Choosing the size of a bathtub for a bathroom is far from a trivial task, which can be handled either by a specialist who understands what to look for, or by a well-trained enthusiast.
We will tell you what sizes of cast iron bathtubs are considered standard, “running” and how to choose the optimal bathtub size depending on the size and shape of the bathroom.
Cast iron bathtubs have been sold on the Russian market for decades. With the advent of acrylic and steel bathtubs, cast iron tubs briefly lost their relevance. But the advantages of cast iron bathtubs (low thermal conductivity, stability and strength) did not allow them to become a thing of the distant past without a trace. And modern buyers increasingly prefer proven material.
Features of a cast iron bath
The first cast iron bathtubs began to be made in the 17th century in France. They appeared in Russia during the reign of Peter I. Initially, such bowls were expensive, but over the years, the production of cast iron bathtubs in the country improved, making them accessible to everyone.
Cast iron bathtub made in Portugal, size 170 cm x 78 cm
The features of a cast iron bathtub, which distinguish it favorably from other types of bathtubs, are explained by the properties of the material. The cast iron bowl is very durable:
- does not deform;
- does not crack due to temperature changes;
- not susceptible to chipping.
Its service life is from 15 to 100 years (some manufacturers offer a 25-year warranty on their products).
A cast iron bathtub does not rust. The enamel with which it is coated can be easily cleaned with any cleaning agent. And when it does fail, it is easily replaced with an acrylic insert.
Weight of 65-170 kg (depending on size) makes the bath stable, but difficult to transport.
Thick cast iron walls maintain the water temperature for a long time, which will be appreciated by anyone who likes to soak in the bath for hours. On the other hand, when taking a shower, you will have to stand on a cold metal surface for more than one minute, because cast iron does not heat up quickly either.
And one more plus for large families and apartment buildings - a cast-iron bathtub fills with water as quietly as possible. You can type it at night or early in the morning without fear of waking up your neighbors and household members.
The production of cast iron baths is a multi-stage process, including creating molds for casting, pouring molds, processing castings and coating them with enamel. Due to the fact that making molds is quite difficult and expensive, the sizes and configurations of bowls do not differ in variety.
Although, technology is improving every day, which allows us to expand the range. At the same time, foreign manufacturers can boast of a larger number of original bathtub models than Russian ones. But domestic samples have thicker walls, which means more strength.
Subtleties of choosing a size
To determine what size a cast iron bathtub should be, measure the length of the bathroom. In this case, it is worth taking into account the presence of wall finishing - after repairs, the distance between the walls will be reduced by several centimeters. The font should not be longer, otherwise you will have to trench the walls or return the purchase.
For example, the length of the room is 172 cm, the maximum length of the bowl is 170 cm. Of course, if the room is huge, you don’t have to bother yourself with measuring it. In this case, focus only on the height of those who will take the bath and your preferences.
The width of the bathtub depends on the build of those who will use it. The optimal option is considered to be when the distance from the body (counted by shoulders) to the walls of the font is 5-8 cm. If there are obese people in the family, it is better to take a wider tub. But, if in a small room you also need to place a washing machine in addition to the bathtub, a wide model may not be suitable.
The ideal bath depth is 40-45 cm. Taking into account the legs, the height of the sides will be about 60 cm. Deeper baths will create difficulties for an elderly person and a child, and will also increase water consumption. A bathtub with a depth of up to 40 cm will not allow a person to be completely immersed in the water, making bathing uncomfortable.
Properties of materials
Considering that cast iron is a heavy alloy metal, the weight of a cast iron bathtub made of it is 4 times greater than that of steel and acrylic ones. In addition, the weight of the product depends on the wall thickness, which can reach 8 mm. Accordingly, the larger the size of the product, the more it weighs.
Thanks to the thick walls, a cast iron bathtub is durable and wear-resistant. The bowl maintains the original temperature of the water for a long time, that is, you can bask in the hot water for more than an hour.
The large dimensions of cast iron containers make it difficult to transport and climb to high floors of the house. To lift a bathtub weighing over 100 kg, at least 2-3 strong loaders will have to sweat. Before installing the dimensional bowl, it is necessary to calculate the permissible load on the floors. The weight of a bathtub filled with water, together with an average weight person, can exceed 500 kg.
Compact hot tubs
Small cast iron bathtubs are relevant for residents of tiny apartments and the elderly. In the first case, such fonts are a necessary necessity. The second is a guarantee of convenience and safety.
The minimum length of Russian-made cast iron bowls is 120 cm. Foreign manufacturers offer models with a length of 100 cm or more.
The standard width of such bathtubs is 70 cm. Depth is from 41 to 46 cm. Some models have holes for handles and protrusions on the bottom.
You won’t be able to soak in such a bath for a long time, but you can install it in old private houses and apartments on a hostel basis, where there is no bathroom. It can also be used as a deep shower tray. Another advantage of a compact bath is economical water consumption (useful volume of the bath is 100x70x42 cm = 80 l).
Bathtub of the Spanish brand “NOVIAL”, 100x70 cm
Design tricks
Despite the limited shapes of cast iron bathtubs, designers still work on the aesthetics and variety of models, giving them unique touches. So, there are sitz baths and hydromassage baths , there are color samples. As a rule, the color of the enamel coating includes a range of beige and pale blue. But some companies lure buyers with models painted in all the colors of the rainbow.
