Bath or Shower: which is better? Advantages and disadvantages of both systems on the Nedvio website

Types of baths: pros and cons

In modern specialized stores, there are 3 types of bathtubs to choose from: cast iron, steel, acrylic. Each of them has its own characteristics, which are worth knowing about if you do not want to install a shower.

Cast iron bath

Cast iron baths

Advantages of cast iron baths:

1. If you treat the enamel with care, it will last a very long time. The average warranty period is 25 years.
2. The most resistant, including to deformation.
3. Keeps warm for a long time.
4. Relatively silent when drawing water.

Disadvantages of cast iron baths:

1. If the enamel is seriously damaged, its high-quality restoration at home is very difficult.
2. Over time, it becomes more and more difficult to wash: the surface becomes porous.
3. There is no variety of shapes, most often these are ordinary rectangles.
4. They are very heavy. But if you are not planning to move in the next 20-30 years, this drawback is not significant.

Advice. Imported cast iron bathtubs are lighter than their domestic counterparts. According to reviews, the enamel on them is of better quality.

Steel baths

Advantages of steel baths:

• High-quality models last up to 15 years.
• There are various forms.
• They weigh 4-5 times less than their cast iron counterparts. This is convenient for a country house or a modest budget.

Steel bath
Cons of steel baths:

• Very noisy when drawing water.
• They are easily deformed, which leads to damage to the enamel. This applies more to inexpensive thin-walled models.
• They have high thermal conductivity. The heat is released quite quickly and the water cools down.

Acrylic bathtubs

Pros of acrylic bathtubs:

1. The most silent, in comparison with other types.
2. It has low thermal conductivity: it heats up quickly and retains heat for a long time.
3. Minor damage is easy to repair.
4. They come in various forms, with additional options.
5. They are not slippery and easy to clean.

Acrylic bath
Cons of acrylic baths:

1. Over time, they lose their gloss because they scratch easily.
2. Fragile when compared with cast iron counterparts.
3. Inexpensive bathtubs sometimes become stained, for example, if colored clothes are washed there.
4. Good, high-quality models (not fake acrylic ones) are not cheap.

Let's draw conclusions

The final choice will not be easy to make. However, there are constant factors such as the size of the bathroom, the water pressure in the house, the amount of money - all of this will help narrow down the choice.

Bath combined with shower

Considering that, mostly in apartments, this room does not take up much space, you can purchase a bathtub model that tapers towards the feet, or assemble a shower stall with your own hands, leaving space for a washing machine and cabinets. Well, the best option is to try to install both a cabin and a bathtub. After all, both are useful and practical in their own way.

Shower cabin: advantages and disadvantages

The cabins are open and closed. The first partially limit the shower area, since there is a partition or door between the walls. Such devices are cheaper than closed analogues, in which the roof seals everything hermetically, thereby creating a sauna effect.

Shower cabin with acrylic tray

They differ in functionality and materials from which pallets are made:

• cast iron - durable, but take a long time to heat up;
• steel ones make a lot of noise;
• ceramic ones are quite fragile and can break if a heavy object is dropped on them;
• marble ones look impressive, but are expensive;
• krill ones look good, but are not resistant to damage.

Advice. Choose the size of the shower cabin at least 0.8 x 0.8 m, otherwise it will be uncomfortable to be in it.

Pros of shower cabins

1. Save space. Good for installation in small bathrooms.
2. Safe. Non-slip material is used to produce the cabins, which virtually eliminates the risk of injury.
3. They use water economically, about 2-3 times less than when bathing in a bath.
4. Equipped with additional functionality. For example, the presence of a telephone or radio, the ability to switch water supply modes (massage jets, etc.). Some cabins offer inhalation or aromatherapy.
5. They have a variety of installation methods and components. The shower is installed quickly and easily.

A shower cabin will allow you to reduce water consumption

Cons of showers

1. High-quality rectangular models with a good-quality door are wide, which does not always make it possible to install them in a small bathroom.
2. The functionality of the cabin depends on the water pressure. If it is less than 1.5 bar, then you can only take a shower; additional options (if provided) will not be available.
3. Over time, doors and walls accumulate a white coating (the result of dried splashes). They need to be thoroughly washed after you shower.
4. As a rule, they cost more than baths. Although it is also possible to choose an inexpensive mid-class cabin.
5. Unlike baths, they do not provide the opportunity to pamper yourself and relax. True, you can purchase a shower room, which also includes a bathtub, but its dimensions and cost are larger than a traditional cabin.

