Cast-iron bath - the time-proved classic

Cast iron baths can be called a classic. They began to serve as a human sanitary good long before the production of steel and even more so acrylic baths. Of course, steel and acrylic have significantly supplanted cast iron in the plumbing market. Their main advantages in the production of baths are the low weight of the finished product and the variety of shapes. However, cast iron bathtubs are too early to be retired. Their use is still relevant today.

Bathtubs made of cast iron have a wall thickness of 6-8 mm. Of course, because of this, the bath significantly adds weight, but this thickness is the guarantor of a number of advantages over plumbing from acrylic or steel.

The undoubted advantage of cast iron baths is their strength. Due to the properties of cast iron and the impressive thickness of its walls, baths made of cast iron are not deformed, not afraid of shocks and accidental dropping of heavy objects. Such a bathtub with proper care of the enamel can serve for centuries.

Cast iron has a high heat capacity. Due to this property, The water in the cast iron bath retains its temperature for a long time.. In addition, the cast-iron tub is quiet enough when pouring water and does not ring as well as steel. Only acrylic models can compare to cast iron bathtubs in terms of heat retention and noise absorption.

Sustainability. When properly installed on a quality base, due to its large mass, the bathtubs made of cast iron are extremely stable and do not require additional support, as in the case of steel baths.

It is worth saying a few words and about the disadvantages of cast iron baths. Firstly, due to the refractory nature of the material, cast iron baths do not differ in a variety of shapes and sizes. Second, cast iron baths have a lot of weight (from 120kg), which significantly complicates the process of bath delivery to the apartment and its installation.

We should mention right away that it is difficult to find a small size cast iron bath in plumbing stores. Cast iron baths with length of 120 or 130 cm and width of 70 cm are called small. These products are purchased for small bathrooms and installed along a short wall in order to save useful space.

Cast iron baths of medium size are standard and most common. Dimensions of such baths are as follows: length 140-150 cm and width 70 cm. Installation of medium-sized bath is ideal for those who do not have a spacious bathroom, but likes to bask in a warm bath.

In the picture you can see the Spanish Roca Haiti bathtub of medium size 150x70 cm.

Cast-iron baths with a length of 170, 180 and 185 cm and a width of 70 or 85 cm are considered large.. Large cast-iron bathtub is an expensive purchase, and it is more suitable for installation in private houses with a spacious bathroom. First, it is extremely difficult to deliver such a bathtub in a high-rise apartment because of its heavy weight. Secondly, a large cast iron bathtub will look better in a spacious room, as a central element of the interior.

A large cast iron bathtub is not just a large, heavy plumbing. Installed in the bathroom, it will emphasize the sense of stability and self-confidence. And, of course, the usual water procedures in such a bath become incredibly comfortable and pleasant.

On the photo you can see the model of cast iron bath Atlantida, the dimensions of which are 208x100 cm and a depth of 66 cm to the overflow hole.

When choosing a cast iron bath, there are a number of important aspects that you should pay attention to, regardless of the size of the product.

The quality of the enamel. Be sure to make a thorough inspection of the enamel surface inside the cast iron bathtub before buying. Not allowed:

• Chips
• Cracks
• Peeling
• Leaks
• Uneven thickness of enamel
• Presence of discrepancies in color

Ideally the enamel must be impact resistant with a coating thickness of 1 - 1,2 mm. If you find any of the above defects, it is better to refuse to buy a defective bath. Plumbing, covered with enamel, easy to clean, not afraid of the use of special means for cleaning. But any defect in the coating during operation will only increase. Cracks and chips will proliferate and darken, reducing the life of the tub. Smooth shiny enamel is a sign of high quality of the product. But because of the difficulty of processing cast iron, a slight waviness of the coating is allowed.

The second important parameter is the quality of cast iron. Thickness of the walls of the tub should be at least 5 mm. You can assess the quality of casting by the outer surface of the walls. It should not have potholes, chips, excessive roughness, bumps.

