Pros and cons of artificial stone baths

A bathtub occupies a special place in every person's home. After all, this is not only a place for washing. Taking a bath, we can relax and take our minds off everyday problems. Therefore, the choice of plumbing equipment must be approached with full responsibility.

The modern buyer faces a difficult question: what material should he buy a bathtub from? Bowls made from a wide variety of materials, such as artificial stone, are available for sale.

This is a fairly new material, so many people do not know what features, pros and cons it has.

Features of artificial stone baths

Modern industry makes it possible to create artificial materials that are practically indistinguishable from natural ones. Therefore, a bowl made of artificial stone cannot be visually distinguished from a product made from natural materials. But the price and weight of such a product will be significantly lower than that of the original.

For the production of bathtubs, stone chips are used: marble, granite, quartz, malachite. Various resins, catalysts, and plasticizers are added to the crumbs as fixing agents.

Bowls are made by casting. The base, which has a liquid consistency, is poured into special molds. The future bowl is kept in it for 24 hours. During this time, the material completely hardens, thanks to the catalysts included in its composition.

Then the bowl is removed from the mold and placed in the oven, where it undergoes a drying procedure. After this, the bath is polished and a special protective composition is applied to it.

Types of stone baths

The materials used for casting bathtubs are divided into two types:

1. Natural crumb. For example, marble, with the addition of dyes, fixing resins and catalysts.
2. Quartz sand. This is the most inexpensive and accessible material for the production of plumbing fixtures. It is called acrylic stone. Products are lighter and cheaper than those made from natural chips. They do not differ in high strength and long-term operation.

Products are classified according to the type of natural crumb:

1. Marble. The bowls have a classic, luxurious look.
2. Granite. The result is a durable product that is not inferior in appearance to a bathtub made of marble chips.
3. Onyx. The bowls turn out to be unusual and original, because onyx can shimmer like Swarovski crystals. The undeniable advantage of such products is a wide color palette.
4. Malachite. The tanks turn out to be unusual and stylish.
5. Veneer. It looks extremely original - it completely replicates the structure of natural wood.
6. Sandstone. A beautiful natural material from which the legendary pyramids of Giza were built.

Reference! To create a unique, original bathtub, manufacturers mix several types of stone chips.

In addition, baths can be divided into types according to the method of grinding the material:

1. Prickly. In this case, the edges are asymmetrical.
2. Polished. The surface is smooth, but a slight roughness remains.
3. Polished. The product is smooth, matte with a barely visible stone structure.
4. Mirror.The bowl turns out glossy, and the pattern of the material is clearly visible.

Pros and cons of manufactured and artificial stone baths

Let's move on to the main characteristics of the product, its advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages are:

1. Stylish design. Externally, the tanks successfully imitate natural stone, but, unlike it, the surface of the bowl of an artificial stone bathtub is warm and smooth.
2. Excellent thermal insulation. The bowl has fairly thick walls, and the material retains heat well. Therefore, the water will be warm for a long time.
3. Easy to care for. You can clean the bathtub with any detergent. The resulting defect can be eliminated on your own: just apply a special paste and then thoroughly polish the damaged area.
4. Resistance to mechanical stress. Stone is an exceptionally durable material, so it can withstand even the fall of heavy objects.
5. Soundproofing. When filling the bathtub, the water will not “ring” as it hits the surface of the bathtub.
6. Safety. The bowls are completely harmless to the human body.

Not without its shortcomings. True, there are significantly fewer of them than products made from other materials.

The disadvantages include:

1. Weight. Even artificial stone has a significant mass. Therefore, installing such a product will require a lot of effort.
2. Price. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to buy such a bathtub.
3. Stain resistant. If dyes get on the surface, you risk getting a stain that will ruin the entire appearance of the plumbing.
4. Do not clean with substances containing large abrasive particles. This will make the protective layer thinner. Therefore, use detergents in the form of paste, gel, cream.

A bathtub made of artificial stone has undeniable advantages that outweigh the disadvantages. With proper use, the sanitary ware will serve you for a long time, becoming a real decoration of the room.