The shower stall requires constant maintenance

A question of saving

This issue worries everyone, especially considering that now the cost of utilities is growing steadily every year. Everyone wants to spend less. And using a shower is an opportunity to reduce water consumption and reduce utility bills. Moreover, this applies to both the shower stall and the bathtub, if you spend 5-10 minutes in the shower. If you are used to being under streams of water for a long time, then even a shower will not save you from large bills: if you have a cabin, they will be no less than if you had a bathtub that you fill regularly.

You can save on utility bills only if you don’t wash for a long time

And let's be honest. In fact, every day a bath is drawn on very rare occasions. Most often, owners of a font simply rinse off in the shower, taking a bath no more than once a week. Therefore, from the point of view of savings, it does not matter what to buy - a bathtub or a shower.

Bath or cabin: reviews

Owners who have already faced the problem of choice and learned from their own experience highlight the following aspects of using showers and baths:

• if no one in the family likes to soak in the bathroom, the best option is a shower, because it saves about 2.5 times the area of ​​the room;
• you can take a shower in the bathtub if you hang a curtain and install a faucet, but you can’t take a bath in the cabin (unless you initially buy a shower room with a built-in bathtub);

Shower room with built-in bathtub

• When buying a cabin, you should choose a more expensive model, but without additional options (for example, “tropical shower”). These features are rarely used and have a significant impact on cost;
• a bath is necessary in cases where you need to wash or rinse something (for example, bulky blankets or bedspreads that do not fit in the washing machine);
• if there are elderly people in the family, due to their age and health status it is more difficult for them to take a hot bath; a shower is more convenient for them;
• For families with a small child or pets (cat, dog), it is better to use a bathtub for water treatments;
• you can take a shower faster, because in order to fill the bath, you need to wait a certain time;

You can take a shower at any moment, while a bath needs to be prepared

• installing a bathtub is easier if you choose between it and a modern cabin model with additional functionality;
• the shower is more hygienic, since the dirt immediately flows into the drain, and in the bath you have to lie in the same water with germs;
• in the bath you can relax, while in the shower many muscles are still tense;
• You can also bathe your child in the shower: many modern models are equipped with deep trays that can serve as a mini-bath. At the same time, the load on the back is felt less;
• taking a medicinal bath or having an aromatherapy session in the shower will not work;

The shower cabin will take up less space in the bathroom

• a shower is much more economical in terms of water consumption. Some consumers who changed their bathtub to a shower note this in the first month of using the new plumbing fixtures;
• in the bathroom it is better to wash off heavy dirt by soaking there for a certain time, but it is more convenient to wash your hair in the cabin;
• contrast shower is a significant advantage of the cabins;
• the cabin is more difficult to care for; if it is not washed every time after use, plaque will appear;
• When using a bathtub, there is a chance of spilling water on the floor and flooding your neighbors, and the cabin is hermetically sealed.

A bathtub is more suitable for you if there are small children in the house.
It is impossible to give a definite answer to the question of which is better: a bathtub or a shower. It all depends on many factors, by comparing which you will make the right decision. Expert recommendations and consumer reviews will help you decide what to put in the bathroom. And even if family members are divided in opinion, you can always find a compromise.

For example, attach a special sliding screen to the bathtub or hang a curtain and install a faucet. If the size of the room and financial capabilities allow, purchase a shower with a bathtub. At the same time, be interested not only in the manufacturer and price, but also in the functionality of the plumbing fixtures, as well as the warranty. In this case, no matter what you choose, both the shower and the bathtub will be a successful purchase that will serve for a long time.

Equipped with additional functions

But in terms of richness in terms of functionality, the bathtub was not even close to modern models of shower cabins. If the bathtub is just a snow-white bowl without any frills, then the shower stall will somewhat resemble a spaceship. Using the buttons on the control panel in the cabin, you can adjust the temperature and water pressure, as well as the delivery method. Using smart sensors, you will receive a portion of shower gel or liquid soap as soon as you place your hand under the dispenser. Manufacturers have thought of everything, and even for those who like to sing in the shower, they have prepared a gift - speakers that do not get wet will help fill the shower stall with your favorite music. Some showers can be turned into a real sauna - they have special heat-insulating materials, are also equipped with steam generators and have special control systems. Naturally, the more additional functions a shower stall has, the more it will cost. But what lengths are people willing to go to in order to provide themselves with the greatest possible comfort?

Choosing between a bathtub and a shower: photo