Cast marble bathtubs: a luxury choice for luxurious living

Marble bathroom, as well as any other object made of this noble material, first of all we associate with the times of antiquity. Marble sculptures of the masters of Ancient Greece and Rome still remain a model of harmony and beauty in art.
Ancient style hasn't gone out of fashion for many centuries: these are dresses in empire style, facades of buildings, decorated with columns, and, of course, interior items made of marble. But modern housing, if it is not a three-storey country house, does not have enough space for the placement of marble statues and pedestals. But there's almost always a place for a marble bath, thanks to the choice and shapes of sizes. In such a bath lovers of antiquity can feel themselves real Greek gods that came down from Olympus!
How to make a marble bath
If you decide to decorate your bathroom with a marble bathtub, you have two options - a natural stone bathtub and an artificial one.

Natural marble - Natural marble is soft and pliable enough that you can give it almost any shape (not without reason, it is a favorite material of sculptors). Natural marble baths are made by cutting the font from a single stone block. It is made, though not by hand, but with the help of special computerized equipment.

Advantages and disadvantages of marble baths
The main advantage of marble baths is their unusual and stunningly beautiful appearance. Like any expensive, luxurious thing, a marble bath, first of all, is an indicator of the status of its owner, demonstrates his or her artistic taste and financial status.

In addition to the fact that it is a great decoration of the bathroom, around which the entire interior is built, a marble bathroom has excellent "technical characteristics".
Noise isolation - is one of the most important advantages of such a bathtub. The material of which it is made, perfectly muffles the sound of pouring water, and therefore does not require additional soundproofing.
Another positive quality of marble baths is resistance to high and low temperatures. It is not heated, not cooled, and, not unimportant, does not contribute to excessively rapid cooling of water.
Bathtubs made of natural stone are characterized by Resistant to bacteria penetration and contribute to maintaining hygiene in the bathroom.

The disadvantages of bathtubs made of natural stone are only two, but very significant. The first is ExpensiveNot everyone can afford such a bath.
The second disadvantage is that marble baths need constant care. During the use of such a bathtub, many chips and cracks are formed, so from time to time, it is necessary to carry out its restoration.

Bathtubs, made of light-colored marble, eventually turn yellow. In addition, marble easily absorbs various dye substances, due to which stains from household chemicals and perfumes inevitably form on the surface of the bathtub.
Cast (artificial) marble
Artificial, or as it is also called, cast marble baths are made of a composite material based on marble crumb, synthetic resins and dyes. Bathrooms made of this material are not inferior in quality to baths made of natural stone, and even have some advantages.

The production technology of such baths allows to get a homogeneous material, without cracks and cavities (which are inevitable, if the bath is made from a single piece of natural marble). This makes cast marble bathtubs more durable and wear-resistant.
Application of gelcoat for bathtubs
Gelcoat is a varnish with which the surface of the cast marble bathtub is coated at the production stage. This is to make the finished product more resistant to external damage, dirt, temperature and humidity fluctuations. In addition, the use of gelcoat determines the appearance of the bathtub. Colored varnish is needed for the production of multicolored bathtubs, and transparent varnish is needed for bathtubs that imitate natural stone. The combination of colored and transparent gelkuot allows for intricate patterns on the surface of the bath.

Shapes of marble baths
Marble bathtubs are mostly made to order, so you can create a sketch of your future bath yourself.
It can be smooth, rounded lines or strict geometry, a roughly hewn block of stone with an oblong hole or a polished modern Jacuzzi. The choice is yours!



When buying, be sure to pay attention to the quality of marble processing. The surface should be smooth and pleasant. There should be no chips and cracks.
You can order a bath in the form of a rose petal or an ancient font - your imagination is limited only by your financial capabilities.
Marble bath in the bathroom interior
The presence of a marble bath in the bathroom "obliges" the rest of the interior to match it. The usual faceless tile on the walls and plastic panels on the ceiling will not do, but we also should not cover everything with marble tiles, from floor to ceiling, because otherwise there is a risk to recreate the interior of any of the subway stations. So we need to find the golden mean.

