The bathroom design is well underway, and the size and style of bathtub has been decided. Now the sales person asks if a cast iron or acrylic bathtub is desired. Both bathtubs have their place in the bathroom design, but choosing which one will work best means looking at how they are made.
What are the Characteristics of an Acrylic Tub?
An acrylic bathtub is a glassy thermoplastic, which is cast in a mold to form the tub. The color choices available in acrylic tubs are endless, and because the color goes all the way through the material, scratches and gouges do not change the color of the tub, making them less noticeable.
Acrylic tubs are extremely light, and can be cast in countless styles, shapes and sizes. Some companies, such as Americh Corp, have hundreds of acrylic styles and sizes to choose from, in airbath, soaking and whirlpool models. Acrylic tubs can be freestanding, drop in, or alcove based, and can come with or without surrounds or aprons.
What are the Characteristics of a Cast Iron Tub?
Cast iron tubs have been used for decades to provide durable, heat retaining bathtubs. The tub itself is made of iron, poured into a mold, and then glazed with a porcelain coating to give it a surface and shine. Colors are limited to what the manufacturer produces; usually colors inspired by popular choices of the day, and sizes and shapes may be limited as well.
Cast iron tubs are extremely heavy, making them difficult to get into and out of small bathrooms or bathrooms at the top of narrow stairs. Cast iron tubs can be freestanding, drop in or alcove based, and most are available with apron fronts. Some cast iron bathtubs are available with whirlpool jets, or airbath systems, but most are made for soaking.
Attributes and Drawbacks to Acrylic Tubs
Acrylic tubs with their light weight, and countless styles and colors mean that they will be able to fit into any bathroom design. If scratched, they are fairly easily repaired, and they are extremely easy to install.
An acrylic bathtub can lose heat quickly, however, meaning that a bather that would like a prolonged soak will need to invest in a maintenance heater that can maintain the water temperature, plus or minus 3 degrees from the temperature it was filled with. Another option, for freestanding tubs may be to have the tub double insulated, with two walls of acrylic. This can add to the expense of the tub, however, as well as the durability and weight.
Attributes and Drawbacks to Cast Iron Tubs
Cast iron tubs hold heat extremely well, making them the ideal tub for a user who likes to sit and soak for extended periods of time. Cast iron tubs also work well in traditional bathroom designs, particularly as slipper, freestanding and claw foot models. The standard, 5’ long, 14” deep bathtub seen in most 5'x7' bathrooms is most commonly cast iron, making this an easy tub to find.
Cast iron tubs are very heavy, and large freestanding tubs may be difficult to get into a bathroom, or may require a substrate to be reinforced to withstand the weight of the tub when filled with water. These tubs are also prone to chipping over time, and will require reglazing or resurfacing to repair.
Homeowners looking to invest in a bathtub should see what styles are available for the design they are creating. Be sure to sit in every tub before purchase, to ensure that it suits the user’s needs, and is comfortable to sit in. Talk with the contractor about how the tub will be brought into the home, and how much weight the floor can withstand before making the final decision.
Remember that the bathtub should not only suit the design, but also the bather to help ensure that it gets plenty of use. Take the attributes of the tub’s material in mind when selecting and enjoy the tub for years to come.
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