Review of the 8 best cast iron bathtubs. Rating based on user reviews

Today on the plumbing market you can find bathtubs made from a variety of materials - cast iron, acrylic or steel. Steel structures are significantly cheaper than acrylic ones and weigh much less than cast iron bathtubs. High-quality steel products are in high demand. However, they should be chosen according to certain rules - then the bath will last long enough, will maintain a pleasant appearance, and so on. Therefore, we decided to start our review of the best steel bathtubs of the year with the rules for choosing such products.

UNIVERSAL HF-1500 NOSTALGIE

A small cast iron bathtub has an affordable price and good quality. The length of the bathtub is only 150 cm, but it is quite spacious, which distinguishes it from many other models. Special handles and headrests are available separately for this bathtub, which are conveniently installed and allow bathing with increased comfort.

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Pros:

1. Deep and roomy;
2. Good quality;
3. Affordable price;
4. Narrow sides;
5. You can purchase additional parts (handles, headrest).

Minuses:

1. Quite slippery enamel.

Rating of the TOP 15 best cast iron bathtubs of 2021

ROCA CONTINENTAL

A high-quality cast iron bathtub with an anti-slip coating ensures increased safety and comfort while bathing. The volume of the bathtub will accommodate a person 175 cm tall. The enamel is strong enough, so you don’t have to worry about the shower accidentally slipping out of your hands. Thanks to the good quality of cast iron, the bath retains the heat of the water for a long time.

Pros:

1. Good quality;
2. 10 year warranty;
3. Anti-slip coating;
4. Durable enamel;
5. Keeps warm for a long time;
6. Affordable price.

Minuses

1. The anti-slip coating may darken over time;
2. Sometimes there are problems with attaching the legs.

How much do iron fonts weigh 170×70, 150×70 cm and others?

In addition to the material of manufacture, the weight of the font is affected by its size and type. For example, metal sitz baths 120x70 with a wall thickness of 3 mm have a weight of 20-30 kg. The average weights of standard bowl sizes are shown in the table below.

The greater the weight of the font, the more stable it is. A steel bathtub is heavier than an acrylic one, but much lighter than a cast iron one. Products up to 50 kg can be transported and installed without problems.

PARALLEL E2947

This model is considered one of the deepest. It is perfect for people who like to soak in the bath. It is very roomy and equipped with an anti-slip coating. Narrow sides increase the volume of the bathtub, and its design fits comfortably into a medium-sized bathroom. A comfortable headrest will allow you to take a bath comfortably and thoroughly relax during the procedure.

Pros:

1. One of the deepest models;
2. Anti-slip coating;
3. Equipped with a headrest;
4. Narrow sides;
5. High quality.

How to choose a cast iron bathtub and what to look for?

Before purchasing a bathtub, first of all, determine its type: free-standing, fully or partially built-in.

Directly during selection, attention is paid to such technical characteristics:

1. The minimum thickness of cast iron should be 5 mm . Otherwise, the product will not have a long service life.
2. The depth of the bath also plays an important role . It depends on it how comfortable it will be to sit or lie in the bathroom. Even if a small model looks stylish and attractive, it is not worth buying due to its low level of comfort.
3. The material of the legs is another important point . It is desirable that they be made of durable steel that can withstand the impressive weight of plumbing fixtures.

It is also desirable that the bathtub has an anti-slip coating that will prevent injury while taking a bath or shower. Before purchasing, it is advisable to check whether a siphon, pipes and other plumbing accessories are included with the product.

Silver "Prestige" 1.7

The cast iron bathtub has a special design that comes with a slight slope. This provides improved water flow into the drain, so water will not stagnate at the bottom. It is equipped with handles and a headrest, and a unique glassy enamel with silver ions has a disinfecting effect. It also saturates the water with negative charged particles, which is very useful for humans.

Pros:

1. There is a headrest and handles;
2. Bottom with a slope;
3. Disinfecting coating;
4. Unique enamel coating;
5. Affordable price.

Minuses:

1. Slippery surface.

Content

1. Advantages and disadvantages
2. Rating TOP 7 best steel bathtubs KALDEWEI SANIFORM PLUS 361-1 STANDARD
3. Roca Contesa
4. JIKA RIGA
5. Roca Princess-N
6. KALDEWEI SANIFORM PLUS 363-1 Easy-clean
7. BLB ATLANTICA B80A
8. LAUFEN PALLADIUM 225113

JACOB DELAFON ADAGIO

The cast iron bathtub is equipped with additional support for the person's back, which makes bathing easier, especially for older people. Comfortable armrests can serve as a place for a comfortable position of your arms, and you can also install handles in them. The bathtub is made of high-quality cast iron, which makes it heavy - 125 kg.

Pros:

1. High quality;
2. 25 year warranty;
3. There is a special back support and the ability to place handles;
4. Good capacity;
5. High quality enamel.

Minuses:

1. No anti-slip coating

ROCA AKIRA

This model can be installed in the traditional way, or inside a special podium. The bathtub is equipped with a long, comfortable handle that does not slip in a wet hand. The bottom of the bathtub has small notches that prevent slipping. The bath is so large that two people can fit in it at once. The total displacement is 225 liters.

Pros:

1. Anti-slip notches;
2. Comfortable handle;
3. Wide sides for cosmetic accessories;
4. Good capacity;
5. There is a choice of installation type.

Minuses:

1. High price.

MARONI ORLANDO

This model has small dimensions - 150*70 cm. It is ideal for a small bathroom. High-quality enamel does not darken over time. It is equipped with a special anti-slip coating, which ensures safety during water procedures. Here you can optionally install handles to make it easier for older people or children to hold.

