What Is The Best Material For A Bathtub: 5 Most Popular & Commonly Used Materials For A Bathtub

5 Most Popular & Commonly Used Materials For A Bathtub

With the hundreds of shapes as well as the sizes to choose from, purchasing a bathtub can be a difficult job. The bathtub material selection determines the bathtub's price, durability, as well as the cleanability. Use the below-mentioned bathtub material comparison, that will help you to choose the best option according to your needs:

Plastic

Either made from the fiberglass or acrylic, the plastic bathtubs offer's the greatest design flexibility because it can be molded into many shapes. Besides that, it is warm to the touch as well as is also insulated well, this means the water will not cool as fast as in enameled-steel bathtubs or in the cast-iron tubs. The plastic bathtub is also the lightest bathtub, it weights only about 60-70 pounds. Although it will not chip easily, the abrasive cleaners can damage the surface.

Enameled Steel

The formed steel bathtubs having a porcelain-enamel coating are regarded as the least expensive bathtubs. But this material also has its drawbacks like steel conducts heat, which in turn means the tub water cools very quickly, the surface is very much prone to chipping and it weighs about twice the weight of the plastic bathtub.

Cast-iron

Cast-iron tubs, like the steel, are coated using the enamel. However, they do not chip as easily as the steel and this is because the enamel coating is very much thicker than the steel tubs, and the cast iron is much more durable as well as resistant to almost all forms of impacts. The cast-iron tub will pull the heat from the water, but after it heats up, it will keep the water warm for a long period of time. The main drawback is its weight, which is 350-500 pounds, which may become complicated for the second-floor tub installations.

Cast-polymer

The look of the cast-polymer tubs are traditionally replicate of marble, or granite, and are available in a wide range of solid colors. Cast polymer usually costs a little more than the acrylic bathtub. However, its surface does not stand up as well. With the span of time, the gel-coat finish that is on the cast-polymer tubs can easily become brittle and will expose the material that underneath, which means leading to cracks.

Proprietary Composites

It is a new entrant to the bathtub marketplace, it is known for its heavy-gauge steel, porcelain enamel, as well as the resins. This bathtub material combines to create a bathtub that offers all the benefits of the cast iron but with half the weight.