The bathroom is the room where every person's new day begins, and large bathtubs, as a focal point, contribute to the overall concept of the interior. Also, in this room we prepare our body for sleep, which is why the bathroom must meet all the necessary requirements for aesthetic reasons, level of comfort and functionality. When choosing a bathtub, in addition to design, it is necessary to take into account ergonomics. Standard bathtubs cannot be called comfortable for tall people, and for people of average height, a bathtub with a length of 190 cm will not allow you to fully relax due to the lack of support.
Most often, ordinary rectangular bowls are installed in apartments, the length of which does not exceed 170 cm, the width is in the range of 70-75 cm, and the depth is 50 cm. However, these technical characteristics are not suitable for everyone. The sizes of large bathtubs start from 180 cm in length and from 80 cm in width, and are limited by the buyer’s imagination. For those who want to relax in comfort, the optimal length should be 10-15 cm less than a person’s height, and the width should be at least 10 cm greater than the half-circumference of the hips.
Sitz bath options
This plumbing item can be classified according to a number of parameters. Sitz baths come in different sizes and shapes. They are made from different materials. Even their functionality may differ.
You should not think that a sitz bath is bought out of lack of money or urgent need. Take a look at this luxurious model and appreciate its elegance and capabilities
It is believed that sitz baths are designed primarily for the elderly and disabled. But this product fits well into a modern interior. All family members will feel comfortable in it.
Dimensions of standard hot tubs
A width of 70 centimeters is the minimum that characterizes standard and small models. The length of the most compact specimens is only one meter.
But the standard model comes in both 1.2 meters in length and 1.5 meters.
Choosing a suitable bathtub is not so difficult: it is important that its dimensions correspond to your own parameters and that it is deep enough
You can find several types of sitz baths in stores. They differ from each other in material and size. The most common size options:
- 100 x 70 cm;
- 120 x 70 cm;
- 150 x 70 cm;
- 120 x 110 cm.
If the personal parameters of some owners of the Khrushchev bathroom can allow them to use mini or standard models, then for everyone else there is a third option, which is more spacious. This piece of plumbing is the most comfortable, and its dimensions are 120 x 110 cm.
Various bowl shapes
Even tiny bathrooms can have their own design style. Depending on it and on the pieces of furniture that are in this room, the bath can be installed separately or built in.
The main types of bowls that are in demand among customers today are:
- rectangular;
- oval;
- corner
If the bathtub matches the parameters of the room in which it is installed and has such an ideal shape, then it will be your best choice
There are also designer models, the shape of which can be triangular or generally asymmetrical. Separately, I would like to mention products that have a special door or a movable side wall on the side that can be lowered and raised.
It makes life much easier for those whose physical capabilities are limited. Such bathtubs attract not so much with their compact size, but with their functionality, which is sometimes most important.
If you want to check out the benefits of sitz baths, you can watch this video:
Additional bath options
Recommended for small bathrooms, sitz baths offer numerous additional options. They make the operation of such models even more comfortable.
In addition to the door and movable wall, these models can:
- install a hydromassage system;
- install an air massage unit;
- provide not only decorative, but also special lamps that allow non-traditional forms of treatment using photo and light therapy methods;
- use a modern receiver or player to listen to your favorite music while taking water treatments.
Even in the most compact bathtub you can not only have a good wash, but also fully relax.
The additional features of this sitz bathtub are amazing. It is also equipped with a side door, which is necessary if an elderly person or a disabled person will take water procedures.
In addition, such a bathtub can be easily combined with a shower. If you use protective curtains or special inserts, a kind of small room is created in the room, which will protect the rest of it from excess moisture.
To make you feel comfortable
The best option is a bathtub in which you can recline. In this case, the bath should be long enough so that you do not have to tuck your legs in, experiencing discomfort.
As for the width of the bathtub, here you need to take into account your build. Choose a model in which, with a comfortable fit, there will be at least 5 cm . from each side.
The recommended bath depth is 50-60 cm . This depth will allow you to take a bath without putting your head under the water. In addition, in this case it will be quite convenient for you to get out of it.
Advantages and disadvantages of sitz baths
Of course, the main advantage of a sitting font is its compactness. Even in a tiny room, there will definitely be a suitable place for her, where she will not disturb anyone.
