What materials are toilet bowls made of?

The correct choice of material from which plumbing is made is of key importance when operating any equipment, including such a necessary thing as a toilet bowl. The appearance, service life and comfortable use of the model depend on this parameter. Manufacturers offer many options, but, first of all, it will not hurt to understand the characteristics of different types of materials, their pros and cons.

The most affordable and popular material is sanitary ware. He is a mixture of quartz and white clay, since kaolin is able to absorb water, the product must be coated with glaze. The design receives hardness and strength due to firing at temperatures above +1000 degrees. Perhaps, this is one of the oldest materials that appeared and was used for the manufacture of plumbing in time immemorial.

The attractiveness of faience for buyers lies in its impact strength, in terms of performance almost the same as that of porcelain, despite the more expensive cost of the latter. In addition, the appearance of faience toilets is practically indistinguishable from porcelain, performed in different colors, can have an interesting shape. An undoubted plus is the resistance of faience to aggressive household chemicals. But the main advantage is, of course, the low price due to the simple production technology. In addition, such a product is ideal not only for home, but also for giving.

Of the minuses, the following can be distinguished:

• relatively short life;
• porosity of the material, because of which it is impossible to simply wash away the contaminants with water, the use of cleaning products is required;
• over time, a calcareous deposit and a solid urea layer are formed on the material, emitting an unpleasant odor.

To make their toilet truly sophisticated, many people prefer a more expensive and high-quality material - porcelain. It has a number of unique characteristics that explain this preference, namely:

• porcelain sanitary ware looks more presentable and is considered elite;
• the high quality of the material is evidenced by its strength, which allows it to tolerate significant mechanical stresses, as well as wear resistance and durability (up to 50 years of use);
• even a white porcelain toilet attracts with its beauty, but it is possible to choose other rare colors to make the bathroom original;
• high-quality clay is taken for the manufacture of the porcelain device, and as the product is manufactured, the product is coated with compounds that give it a beautiful gloss and water resistance;
• due to the smooth surface of the material, care of the toilet is assumed to be simple, without the use of household chemicals.

Models of metal toilets are not in great demand, and there are reasons for this. Steel products, as a rule, are used in public institutions - in cafes, trains and airplanes, because they have the necessary ease. Cast-iron devices are unpopular due to the low strength of the enamel, which is prone to damage - the formation of cracks and chips. In addition, they are too heavy, which presents a certain difficulty in installation and transportation.

An additional drawback that impedes the placement of such equipment in residential premises is their appearance, which is not always in harmony with the interior of the toilet.

Meanwhile, anti-vandal metal (stainless steel) has many advantages that are worth paying attention to, namely:

• steel models are lightweight and can be delivered from the store on their own;
• due to their ease of installation;
• plumbing made of steel does not rust, in addition, it can withstand large mechanical loads, without being subjected to deformation and destruction;
• the characteristic metallic luster of the product does not fade over time;
• stainless steel toilets are not afraid of critical temperature differences;
• maintenance of the equipment is extremely simple, since the material is devoid of porosity, and any dirt is washed off without effort from a smooth surface;
• such models cannot become a source of pathogens, since plaque does not form on them.

A positive characteristic of a metal structure is considered resistance to acids and alkalis - as a result, even aggressive chemicals can be used for cleaning, although in most cases this is not necessary. The disadvantage of porcelain is its high price.

In modern life polyvinyl chloride is used to manufacture a huge number of things, and the scope of its application is constantly expanding. At the moment, toilet bowls are also successfully made from polymer material. Another thing is that such plumbing is not intended for home use, but on the other hand, a plastic toilet is perfectly suitable for a summer house.

The affordability of models in this category is already a significant advantage compared to other modifications, including those made of faience. Therefore, plastic is a cost-effective material when you need to install a street toilet.

Other advantages of plastic models are as follows:

• polymeric materials, including acrylic, have sufficient strength and can withstand heavy weight;
• plastic is characterized by high wear resistance and is not damaged at high temperatures;
• smooth and even surface is easily cleaned, not subject to the accumulation of plaque, and hence pathogenic flora;
• high-quality plastic does not absorb odors;
• Plumbing is lightweight, so its installation does not cause difficulties, in fact, like dismantling, which is important for suburban life;
• polymer models have a wide range of different colors and shapes;
• we can say that the toilet bowls made of plastic are distinguished by certain convenience in use.

Despite all the advantages, reinforced plastic toilets are not without the following disadvantages, which must be taken into account:

• the service life is much shorter than that of models from other materials;
• plumbing does not tolerate the effects of cleaning products that include abrasive particles;
• To eliminate unpleasant odors, the cottage plastic toilet will have to be equipped with an additional ventilation pipe and a lid, because due to the lack of flushing, a device without a siphon is usually purchased.

When the toilet room is decorated with natural stone tiles, there is nothing surprising in the fact that to fill the room, plumbing is required to match the chosen design. And since there is a demand for such products, they are available in different versions, annually new, more effective, high-quality and advanced models appear. For the manufacture of the material obtained from mixing acrylic resin and mineral chips - marble, granite, quartz. Depending on its type, the appearance of the product repeats the characteristic features of natural stone.

The undoubted advantages of the product are the following:

• plumbing has a special coating that gives it hygienic qualities and protects against damage;
• the material does not absorb dirt and unpleasant odors;
• auxiliary strength, the design acquires due to various additives;
• a toilet bowl that is made of artificial material is much lighter in weight than a structure made of ceramic or natural stone;
• The undoubted advantage lies in the cost of artificial stone.

Toilets are not only made of metal, earthenware or stone - there is creative plumbing made of wood, glass and other materials. Various original models, sometimes unreasonably expensive and even ridiculous, but for some they are acceptable, which means they will be produced in the future. It is worth paying attention to a few examples.

• Golden toilet - it is obvious that it is not made of real gold, but gold plating or the use of gold paint is allowed. In most cases, its foundation is faience or metal, most often the same steel, which means that it differs in similar characteristics.

• Toilets are no less interesting in their appearance, decorated with silver mosaic or gold painting. The main material used for their production is ceramic with a glaze coating of the corresponding color.

• Speaking of elite wooden models it should be clarified - they are created on the basis of faience or porcelain coated with glaze that mimics the noble breeds of dark and light wood, with the exception of the seat, which can be made of natural expensive wood. Such products can cost from 60 thousand to 150 thousand rubles. and be equipped with high-quality filling and fittings.

• Strained glass it is also used as a material for plumbing, it looks beautiful, but it has a significant drawback - the design needs careful maintenance, and it will have to be cleaned not only its outside, but also the inside - during operation, pollution also accumulates inside, which must be removed, which should be done quite complicated. Glass models suggest different colors, black is especially popular. We will not say anything about the aesthetics of a transparent toilet, but the strength characteristics of such plumbing are very doubtful.

For information on what material to choose a toilet from, see the next video.