

Some manufacturers offer their own solution to the problems of thermal conductivity and sound insulation - steel baths with a polymer coating. The wall thickness of the containers (polymer-steel-enamel) is 6 mm. In such products, a 4% reduction in noise from water intake and a 15% reduction in thermal conductivity are guaranteed. Moreover, this innovation did not significantly change the weight of the bath and the ease of its installation, and the product warranty is given for 15 years.

Steel bath characteristic

The variety of bathtub models and plumbing manufacturers sometimes turn a purchase into a painful process. How to choose a steel bath correctly? If you focus on the necessary parameters and do not chase the untwisted brand, then taking water procedures in the purchased bath will be comfortable for a long time.

• Enamel quality. The layer of decorative and protective coating should have the same thickness, be free from drips, chips, and other visible defects. Hue is not critical. Bluish, beige or white is a matter of taste.
• The thickness of the steel of a quality bath cannot be less than 0.3-0.4 mm. A simple way to determine the quality of a product in a store is to raise the bath. The steel enameled bathtub made of a thin sheet easily rises or is rearranged. The normal weight of a miniature bathtub is about 20 kg, and full-sized containers (about two meters in length and 80 cm in width) have an average weight of 32-40 kg. It will take effort to move it. This weight somewhat solves the issue of insufficient stability of products.
• Visually, the surface of the bath should be absolutely even. The presence of bulges / depressions even of small sizes will be sufficient reason to refuse to buy a bath.
• If you lightly knock on the surface, then the sound should be smooth, without impurities of rattling or strange vibrations.

Shapes and sizes of steel products

The right choice of steel bath can significantly optimize the room space. Of course, the rectangular steel bathtub and the oval one are still favorites. Such forms are rightfully considered universal, since it is not difficult to choose a product for a room of different sizes. Owners of spacious rooms can allow the installation of corner or asymmetric bathtubs.

Common sizes of corner bathtubs:

• symmetrical forms - from 120X120 cm to 180X180 cm;
• asymmetric shapes - from 120X60 cm to 170X190 cm.

Rare models of round-shaped steel bathtubs look simply luxurious, are available in diameters from 140 to 210 cm. As a rule, such products are mounted in the center of the room, therefore they are suitable for large areas.

There are plumbing models of steel bathtubs on the market for taking seated water procedures. Some designs are equipped with special elegant handles. Such details facilitate the process of entering / exiting the bath. Such models are especially convenient for the elderly (make the procedure for taking a bath safe and comfortable).

Sample bath parameters: length - 100-215 cm, width - 65-85 cm, depth - 60-65 cm. The most popular are models with dimensions of 170-180 cm in length and 70-80 cm in width. And this is understandable. It is in such baths that you can comfortably lie down to a person of any height and build. And not just to wash, but with pleasure to take an aromatic bath and relax in the fragrant foam.

Types of steel

Manufacturers use two types of steel in the manufacture of bathtubs. It is impossible to categorically say about the significant advantages and disadvantages of any kind.

Structural steel has long been used in the manufacture of plumbing. The main advantages of these enameled products are affordable price, ease of care. A significant drawback is that the enamel coating quickly loses its pleasant appearance; corrosion patches form. It is possible to slow down the loss of the initial state through the use of special protective compounds.

Stainless steel is less popular, due to the increased cost of bathtubs. Although the price is justified by the wear resistance and durability of the tank. The disadvantages include the preservation of limescale on the surface after the adoption of water procedures. If you immediately wipe the bath after washing with a dry cloth, you can avoid the appearance of calcareous traces, but over time, the surface will inevitably fade.

Steel bath with hydromassage: wellness water treatments at home

Some models of steel bathtubs are equipped with water massage systems. Plumbing manufacturers offer devices with three types of massage.

The hydromassage design is completed with nozzles and hoses. The movement of water under high pressure is provided by pumps. The system allows you to adjust the pressure of the jets. The number of nozzles depends on the size of the bath.

In the air massage system, the principle of operation is the same as for hydromassage. The only difference is that instead of water jets, air bubbles produce a massage effect.

Turbomassage provides a combination of hydro and air massage procedures. Bathtubs equipped with similar massage systems are called whirlpool bathtubs. Moreover, a feature of the device is the ability to use different types of massage separately.

The adoption of water procedures is a daily necessity, and swimming in comfortable conditions is a natural desire of any person, so choosing a steel bath is a time-consuming task, because the needs of all family members, their wishes and preferences are taken into account. They are also responsible for the installation, because the bath is not included in the list of things that are regularly updated.