The market is replete with retro-style models. Such samples are real works of art. They are mostly painted by hand, so the design of each model is unique. The outer side of the bathtub and its legs-stands are an excellent place for color exploration by master artists. Such designs look ideal in a classic-style interior.
As already noted, not all design ideas can be easily implemented in cast iron. Round, diamond-shaped, pentagonal designs - this is not about cast iron bathtubs. But the Kohler company was still able to do the impossible and released a corner cast-iron bathtub . Of course, the entire exclusive range is in a different price category, in contrast to the standard models. But progress is always in motion and we can safely hope that unusual shapes and sizes will soon enter mass production and become affordable for the average buyer.
Standard size models
The concept of “standard dimensions” is not as relevant today as it was in Soviet times. The specialized market offers dozens of models of cast iron bathtubs of various sizes. In this article, standard refers to the most popular bathtub sizes in Russia - 150x70 cm, 170x70 cm and 170x75 cm.
The font, measuring 150x70 cm and typically 42 cm deep for Russian-made models, is perfect for small apartments. In such a bath, a person of average height (up to 170 cm) will be almost completely covered with water; a tall person will have to bend his knees.
Bowls 170x70 cm and 170x75 cm are suitable for people with a height of 170 to 185 cm. For those who are shorter, special rubber headrest cushions will help them not to slip off.
The height of popular bathtub sizes varies significantly among models from different manufacturers - from 40 to 46 cm. Depending on the shape of the bowl, the volume of water held differs. With the same dimensions, the run-up can be up to 30 liters.
Differences between Russian manufacturers and foreign ones
There are several large manufacturers of cast iron bathtubs on the domestic market. The most famous of them are the Novokuznetsk “Universal” and Kirov plants. They do not pamper consumers with a variety of forms and assortment. The bowl sizes of domestic models are standard.
Let's give some examples.
- : bathtub “Grace” – 170 × 70 × 41.7; “Eureka” – 170 × 75 × 46.2; “Nega” –150 × 70 × 43.5; “Classic” – 150 × 70 × 41.7; “Nostalgie” – 150 × 70 × 46.2; “Siberian” – 150 × 75 × 43.7; “Caprice” – 120 × 70 × 46.2.
- Models of the Kirov plant: Triumph Silver – 170 × 75 × 42; Yumika Silver – 170 × 75 × 42; Laguna-Lux Silver – 150 × 70 × 44.5; Silver spring 150 × 70 × 42; Prestige Silver – 150 × 70 × 42, Baby Silver – 120 × 70 × 44.
The advantage of “our” products is that their walls are thicker than those of foreign ones . This makes them more rigid and durable. They are much cheaper than their foreign counterparts and are quite competitive on the world market.
Leading foreign manufacturers of this type of plumbing fixtures are Roca, Kaldewei, Jacob Delafon, Oxame, Artex. The quality of cast iron products from these manufacturers is at the highest level. Some provide a 25-30 year warranty on their products.
Large size bathtubs
Bowls with dimensions of 180x80 cm, 180x85 cm, 180x90 cm are considered large. Note that the minimum width for a bathtub 180 cm long is 80 cm. The depth of wall-mounted models ranges from 42 to 45 cm. In such a bath you can swim for hours with salt and foam, read or listen to music, even together.
At the same time, a font with a length of 180 cm will fit in some new apartments, and is also suitable for private houses. This is associated with the growing popularity of such models in Russia in recent years. Large bathtubs often have handles that can be useful for children and the elderly.
Requirements for bowl parameters
To make it comfortable to bathe in, the bathtub must be spacious enough. The optimal length is calculated based on the height of the tallest resident in the house. The length of the product does not have to be exactly the same; you can take a bathtub that is a little shorter, since the head of the person lying in it will rest on the side, and the knees may be slightly bent.
The diagram shows options for placing a person in a standard-sized bathtub. In any case, your knees should be under the surface of the water.
If no one in the house is tall, you should not take a model that is too long. When the bowl is filled with water, and a person is not tall enough to rest against the side, he may experience some discomfort while bathing. The width of the bathtub is determined, as you might guess, by the parameters of the most well-fed family member. In this case, you should add about 10 cm to the data obtained so that there is a gap of about 5 cm between the sides and walls of the bath.
Standard bathtubs are suitable in width for most people of all sizes; only cases when the product will be used by a very overweight person deserve attention. The depth of the bath should be such that the knees of any visitor do not protrude above the surface of the water. If this condition is not met, the person taking water procedures may experience very severe inconvenience. As already mentioned, the shorter the bathtub, the deeper it should be.
If the depth of the bathtub exceeds 65 cm, you may need a special podium, step or stool to help you step over the too high side of the bathtub. This can be especially difficult for children or elderly family members. It is unnecessary to remind that young children should not be left unattended in a filled bathtub, especially if a model with a deep bowl is chosen.
Large structures
A bowl measuring 200x85 cm is a home mini-pool, not accessible to everyone. This is a luxury item that simply won’t fit in the bathroom of an ordinary apartment. The advantages of such baths are obvious: comfortable bathing and prestige.
But these giants also have their downsides. Firstly, the price (from 54 thousand rubles). Secondly, huge water consumption. The useful volume of such bowls reaches 280 liters.
Thirdly, taking into account water and a person, the weight of the bath can exceed 3 centners. This means that before installation you need to make sure that the ceilings are reliable. Fourthly, due to the large volume, the process of collecting (draining) water will slow down, and therefore it will be necessary to modernize the water supply system.
