Large baths: pros, cons and recommendations for choosing

A large bathtub is a cherished dream of connoisseurs of comfort. Expanse, the possibility of complete immersion in full growth, the relaxing effect of water "afloat" - this is the true meaning of a full bath. It is convenient and prestigious to have such a mini-pool in individual use, however, there are some nuances.

First, let's define the term. It is known that there are bathtubs in standard sizes for typical apartments. This is 130x70, 140x170, 150x70, 170x70, 170x75, 180x70, 180x80 centimeters. These are Russian and European traditional sizes. Everything that is longer than 180 cm passes through the category of "large" ones. A bathtub measuring 200x85 cm is no longer intended for ordinary bathrooms. She just does not fit in length. Difficulties will begin when you try to carry it through the door.

The advantages of a large bath are obvious.

• Comfortable, unhindered swimming, almost swimming.
• Solid and rich appearance.
• Various additional features in the form of hydromassage, aromatherapy and other similar options.

But there are no advantages without disadvantages. The disadvantages of large bathtubs are in the features of their advantages.

• High price, affordable only to fairly wealthy people. Comfort and prestige are expensive.
• Large sizes require a large room and strong floors. Standard apartments are hardly suitable for this even with redevelopment.
• High water consumption.
• Due to the enormous capacity it entails bathtubs to slowly fill and merge. The standard water inlet / outlet system will have to be modernized.

Large bathtubs, like compact ones, can be of several types in size and configuration.

By size:

• single (home) - for a comfortable bathing for one person;
• double - ideal for lovers or spouses;
• collective - for 4-6 people, rather, similar to mini-pools.

The last two varieties are most often found in hotels.

Fonts of the luxury segment may have:

• equipment for hydro and air massage;
• special lamps for chromotherapy;
• water disinfection system;
• additional heating.

Such bathtubs are made, as a rule, from two types of materials:

1. acrylic;
2. metal (cast iron and structural steel).

There are baths made of innovative quartz, as well as ceramics, wood and artificial stone. But this is more exotic than everyday practice.

The shape of the font is most often determined by the material. Acrylic is very plastic and allows you to make a product of any shape at the request of the customer. Acrylic bathtubs can be:

• regular shapes (rectangular, square);
• round, in the form of a bowl;
• irregular shape (asymmetric);
• faceted (number of faces at the customer’s choice);
• oval;
• angular.

This, of course, is not a complete list. The client’s fantasies and technology capabilities suggest a wide variety of options.

Metal does not provide the customer and manufacturer such freedom. Cast iron bathtubs most often have the form of a square or rectangle. Steel has a bit more options because steel is more ductile. But the large size is very limited. In addition, cast-iron bathtubs even of standard sizes weigh a lot.

Bathtubs of this size and purpose, as a rule, are not chosen, but ordered. But both the choice and the order depend on several fundamental points. We list them.

1. It is necessary to correlate the parameters of the room with the bathroom, which will be installed in it. Is its area sufficient, what is its configuration, how will the device be installed. It should be remembered that in the bathroom there are usually other furnishings, household appliances. If the area allows and the goal is to place the font in the middle of the room with circular access, then you need to buy a round, oval or rectangular bathtub. If this is not possible, then it makes sense to look at the corner.
2. It is necessary to obtain engineering advice from a specialist on the strength of the floors in a house or apartment. The floor may simply not be able to support this weight, especially in an old-built house.
3. Take into account the individual characteristics of all family members. Especially in cases where there are sick or elderly people. Take care of the presence of a special step, the seats, head restraints, handrails, anti-slip coating.
4. Think and consult about the possibility of installing additional equipment (devices for massage, heating, disinfection), if they are not included.
5. Pay close attention to the quality of the material and coating. There should not be chips, cracks, bumps.
6. When choosing a steel bath, it will not be superfluous to measure the thickness of the sheet. This is best done along the edge of the drain hole. The thickness of the metal must be at least 4 mm. If less, then it is better to refuse the purchase. It will also be useful to find out the weight of the product from the seller. The weight of steel large tubs should start at 70 kg, depending on size.
7. Be sure to be interested in the availability and terms of the guarantee. In the event of an accident, hundreds of liters of water can cause considerable damage. It’s important to know where to file a claim.
8. Assess the reliability of mounting elements. Proper and safe installation is almost the main thing in the operation of a large bathtub.

The choice of the manufacturer is also important. European companies are known on the Russian market of acrylic bathtubs Ravak (Czech Republic), Kolpa-San (Slovenia), Riho (Czech Republic), PoolSpa (Poland). Their products are famous for their durability, consistent quality over many years and excellent design. But the bathtubs of these manufacturers are very expensive for the mass Russian buyer.

In recent years, Russian manufacturing companies have entered the market. It - “Aquanet”, “1Marka”, “Radomir”, “Triton”. Products of these manufacturers are inferior to European ones in acrylic and strength, but they are much cheaper.

China is making itself more confident. Firms SSWW and Massimo They offer quite decent products, but the quality of acrylic and reinforcement is not always stable. If the bathtub is large, these characteristics are of particular importance.

Thus, domestic acrylic bathtubs are the golden mean.

When choosing acrylic bathtubs you need:

• pay attention to the thickness of the material (at least 5 mm);
• check if the bottom is bending, if it is sufficiently strengthened;
• evaluate the quality of acrylic in appearance.

Superiority in the production of metal bathtubs belongs to Europe. Well-known companies Kaldewei, Bette (Germany), BLB (Portugal), Roca (Spain). Their products are distinguished by true respect for man. Some bathtubs have a multi-year warranty. But prices are at least 2 times higher than Russian ones.

The most famous Russian manufacturers of metal bathtubs are the Verkh-Isetsky Metallurgical Plant and OJSC Santo-Holding (Lipetsk Pipeline Plant). Both companies have proven themselves in the plumbing market. They produce products that are practically not inferior to European standards. Improve the quality of enamel and external coating. Develop new models.

Among aristocrats and simply rich people, it is customary to stun people around with various records of magnitude, weight, and high cost. They touched these quirks and such an ordinary thing as a bath.

British designer Simon Krapf created a bathtub weighing 10 tons from the rarest Indonesian stone. It was sold at an auction in Dubai for 1,700 thousand dollars. The material from which it is made resembles a petrified tree and has healing properties (as some publications claim).

In Russia, there is a true relic known throughout the world and listed in the Guinness Book of Records for its size (it is considered the largest in the world). This is a huge font-bowl made of solid granite interspersed with a Labrador. Its diameter is 5.33 m, height - 1.92, and depth - 1.52. The approximate volume is 23 cubic meters.

It was created in the XVIII century. The author of this masterpiece is considered the master Samson Sukhanov, and the customer is engineer Augustine Betancourt. There is a miracle bath in the Babolovsky Palace in Pushkin, Leningrad Region (formerly Tsarskoye Selo). Stands in the basement of a collapsing building. It is currently impossible to remove it from there.

Large bathtubs are not the largest segment of the Russian plumbing market yet. It is developing, but its growth opportunities are limited by the poverty of the population. A large bath is a convincing sign of wealth and prosperity. And it is intended primarily for installation in a separately built own house. It is in this case that true space opens up for creative imagination and interesting finds.

See the next video for an overview of the large acrylic bathtub.