Free Standing Bath Tubs For Sale in South Africa

Pros and cons of a freestanding bathtub

A bath, which is separate from the wall, conquers several advantages:

• Spectacular design. The appearance of freestanding bathtubs is unusual in itself. They are quite harmonious both in retro style and in the most modern minimalism. Color plumbing in this format also looks advantageous.
• Hidden Plumbing. Piping, inlet and outlet pipes – with such bathrooms, the entire plumbing “inside out” is hidden from view. Thanks to this, they look good complete with hanging toilets and a bidet.
• Installation options. You get flexibility in the layout of the room, since you can choose a freestanding bathtub for installation both against walls or windows, and at any other point in the room – at least right in its center.

Freestanding bathtub in the interior

A freestanding bathtub will be the real focus of the entire room. As for the negative aspects of buying such plumbing, they are as follows:

• The high price. In all the variety of bath choices,this type by default is the most expensive. Even the most affordable models will start in the region of 10 thousand hryvnias, and top-end modifications will cost even more expensive.
• The complexity of installation. To install a freestanding bath, you need to think through communications, laying floor tiles and most often raise the floor by 10-15 cm to hide pipes (sometimes even build a podium for this).
• Need a big bathroom. The choice of a freestanding bath is justified only for large, from 6 m2, rooms. Plus note:do not put a shower system. If a shower is important, you will have to buy a booth – which requires meters and expenses.

Everything you need to know about freestanding bathtub materials

If the design of a separate bathtub is a subjective issue, the material from which the bath tub is made is extremely objective. After all, all options have specific features.

Acrylic freestanding bathtubs

Reinforced plastic is rightfully more popular than other materials. It is relatively affordable, it has minimal weight and good thermal conductivity, it is easy to give it an intricate shape, build in nozzles to create a spa bath and add a bright color. Cons of acrylic in all its manifestations (and it can be “pure”, made of polymethylmethacrylate, or with a variety of additives): not the highest rigidity and fear of scratches. Even some abrasive cleaners can leave such marks on the surface of the bathtubs.

Steel freestanding bathtubs

If you want to know how to choose a freestanding bathtub with the lowest price, then steel is clearly among the first options for purchase. The other advantages of the material include relative durability, lightness and design variability. Although all these advantages for many buyers cross out the shortcomings of steel bathtubs. First of all, they are noisy and cold: the water falls to the bottom loudly and quickly cools. And keep in mind that the enamel coating can deteriorate – the steel bends easily under load, due to which the enamel is covered with small cracks.

Cast iron freestanding bathtubs

A cast-iron bathtub is a classic, although it is by no means always relevant. After all, it is difficult to give an unusual shape to an alloy of iron, carbon, silicon, manganese and sulfur – and therefore such plumbing usually has a traditional format and is suitable only for classical styles. Also, cast iron is rarely used in apartments – it is too heavy. But all this is compensated by the merits of the material. It is durable (the resource with proper and uncomplicated care exceeds half a century!) And is comfortable – the water in such a bath cools very slowly.

Freestanding cast stone bathtubs

Composites obtained by “welding” marble chips, quartz sand and polyester resins allow plumbing to unfold from the best side. After all, cast stone is very elegant, noble in appearance, it literally shines – therefore, it is ideal for choosing a freestanding bathtub (and, by the way, it complements marble tiles well ). In addition, the material is pleasant to the touch, retaining heat, strong (although it is scratched quite easily) and diverse in design. However, there are also disadvantages. Plumbing made of cast stone is heavy and expensive.

Dimensions or selection of a freestanding bathtub for a small bathroom

As noted above, a separate bathtub is justified mainly in spacious rooms. Indeed, only in this case a good overview of its body is provided (especially if you use peripheral illumination or another type of lamp for the bathroom ). Although you can also find compact models, with a length of 120 cm and a width of 80 cm, if you wish. But consider two points. First: it’s unlikely that you can lie in such a bath. Second: at least 40-50 cm should remain around the bathtub. This is important not only for the design of the room, but also for the possibility of cleaning. But if you have a large bathtub, you can choose a freestanding bathtub that is really large, up to 2 m. Moreover, there are models designed for two at once (they should have a mixer and a drain in the center – so they will not bother anyone).

How not to make a mistake with the selection of a mixer for a freestanding bathtub?

When buying a mixer for this type of plumbing, the choice is usually made of three categories:

• The mixer column. The freestanding mixer on a long leg is very stylish and harmonious for such a bath. But its price is high, installation is time-consuming, and the height should be selected exactly to match a specific bowl.
• The mixer on a side. This model is compact, easy to use, it is performed with valves, a lever or a thermostat . But you need to have holes in the bathtub for installing a similar model.
• Wall mounted faucets. The classic format for conventional bathtubs with such plumbing is rarely used, although it is attractive at a cost. But with a long spout, the bath may not be installed too close to the wall.