A marble bathtub can become the detail that defines the whole style of the room.. Depending on the appearance of the bathtub, it can be classical, empire or any of the ethnic styles. Just choose the appropriate finish and complement the look of the room with suitable accessories. By the way, the accessories can also be made of marble. Small statuettes, vases, toothbrush holders - the choice in the stores is huge.
A big bathtub will be your pride and the way of absolute relaxation. Learn more about a big bathtub, its features and installation in our article about large bathtubs.

Marble details will not spoil the appearance of your bath. Order together with the bathtub a sink made of the same material, they will perfectly complement each other. Or pick up marble countertops for furniture - matching or contrasting colors.

Ordinary acrylic plumbing also goes well with marble wall finishes.

Marble tiles are a great material for finishing the bathroom, just do not resist overdoing it.
If you decide to lay the floor in the bathroom with marble, make sure to buy special mats, as it is easy to slip on the marble floor when leaving the bathroom.
Prices for marble bathtubs
A marble bathtub is not a pleasure from cheap. The price range is quite large: the cost of a natural stone bath starts at five thousand dollars, the cheapest bath of artificial marble is available at the price of acrylic or cast iron.
There are also baths made of cast marble with a whirlpool. Learn more about baths with whirlpool in our article about whirlpool baths.

The cost of a natural stone bath, first of all, depends on the material of which it is made. The marble deposits, the color (rarer is more expensive), the size and thickness of the stone matter. Add to that the cost of transportation and processing.

An artificial marble bathtub is much cheaper. Its price is influenced by shape, size, availability of additional accessories, in short, everything that usually determines the cost of any piece of interior.

Installation of a marble bath
Marble baths are easy to install. They do not require special legs or frames, unless it is provided by the design. However, it is better to entrust the installation of such a bathtub to professionals.

Often firms that make and sell products made of marble deal with their installation. The fact is that special tools for working with stone are usually only available to professionals, and during installation it may be necessary to trim the edges of the bath or drill holes.

Care of a marble bathtub
A marble bathtub, especially one made of natural stone, needs special, gentle treatment.
To ensure that the bathtub retains its color as long as possible, it should be cleaned every day. Hard brushes and sponges (especially with metal fiber) and aggressive detergents should be avoided.
Many cleaners for sanitary ware have in their composition acid and abrasives that will gradually destroy the surface layer of the marble bath. For everyday care a soft sponge or a cloth and warm water will be enough.
Polishing is an important part of marble bath care. It should be done after cleaning with wax and turpentine. Usually, a piece of wool cloth and a special polishing wax are used for polishing the bath, but you can do with the ordinary wax. To give a better shine, the already polished surface of the bathtub is treated with turpentine. Usually a few drops are enough, but the more turpentine, the more glossy the shine (just do not overdo it, this liquid has a very strong, acrid smell).

Once or twice a week, the marble tub should be cleaned with a marble care product. You can find it in any construction hypermarket or in a specialized store.
How to remove stains from the surface of the bath
Marble bathtub - a thing, though beautiful, but not very practical. It, as a living being, needs constant care and attention. For example, you should constantly monitor its surface to prevent stains from household chemicals, drinks, etc., as it is sometimes difficult to get rid of them.
If the bath is made of natural marble, a bleach will help to remove stains.
Bleach can harm artificial marble. A mixture of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide can be used to clean a cast marble bathtub. You should sprinkle the dirt with this mixture and leave it for 24 hours.

Heavier stains, such as rust marks, are better removed with a special marble cleaner.
Conclusion
Only true connoisseurs of beautiful things can afford a marble bath, who will spare neither money, nor effort, nor time to give it proper care and keep it in pristine condition for a long time. But do not let this stop you, because the marble bath will pay a hundredfold to its owner for all this.

A beautiful, high quality bath in the appropriate interior is able to shake the imagination of even the most sophisticated viewer. A stay in such a bath will give you an incomparable feeling.
Marble bath - so far my dream. But for sure it will come true someday