Not every sitz bathtub is equipped like a spaceship. Sometimes it is a rather simple but elegant structure that is simply pleasant and convenient to use
Let us list other advantages of this model.
- Those whose bodies need additional protection and support feel good in it: the elderly and disabled. Special handrails that will help a person enter and exit the bathroom are a real godsend, significantly facilitating the washing procedure.
- It’s as if it was specially created for women preparing to become mothers. In the last stages of pregnancy, women feel awkward. They should not lift their legs high or bend over as much as is necessary to get a good bath in a regular bath. The “sitting” position helps them not to unnecessarily strain the muscles of their rounded abdomen.
- Not all water procedures that can be taken in a regular bath are approved by a doctor. For example, a person with a heart condition should not take a bath while lying down.
This model also has significant disadvantages that you also need to be aware of.
- Some models made abroad are very expensive.
- We are all different, and for some people the parameters of such cups are too small. This must be taken into account if you want to take a bath in comfort.
- It is simply impossible to take a lying position in such a font, therefore, when choosing this model, you need to focus on the needs of all family members.
A side door sitz bathtub like this simply doesn't come cheap. But such expenses are justified by the capabilities that are at the disposal of the owner of this structure
If, knowing all the advantages and disadvantages of this model, the homeowner still chooses it, it’s time to decide on the material from which your sitz bathtub will be made.
Choosing the material of manufacture
The market offers models not only of different sizes and shapes, but also made from a variety of materials. And this is great, because you can choose a product that suits you perfectly and fits perfectly into the proposed interior.
Wood: collaboration with natural material
What could be more natural than quality wood? After all, we all know that the famous Russian bathhouse was built entirely from solid wood. For this reason, the wooden sitz bathtub is becoming increasingly popular and in demand today.
The compact font is made of larch, beech, oak or cedar. These types of wood allow it not to lose its attractiveness for many years and, in addition, such a bath will not develop fungus or mold, which can harm human health.
The wooden model is ideally designed for water procedures. Doing this in such a font is both pleasant and useful
When making a bowl from wood, it is treated with special moisture-resistant compounds, which, with proper care, significantly increase its useful life. Not only the bathtub itself can be wooden, but also the accessories that surround it, helping it to fit organically into any interior.
When varnished, the wooden model makes a very favorable impression. You want to touch it, stroke its surface and, of course, use it for its intended purpose. A tree is part of living nature: the substances it secretes are not capable of causing an allergic reaction. But not everyone is financially able to have such a model.
The only disadvantage of this choice, which you definitely need to know about, is that this bowl can only be used for bathing
You cannot do laundry, wash animals, or thoroughly wash yourself in such a bath; as a rule, these products are intended for short-term use.
Acrylic - the leader of modern plumbing
Wood is a good but expensive option. Moreover, there is also quite affordable acrylic, which really is the leader of the modern plumbing market.
Global commodity producers place their main emphasis on this material. Bowls of all kinds of colors and the most bizarre shapes are made from it. If your bathroom lacks brightness and appeal, then an acrylic hot tub is what you need. As a finishing touch, it is appropriate to use dim lighting that maintains intrigue and mystery.
As for external effects, no other model can compare with an acrylic bathtub. However, it is also convenient to use
With the help of a modest acrylic bowl, you can literally transform the most ordinary room. The fact is that acrylic can imitate very expensive materials. This will create the illusion of onyx or marble. Against the backdrop of wallpaper depicting natural silk, such a bathtub can both surprise and delight.
If the lighting design of the room and high-quality plumbing complement the interior, your bathroom will have the opportunity to look not just neat, but luxurious.
Acrylic sitz baths are produced by both foreign and domestic companies. The advantage of acrylic plumbing fixtures produced in Russia can be considered its better suitability to the quality of our water.
Our acrylic bathtubs are prepared for more severe operating conditions, so they can be considered more reliable and durable.
Relatively inexpensive steel
Steel models are not as heavy as cast iron products. However, they attract their customers not with their weight, but with their relatively low cost. But during the operation of steel hot tubs, some shortcomings are revealed, about which we want to warn you in advance.