It is best if the outside is powder-coated. Such a bathtub receives additional protection, is easier to care for and acquires an exceptional aesthetic appearance.

Connoisseurs of the comfort of water procedures can also pay attention to the depth of the bathtub. The depth is counted from the bottom to the overflow hole. The standard distance is about 32 cm. But often cast-iron bathtubs have a depth of 40-46 cm to the overflow. Of course, it is very nice to take a bath in such a deep fonts, when the body is completely immersed in water.

Another couple of nuances that deserve attention when choosing a cast iron bath is its price and the quality of components. When installing a cast iron bathtub, no low-quality supports or drainage system should be used. And no matter how attractive the low price tag is, you should seriously think about the quality of the product and the problems that may result in the purchase of a bath that does not meet the requirements of reliability.

The cast-iron bathtub on legs looks unusual.

Cast-iron bathtub on legs will be perfect if you want to make your bathroom in a classic style.

There is a stereotype that the best are imported cast iron bathtubs, but today and domestic manufacturers can offer decent models that are not inferior to the European in quality.

So, the most affordable among cast iron baths of good quality produced in Ulyanovsk at the plant JSC "Plant Universal". The history of the company dates back to 1961. Since that time, the plant has been changing the equipment and technology, so, since 2005, the factory produces baths by Japanese technology of molding under vacuum. But the quality of the products remains consistently high for over 50 years. The signature is the three-layer enamel coatingthat allows the production of bathtubs with durable and reliable coating. The greatest love among ordinary buyers for excellent quality and affordable prices won the series "Nostalgie". For example, the cost of the model "Universal" of standard sizes 150 * 70 cm and a depth of 46 cm is within 12000 rubles.

Another Russian company for the production of cast iron baths is JSC "Kirov Plant". It was established by order of Empress Elizabeth back in 1745 (!) and is rightfully considered the oldest. But the plant keeps abreast of modern technologies. Thus, At Kirov factory the bathtubs are cast on German line, which provides 25 years of guaranteed lifetime for the products. Another advantage of Kirov bathtubs is special enamel with silver ions, which help disinfect the water. Today in serial production there are 9 models of cast iron bathtubs, among them the compact bathtub "Malyutka" 1.2m long.

Among European manufacturers the most popular are cast-iron baths of the Spanish company Roca. Roca brand baths have been produced for over 100 years, and today the company has about 50 factories, located around the world. Despite the fact that this is a premium bath, their price is relatively low. For example, the cost of the Roca Continental bath is within 17-18 thousand rubles. Also popular are the bath models Roca Haiti and Roca Malibu. Although the product range, which includes about 40 models, there are also expensive baths, the cost of which starts at 40 and can exceed 100 thousand rubles.

Another Spanish manufacturer of cast iron bathtubs - Novial. The production was founded in 1967, and since then the technology of casting and molding of cast iron and covering products with enamel has been constantly improved. The exceptional strength of coverage is achieved by firing the baths in an infrared furnace. Baths Novial are widely enough represented in price categories: bath-tub Susan will cost about 10 000 rubles, but the luxury model Susan Delux length 180 cm, equipped with aero-and hydro-massage system. It will be necessary to pay not less than 60 thousand rubles.

In addition to the above-listed companies in stores you can also find baths made of cast iron, made in Italy (Artex), Finland (Timo) and China (Goldman).

We pay your attention that regardless of the brand of manufacturer, it is worth choosing a cast-iron bathtub with all seriousness. It is necessary to examine carefully the condition of the coatings in the store and check the availability of all components. The bathtub can get defects, both due to manufacturing defects (no manufacturer is able to 100% foresee out-of-the-ordinary situations), and during transportation.

All prices are as of the end of 2014.

In terms of variety of forms, cast iron baths are not the best competitors to acrylic sanitary ware. But cast iron bathtubs are still valued for their durability and ease of care and the enduring sense of comfort and stability they provide.