The undersides of steel bathtubs are usually completely rusted. The bottom is not coated in enamel. This makes the tub unsafe and unstable. Acrylic tubs use fiberglass sheets for reinforcement underneath vacuum-formed sheets of colored acrylic. The advantages of acrylic are lighter weight, ease of installation, durable, non-porous surface, and a finish that can be repaired.
The disadvantages are that the finish can scratch if cleaned with abrasive cleaners and can discolor over time on cheaper brands. However, the better grades of acrylic bathtubs have finishes that are very hard to scratch and have little to no discoloring over time.
Acrylic tubs give you a lot of choices for shapes, sizes and colors. Acrylic is a great all-around choice. These baths can be purchased as soaking tubs as opposed to a bathing tub. High quality acrylic tubs provide one of the most relaxing and invigorating bath experiences available. Cast iron. Cast iron tubs are made by pouring molten iron into a mold of the desired shape. Then smoothed and coated with a thick layer of enamel. A cast-iron tub is a higher-end option, but it is an investment that will really last with superior durability.
The enamel is resistant to chipping and scratching and it can be resurfaced. These timeless looking tubs have excellent heat retention due to their heavy material. On the downside, these tubs are extremely heavy and require extra labor — and often extra floor reinforcement for wood floors — to install. Cast iron bathtubs can also be purchased as soaking tubs as opposed to a bathing tub.
The Kohler Cast Iron Warranty is lifetime. Cast Polymer. Cast Polymer tubs are made from a variety of materials. Crushed limestone mixed with resin and crushed natural volcanic ash finished with Gelcoat are popular see Victoria Albert. These bathtubs are durable, retain heat well, and available in many colors, styles, and materials. Many have natural-looking colors. You can repair the finish. These bathtubs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. We highlight products and services you might find interesting.
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Gifts for Everyone. Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Connie Chen. Table of Contents. Here are the best bathtubs of Our testing methodology The best alcove bathtub The best drop-in bathtub The best corner bathtub The best freestanding soaking bathtub The best walk-in bathtub FAQs Check out our other home renovation guides.
When shopping for a bathtub, consider the size of your bathroom and how you intend to use your tub. The best bathtubs come from brands like Delta, Kohler, and Rejuvenation.
Consider calling a professional to install your new tub since it can involve tricky plumbing. Loading Something is loading. Email address. Popular Reviews. Insider Reviews' All-Time Best list. Black Friday deals available now.
Is the Dyson Airwrap worth the cost? Best kids winter coats. Air fryers are a sham. Our testing methodology. Though if you wished, the clawfoot design is still being made today if you prefer that style instead. These are traditionally longer and rectangular in shape, requiring more space than the alternatives. Contrary to the more classic design of the clawfoot is the oval bathtub. These bathtubs are round in shape and symmetrical, quite similar to a water basin.
Quite popular in apartments or smaller homes where space is a premium, these bathtubs have a more modern look that contrasts well against the sharper corners and edges of the rest of your bathroom. An angled bathtub is slopped slightly higher on one side, with the idea of providing support for your back and neck during the bath.
Highly flexible in size, these can be equivalent to an oval bathtub in size or be found larger than both the oval and normal freestanding styles. This design dates back to early Victorian era bathrooms and is still widely popular today. Alcove or recessed tubs are tubs that are installed in a recess of three connecting walls with one finished side. Similar to an alcove, but much larger is the corner tub.
These are bathtubs that are much wider than the typical alcove bathtub, but the space they fill is similar. Alcove bathtubs are usually installed adjacent to three connecting walls, usually a window. More for relaxation and therapy, these bathtubs are more similar to hot tubs than normal tubs.
Undermount bathtubs are installed underneath the surrounding deck or ingress, so it looks more uniform to your bathroom as the rim is hidden. Drop-ins are installed by dropping them in a carved out area then sealed in, so the rim is more visible. They both save space, they both come in many different styles and material and many of them can be fitted with powered jets for a more relaxing bath experience or combined with a shower for multipurpose use. Generally a fair bit taller than normal bathtubs, the purpose of these is to sit comfortably in place to allow yourself to soak.