- Steel has high thermal conductivity. It quickly releases heat to the environment. You won’t have to soak in such a bath: the water in it will cool down very quickly. For some medical procedures, this very circumstance may turn out to be an insurmountable obstacle.
- When operating such a product, you should carefully monitor the integrity of its outer coating. In these baths, its layer is usually thin. If the coating is not restored, the bowl may fail because it will become covered with rust.
A steel bathtub can also look very attractive. If you solve the problem with its thermal conductivity, it can become a decoration for your bathroom
Knowing about the shortcomings of steel products, manufacturers are looking for a way out of the situation and are trying to improve the design of the font. The steel is equipped with a plastic body, and the cavity between the body and the base is filled with a special filler, the thermal conductivity of which is low.
In this case, the heat of the water is saved, and the water jet does not make a sharp sound when hitting the protected bottom of the bath.
Solid cast iron products
Heavy cast iron bathtubs are still preserved in old houses. Their owners are in no hurry to part with them for a very simple reason: heavy weight is practically the only drawback of this model.
And it manifests itself only in one case, when the bathtub has to be transported.
If you have a cast iron sitz bath and don't need a variety of water treatments for medical reasons, then why not keep what you already have
But the undoubted advantages of cast iron are:
- the ability to retain the heat of the water filling the bowl;
- long service life;
- high resistance to mechanical damage.
It is not the font itself that may be damaged, but its enamel coating. But this problem can be successfully solved if you place an acrylic liner in the old bathtub or apply a new acrylic or enamel coating to its surface.
Large bath sizes
Corner bath
Steel, cast iron or acrylic large bathtubs are an indispensable attribute of a large bathroom. There are a huge variety of different design options for this piece of plumbing, allowing you to install a bathtub in a variety of places in the room.
The following types of large bathtubs are distinguished:
- Rectangular;
- Large corner baths;
- Large round bathtubs;
- Hexagonal;
- Oval;
- Special;
- Classic large baths.
It is not surprising that happy owners of large bathrooms, when renovating, decide to install a large bathtub. It is logical that, more often than others, large acrylic bathtubs are purchased by rather tall people who feel constant discomfort in standard bathtubs 150-170 cm long, which does not allow them to fully relax, completely immersing themselves in the water.
Large bathtubs are not uncommon in the modern range of plumbing fixtures. In addition to standard bathtubs with lengths of 120, 150 or 170 cm, bathtubs with lengths of 180, 190, 200 cm and even longer are also available.
When choosing the width and length of the bathtub, it is first necessary to take into account the physiology and habits of its owner, as well as possible restrictions imposed by the bathroom itself. In addition, a short person may feel uncomfortable in a bathtub 180-190 cm long due to the lack of support, which makes it impossible to relax. When choosing a bathtub, you should evaluate its ergonomics, and only then the design.
Comfort when taking large baths is usually increased due to the anti-slip bottom, which allows not only to increase the level of safety, but also to better relax after a hard day.
Choosing a sitz bath
A bathtub is not a cheap purchase, so you need to choose it carefully. The first step is to find a place in the bathroom where you intend to install it.
Then you need to make sure that the model you plan to buy will match the body parameters and ages of all family members.
If you are the owner of a tiny bathroom with practically no free space, do not despair: take a closer look at the corner sitz bathtub, it may be the solution to your problems
Measure and record the parameters of your utilities that will be connected to the bathtub. Check to see if a corner bath would be the best option for your bathroom?
Decide what color of bowl you should look for so that the model fits optimally into the interior you are creating.
The proposed purchase must be carefully inspected. There should be no damage to it: cracks, chips or dents. The surface of the product must be smooth with a sufficient layer of enamel. Make sure the hot tub you choose is deep enough.
Inspect the outer walls of the bowl: they should have an anti-corrosion coating. Check that the holes in the bathtub match the parameters of your utilities.
Recommendations for choosing large bathtubs
You should give preference to a certain model based on your financial capabilities, because in addition to the bath itself, you will need various furniture and plumbing fixtures.
In addition, manufacturers equip their bathtubs with all sorts of additional functionality: additional handrails and handles, hydromassage, aromatherapy. The hydromassage built into the bathtub, in addition to its relaxing functions, helps to improve the health of the human body by saturating it with oxygen. Hydromassage jets are found in many models, but full acupressure can only be obtained in Jacuzzi baths.
