How to choose an acrylic bath
Acrylic is a kind of complex polymer, in other words, plastic, which has recently been used to make baths.
Material
It would seem, why talk about the material of the bath, if we are talking about acrylic. In fact, it is possible to find baths with different acrylic composition on sale, and they can be divided into two groups.
The first group is represented by sanitary products made from ABS and PMMA. We will not go into chemical names. It is important for an inquisitive consumer to know only that ABS is a type of elastic plastic, and PMMA is homogeneous organic plexiglass. The first substance constitutes about 90% of the entire bath, and the acrylic layer in the form of PMMA is only a coating. Such plumbing has a short service life, only about 3–5 years. The upper layer is quite thin, and the inner one is hygroscopic, which leads to destruction.
The second type of plumbing can be attributed to the bath, made entirely of PMMA on a reinforced base. Their cost is higher because there is no porous cheap layer in them. Such a bath will regularly serve its owner for about 10 years. If the product is purchased for a country house, where the bath will be filled extremely rarely, in a short summer period, then there is no point in buying an expensive bath. Buying a bath for daily use is better to fork out for a product made from high-quality, albeit expensive, material.
Independent inspection
At the end of the side of the bath there is usually a cut. If two layers are visible, then this is an excellent pattern made from PMMA and a reinforcement base that has been used recently. If you see three layers, then this product is uniquely created on the basis of ABS.
You can also see the thickness of the acrylic layer. The larger it is, the longer the service life of the bath. 2? 3 mm of acrylic is a product of poor quality and it will last only 2? 3 years, 4 mm of acrylic will allow you to use the bathroom up to 7 years, and 5? 6 mm - and all 12 years.
The surface must be completely smooth.
No tricks the seller should force a person to get a bath with a rough or uneven surface, because in this case we can talk about uneven coverage, which will significantly reduce the life of the product. It is believed that high-quality acrylic coating of the bath as if attracts the palm of a person, like glass. You can conduct this experiment even in the store.
Reinforcement bath. What the buyer should know
Since acrylic is quite plastic, he needs a base. The stiffness of the product gives the reinforcing layer, which is applied from the outside in the factory, and then coated with epoxy resin. The thicker this layer, the stronger the bath. Some manufacturers try to cheat and put more composition on the butt of the side of the bath, where buyers often drop in. In this case, it is recommended to evaluate the bath surface from the bottom. Even small transitions in thickness will be visible here.
You can also lightly press on the bowls and walls. A small deflection will speak eloquently about the low quality of the product. Wall thickness can be checked with a flashlight.
If you attach a flashlight tightly to the bottom of the tub, and then look at it from the other side, you can see a clear gap. This suggests an insufficient wall thickness - it is better to refuse such a purchase.
How to determine the manufacturer
It is much easier to search for a bath of a particular manufacturer, than to inspect a flashlight or knock on each product. It is necessary to know in advance which company will show the bath at its best.
Here are some Russian manufacturers that can please the future owner of an acrylic bath - Radomir, BellRado, Aquatek, Doctor Jet. Aquatic products can also be called with a slight stretch of Russian, since the company is managed by Russian and German businessmen.
Foreign manufacturers do not always offer the best quality, but the German and Italian masters should be trusted. Italy is represented by BelBagno, ArtCeram, Novellini Elysium, and Germany by GNT and Sunrans. Products of Czech and Polish manufacturers also show themselves well in business, and besides, they are distinguished by more affordable prices.
If Italian and German manufacturers request from 50,000 to 200,000 rubles, then you can buy a Czech Ravak bath in the price range from 7,000 to 50,000 rubles. Some Chinese and Turkish manufacturers are also trustworthy. For example, Eago, a brand from Hong Kong, can cost consumers from 6,000 to 30,000 rubles.
It is necessary to know:
- installing a shower stall with your own hands;
- bath enamel restoration.
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