Pros and cons of a steel bathtub

Light plastic steel allows you to purchase a budget option for a bathtub. The buyer has doubts - will such a design withstand the full load experienced by the plumbing? Let's take a closer look at its features.

Features of manufacturing steel baths

The material for steel baths is metal sheets up to 5 mm thick. The required shape is obtained using presses and then enameled. The entire process is carried out on auto-stamping lines; the thickness of the walls and bottom of the bowl is regulated under electronic control. The accuracy and smoothness of the process allow us to obtain high-quality products with a long shelf life. Defects are practically eliminated.

The technology involves a number of operations:

• thin-walled steel is cut into sheets of the required size;
• using a forming machine, the sheet is pulled into the required shape;
• excess metal is cut off, the bottom is equipped with a drain hole, the wall is equipped with a hole for overflow;
• The inner surface is enameled: after applying a thick layer of enamel, it is baked at high temperature.

The entire process is automated and does not involve active manual labor. Hence the relative cheapness of a quality product.

How is steel different from other materials?

Unlike a cast iron bathtub, which is produced through a metal casting process that is done almost by hand, a steel bathtub is made by stamping. Result - the weight is almost four times less than that of its cast iron “brother”, and the price is significantly lower. In terms of care, these baths are approximately the same - they allow moderate use of brushes, abrasives, and aggressive chemicals.

A steel bathtub differs from an acrylic bathtub and luxurious bowls made of marble casting democratic - both price and appearance. But it can compete with them in the hygiene of the coating and is easier to clean: an acrylic product cannot be cleaned with a budget Pemolux, but a steel bathtub can be easily cleaned!

Advantages of a steel bath

The steel bathtub weighs no more than 15 kg, significantly facilitating transportation and installation processes. Shapes and sizes have long gone beyond the standard: the plasticity of steel allows you to make a bowl of any shape, including round and angular. Heating quickly, the walls of the steel bath allow you to begin water procedures immediately after drawing water.

All modern functions (hydromassage or lighting) are available when choosing budget steel baths. This makes them no less comfortable than more expensive acrylic options.

Wear-resistant enamel, applied electrostatically, is significantly more durable than cast iron models, and the ability to not develop microcracks for a long time enhances the hygienic properties of the product - fungi and bacteria have nowhere to multiply (subject to timely cleaning!).

Important! It is still better not to rub enamel that is resistant to mechanical stress with metal brushes and not to abuse products with acid.

The indisputable advantage of steel bathtubs remains affordable price.

5.1

Flaws

The thin walls of the bowl cause most of the disadvantages of the steel version of the bathtub. A quickly heating surface cools down just as quickly, requiring constant addition of hot water.

Important! A quality product cannot weigh less than 12 kg and have walls less than 3 mm thick.

A steel bowl is not suitable for people with significant weight — quickly begins to stagger and slide. The severity of the problem will be somewhat reduced by rigid fasteners and a reinforcing structure - a special frame. The impact resistance of the product also raises criticism: the enamel itself can withstand serious tests and loads, but can peel off due to deformation of the thin and flexible metal.

Another minus - loud noise when pouring water: the walls are not only thin, but also sonorous - when the jets hit, they resonate, reflecting the sound.

Advice! With skillful hands, the bath can be modified, reducing the severity of the problems. Apply a layer of polyurethane foam to the outside of the bowl - the bathtub will become stronger, retain the heat of the water longer and make less noise.

What to consider when choosing?

Choosing a bath consider the weight — a good design of any size must weigh at least 13 kg. Move the bathtub with one hand, try to lift it. It turns out? Most likely, the walls of the bowl are thinner than expected!

Important! Ask the seller for a certificate and carefully check the product to ensure compliance with its points. Get a guarantee.

Take a good look at the enamel (don’t be embarrassed by glasses and a flashlight), check it by touch - the coating must be even, smooth, without roughness or sagging, especially if the certificate declares that it is equipped with a self-cleaning function.Pay special attention to inspecting the walls: the smoothness and evenness of the metal processed by the molding method should not cause any complaints.

A properly chosen steel bathtub can serve regularly for up to a quarter of a century, despite its low cost.