It is necessary to take into account such technical characteristics as the weight of the filled bath and the size of the installation area. Think in advance about how many people the bath will be designed for. Now many manufacturers offer bathtubs designed for two, and certain models can comfortably accommodate 4-5 people at the same time.
It is necessary to decide on a safe entrance and exit. Tall models come with additional steps. Some models have a built-in shower, but if there is free space, it is better to place the shower separately from the bath itself. The anti-slip bottom adds a certain level of comfort when taking a bath.
In large baths, a combination of ceramic tiles with other types of finishes looks great. For example, wooden or metal panels. Using various warm shades the room will not be associated with a hospital, and genuine leather tiles go well with lacquered furniture.
You can highlight the bathtub in the interior with the help of a podium, in which you can place sewer pipes or create niches for storing various household items.
Even if you have a large space, you should not overload the interior of the room with all kinds of cabinets. Leave more space for a feeling of lightness and freedom.[art_yt id=”LaPpuqBeaeA” wvideo=”640" hvideo=”360" position=”center” urlvideo=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaPpuqBeaeA” namevideo=”Which bathtub is better to choose” desc=”Technologically, it is impossible to apply refractory enamel (vitreous, quartz) to cast iron, which can be applied to steel bathtubs. Take yourself a German steel bathtub from 5 to 12 thousand (the one that is more expensive is 3.5 mm thick), the enamel will always be like new” durationmin=”4" durationsec=”09" upld=”2012-06-02" tmburl=”https ://i.ytimg.com/vi/LaPpuqBeaeA/hqdefault.jpg” thumbnailwidth=”1280" thumbnailheight=”720"]
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General installation rules
During the installation process, each model has its own nuances that will have to be taken into account. But there are also general rules that are universal for sitz baths of all types. It is important to follow the order of installation work. And everything will work out.
When preparing for installation, be sure to keep in mind the whole picture of the upcoming transformation of your bathroom. This will help you stay on track with your plan.
The installation process looks like this step by step:
- preparation of the premises;
- delivery of the bowl and its fixation;
- sewer connection;
- grounding;
- processing of surface joints and gaps between individual elements;
- screen installation and decorative finishing.
Tools and materials
To perform installation work you will need a variety of tools and materials. They should be prepared based on the list below.
So, we will need:
- level;
- chisel;
- pencil and tape measure;
- polyurethane foam and silicone sealant;
- screwdriver, knife and hammer;
- saw, grinder;
- insulating tape;
- adjustable wrenches;
- drain fittings and corrugated drain pipes.
If a cast iron bathtub is to be installed, the diameter of the drain pipes should be 40 mm. A steel or acrylic bowl must be mounted using pipes with a cross-section of 50 mm.
Metal baths
The average service life is 15 years .
Bathtubs made of steel are much lighter than cast iron bathtubs. Most often, rectangular metal bathtubs are purchased in order to avoid excessive loads on the floor covering and to simplify the installation process. Another advantage of steel bathtubs is their affordable cost. That is why during the crisis such models became especially popular.
Preparing the room for installation
The room must be free. Inspect it to figure out how to properly move the bathtub into it so as not to damage it and the walls. The floor in the room must be level.
Be sure to check it with a level. If the deviations exceed 4 mm, you will have to make a cement screed, otherwise the bath will not be stable.
Of course, there is a lot of installation work to be done, and perhaps it is better not to do it yourself, but to entrust it to specialists, but how nice it is to then get such a wonderful result
Now you need to check the permeability of the pipelines, prepare the sewer drain and water distribution for work. As for the subsequent finishing of the walls and floor of the room, it can be done after the bathtub has been installed.
The smallest baths. What's on the market?
There are no clear criteria by which one or another model can be classified as a small bathtub. Therefore, we will consider all bathtubs with the smallest dimensions that specialized stores can offer us as small:
Acrylic
Acrylic from Poland. Rectangular bathtub from the Mars collection 110x70x40
Cast iron
The Spanish manufacturer Roca produces and actively supplies excellent Continental cast iron bathtubs to the Russian Federation: Length: 100 cm Width: 70 cm
Steel
Produced in Portugal. Steel bathtub BLB Europa Mini 105x70x37
