Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

Whether you’re adding a bathroom or upgrading your existing one, you may be shopping for a new bathtub. If you’re looking for a luxury tub with massaging jets, you may want to check out Hot Tubs, Whirlpool Tubs, & Air Jet Tubs–What’s the Difference? Even if you’re just looking for the standard rectangle, there are a number of materials you can choose from. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each.

Fiberglass

Since fiberglass is a lightweight and inexpensive material, it can be easily molded to include handy extras such as seats, soap holders, and grab bars. These tubs are available in many colors, but one downside is that the color fades over time, and fiberglass bathtubs scratch easily.

Acrylic

Acrylic is similar to fiberglass in that it can be molded into various sizes and shapes. It tends to cost a little more, but unlike fiberglass the color is embedded throughout the substance, rather than just in the surface coat, which means acrylic holds color better and scratches won’t show.

Enameled Steel

Bathtubs made from enameled steel are shaped from sheets of steel, then coated with baked-on enamel. The enamel layer tends to be thin and prone to chipping. These tubs don’t hold heat well and can be noisy. If you choose an enameled steel tub, get one with an undercoating made to muffle sound and retain heat.

Cast Iron

Many people prefer cast iron bathtubs because it’s the toughest tub material around. As with steel enameled tubs, the cast iron is coated with baked-on enamel, but it is thick, which offers a richly colored finish. Also, the enamel is durable and resistant to chips, stains, and scratches. Cast iron is strong stuff itself, and it resists dents and cracks. The material is heavy, however (cast iron bathtubs can weigh 300 to 400 pounds), and your bathroom floor may need to be reinforced.

Source: Idea Wise: Bathrooms