These bathtubs also tend to run a wide spectrum of sizes as there are the longer, more elegant styles for larger homes and of course, the much more compact ones for smaller homes. The smaller size is generally more popular as an apartment bathtub. A walk-in bathtub is a bathtub that is fitted to allow the user to walk in and sit down without fear of slipping. There are grooves and notches along the insides of the tub to provide walking grip and generally there is also hand holds to assist balance and stability.
These are most prominent in homes that have elderly folk as these will allow them to bathe without further assistance. A whirlpool tub is a bathtub that houses self-contained jets. These jets are either air or water jets, but their primary function is to massage the user for both relaxation and health purposes. Air jet whirlpools contain dozens of small jets that pump warm air through to create air bubbles while water jet whirlpool have fewer but larger jets that push water at high speeds.
The primary advantage of a whirlpool tub is that it creates a deeper massage sensation than any other tub on the market. An air tub is a bathtub that is equipped with multiple small jets that blow heated air into the bath water to create a massaging sensation. Although they are quite similar to water whirlpool baths, air tubs use their jets to create a bubbling sensation rather than a deep, massaging sensation.
Conversely, air tubs do not retain heat for as long as whirlpool tubs and are more designed for those that want a quick massage rather than a long soak. There are two factors in choosing the right material for your bathtub , namely price and comfort. Every material feels different to the touch, so you should test out which is the most comfortable to you as you will be spending a significant time in your bathtub and your comfort is important to enjoy it.
However, the most comfortable material may also be quite pricey and quite a tad bit heavier, so you should do research on what your bathroom can handle before purchasing. The cheapest bathtub material, fiberglass is constructed from reinforced plastic sheets which are eventually molded into the shape of a bathtub. The material is quite durable although prone to chipping from heavy impacts and it carries the unfortunate trait of being porous.
Porous meaning it will absorb water regularly, eventually resulting in the material warping over time and becoming increasingly unstable. Porcelain is constructed by layering cast iron or stamped steel with a layer of porcelain enamel-a mixture of powdered glass and substrate heated into a durable coating. As a result, these bathtubs are quite durable, and are non-porous, making it so they will not warp or deteriorate over time.
The porcelain coating, however, is quite delicate to heavy impacts, so take care not to drop anything on it or you will leave some very noticeable blemishes on its surface. Similar to fiberglass, acrylic is formed by taking a solid sheet of petrochemicals, stabilizers, resin and appropriate dye, heating it then molding the result into a bathtub shape which is then reinforced with fiberglass.
Lightweight and available in many styles and sizes, acrylic is a popular choice for both drop-in and freestanding bathtubs. Although it looks and feels quite similar to fiberglass, the material is non-porous, making its durability much higher than fiberglass. It is also resistant to chipping and heavy impacts, though typically you should still refrain from throwing things at your bathtub.
Ceramic bathtubs are formed by molding numerous ceramic tiles together until it hardens. The benefit of this method of construction is that ceramic is quite similar to clay, meaning it comes in many different styles and sizes, more than any material on the market.
The drawback to this is that ceramic must be continually maintained or it will eventually deteriorate and crumble. Stone resin is a material composing of crushed natural stone bounded together with adhesive to give you a composite material that has the look and feel of natural stone without the additional weight and added cost.
A popular choice as it is a solid middle ground between cost and quality, stone resin offers excellent durability and heat retention while also being non-porous and quite affordable. Made from crushed limestone and resin, this material is as classic as ancient Rome.
It retains heat very well and is quite durable while carrying an excellent pearlescent shine. However, the numerous cons of this material keeps it from being very popular. Finally, if regular maintenance is not kept on cultured marble, it will start to discolor and stain.
Constructed from pure copper, copper bathtubs are custom made and are the cusp of what is considered a luxury bathtub. This material is incredibly durable, holds heat, requires absolutely no additional maintenance other than consistent water use and is aesthetically brilliant. Similar to copper, wood is a bathtub material that is very rustic and aesthetically pleasing. The wax will hold for several years, but over time these bathtubs will tend to break down with consistent use and are not seen as a lasting investment compared to the similarly priced copper bathtubs.
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