Selecting a bath
When it come's to the installation, there are 2 options available to you:
Freestanding Bath
A bath that comes with a matching surround and can be installed free from walls or hobs.
Inset Bath
A bath designed to be installed into hob, either against a wall or island setting and will only have the top visible.
The task of choosing a bathtub can be confusing. Here’s some information to help you select the right bath for your bathroom renovation.
1) Set your budget – bathtubs are available in a wide variety of functions, sizes, colors and styles. Setting a budget before you start looking for the right bathtub will limit your choosing and prevent you from overspending.
2) Measure the available space in your bathroom – By measuring the available space in your bathroom, you will be able to ascertain the right size of the bathtub for your bathroom.
3) Select the right features – the essential purpose of a bathtub is for bathing but the modern bath tubs are available with an array of features. However, an extra feature simply implies more cost. You may be carried away by seeing the extra features, but you need to question yourself whether the features are useful to you or not. If they are useful and there are no sorts of space and budget constraints, then definitely, it would be worth an investment.
4) Select a bathtub which is easy to maintain – Varied materials are known to repel soap scum and dirt to different levels. It is always better to select one, which requires minimum maintenance.
Your choice of bath setting will be determined by the space you have available and the look you're after. When space is limited, a combined bath / shower is a practical option. Baths are designed with overhead showers in mind and are installed against a wall to maximise space with the bathroom.
5) Choose the right material – Bath material generally fits into two categories. Acrylic and Pressed metal/steel.
Acrylic or steel bath - which is best for you?
Tap the bath with your fingers and you'll notice another major difference – in materials. While cast iron is still used for period-style baths, most baths these days are made of acrylic or steel. So which is better?
The Steel Bath vs Acrylic Bath - Price
A pressed steel bath will generally come with a porcelain enamel finish and a higher price tag, while comparable sized acrylic baths can be a fraction of the price. Part of the reason is the production process. Steel moulds for example cost around $300,000 each, while those for acrylic baths might cost only $20,000.
The Steel Bath vs Acrylic Bath - Durability
The steel bath is usually very hard wearing because their porcelain enamel coating isn't affected by chemicals or household cleaners and won't scratch. However is you dropped a heavy object on it, from a great height, you might chip it. Specialist companies can fix the problem at a price, although colour matching may be difficult. A steel bath can last decades, it is worth noting bathrooms are commonly renovated every 10 or 15 years, making the bath redundant anyway.
Good acrylic baths are often made of sanitary-grade acrylic, reinforced with fibreglass and steel rods, and installed on a baseboard to achieve the required rigidity. Some will also be UV resistant so they don't discolour under prolonged exposure to natural light. Acrylic baths are more flexible than steel bath varieties, so they resist chipping but not scratches. Shallow scratches can be buffed out with metal polish, but this can leave a dull patch in the otherwise glossy finish. You could expect at least 20 years out of a good acrylic bath."
Some people argue that an acrylic bath has better heat-retention properties than a steel bath. However, experts say any advantage would be marginal and that most heat is actually lost through the water surface area. Weight is another major difference between an acrylic and steel bath. Acrylic baths are much lighter and so are easier to transport and install.
Some final comments
A good steel bath takes some beating for wear and tear and strength. The German baths including Bette, having a good reputation and chips can be invisibly repaired. They are cheaper because they are simpler and made from steel. Acrylic baths are more complex and more expensive for the same quality. They are also harder to repair. Generally speaking the more you pay for a bath the better the quality. We would not recommend cheap steel and cheap acrylic baths. Invest some money in a decent bath, fit it securely and you will be pleased.
Some people feel that the metal baths are superior as they are not plastic. Keep in mind that they are easy to chip, and if you are putting a shower over it, can be very slippery. For the family bath I usually recommend an acrylic bath as they are more forgiving in the family bathroom, and less likely to wear and cause injury.
At the end of the day, select a material according to your taste and bathroom style.