Pros:

1. Good quality;
2. Anti-slip coating;
3. Does not darken over time;
4. 20 year warranty;
5. Corrosion resistant;
6. Handles can be installed.

Timo Tarmo 180

This model has good dimensions - 180*80. It is equipped with comfortable chrome steel handles and an anti-slip coating. Titanium enamel is characterized by increased strength and quality. It does not darken over time and is less susceptible to cracks and damage. A comfortable and wide headrest will allow you to lie comfortably in the bath. The bathtub legs are easily adjustable thanks to the lifting bolts.

Pros:

1. High quality and reliability;
2. Large capacity;
3. 25 year warranty;
4. There are two handles and a headrest;
5. Equipped with an anti-slip surface;
6. Titanium enamel;
7. Convenient bath height adjustment.

Minuses:

1. Heavy weight.

Comparison table of the presented models

The table presents all the above information in a compact form.

Buyer's Guide: Questions and Answers

How to choose

To make the right choice and buy a truly high-quality item, you should take into account some nuances. There is an opinion that a good cast iron bathtub should have thick walls; this is a fundamentally erroneous opinion. Modern bathtubs, thanks to innovative technologies, are cast with walls 5-8 mm thick, but they are also reliable and durable, like the products that were produced back in Soviet times. Also, when choosing, you need to take into account the weight of the product. Typically, cast iron bathtubs are very heavy and they are not suitable for installation in old houses with flimsy ceilings. The ideal place to install such a bathtub is the first floor of a country house. When choosing a product, you need to take into account its size and the method of delivery to your apartment or house. The size of the bathtub must correspond to the individual parameters of all family members. Also consider the area of ​​the bathroom where the product will be placed. If space allows, then you can consider more diverse options for the shape of the bathtub. Also, the location of the plumbing installed in the bathroom plays an important role when choosing a product, since it can also significantly complicate the installation of the bathtub. Once you have decided on the size and weight of the product, you need to pay attention to the following:

• Enamel quality. Inspect the surface of the bathtub. The enamel should be applied evenly, without visible streaks or cracks. There should be no areas of different colors or roughness on it. The thickness of the enamel should be 1-1.2 mm. If the enamel application is of high quality, the product will serve you for a long time and will make it easier to clean.
• Cast iron quality. The wall thickness must be at least 5 mm. The outer surface of the bath should also be free of chips, have a flat and smooth surface, without roughness. The ideal coating is powder painting, which gives the product an aesthetic appearance and protects it from corrosion.
• Support. The legs of the bathtub must be stable and strong. After all, they need to withstand the weight of the bath, the weight of the water and the weight of the bathing person.
• Anti-slip coating. There are models where, during their manufacture, the bottom of the bathtub bowl is covered with an anti-slip coating for safety purposes and, of course, it is best to opt for such products. This will guarantee your safety and, in addition, this coating also has antibacterial properties.
• Additional elements. If the bathtub is additionally equipped with handles, a headrest, hydromassage jets or a seat, make sure that these elements are securely fastened and of high quality.
• Location of drain and overflow holes. These parameters must be taken into account taking into account the location of communications in your bathroom.
• Manufacturer. When choosing, it is best to give preference to trusted manufacturers who have modern equipment for manufacturing their products. Such companies very carefully monitor the quality of their products, use the best materials and reliable accessories.

Advantages

• Durability. The cast iron bathtub is made of durable material that is wear-resistant and durable. Also, the thick walls of the bathtub, durable construction and protective enamel make the product even more reliable. Cast iron bathtubs will serve you faithfully for at least 30 years, but in most cases such bathtubs are still reliable and strong even after 50 years of operation.
• Strength and stability. The thick walls of the bathtub are not subject to any mechanical damage and cannot be deformed. Such a bathtub can withstand the heavy weight of the bathing person and high water temperatures. Only the enamel coating can wear out, but nowadays it can be easily restored.
• Thermal insulation and sound insulation. Cast iron retains heat well and the water cools very slowly, so bathing in such a bath adds even more comfort. Also, when drawing water, it does not ring when it collides with the walls of the bathtub.
• Hygiene and easy care. The manufacturing process of cast iron bathtubs ensures the easiest possible care of the surface of the product. The surface of the bath is smooth and contains a minimum number of pores where dirt can accumulate. Also, when cleaning the bathtub, you can use almost any cleaning products.

Flaws

• Heavy weight. Cast iron bathtubs are very heavy in themselves, but this is what ensures their stability and strength. Sometimes, due to the heavy weight, buyers may refuse such a bathtub, as they are afraid that they cannot withstand the ceiling in an apartment of such weight. After all, a bathtub 160 cm long and 75 cm wide weighs 95-105 kg, which is significantly more than steel or acrylic bathtubs.
• High price. This price is due to the complex manufacturing process of the product and the large amount of cast iron used in the manufacture of the bathtub.
• Small assortment. Since cast iron is a rather complex material, it is difficult to cast more elegantly shaped products from it. In this case, cast iron bathtubs are inferior to acrylic ones. Now on sale there are still some oval-shaped cast iron models, corner and even round options, but they cost much more than rectangular models, since the process of manufacturing non-standard bathtubs is much more complicated.

How to care

A cast iron bathtub, if cared for properly, can last almost a lifetime. Here are some basic rules for care:

• Don't overload. The product instructions indicate the maximum weight that the product can support. If you constantly violate this condition, the legs of the bathtub or the fixtures may not hold up and fail.
• Make sure that the bath is dry after use. If your faucet is leaking, you need to urgently repair it so that rusty streaks do not appear on the surface of the product.
• If the bathtub has an anti-slip coating, then special attention must be paid when cleaning such a surface, since dirt collects much faster on a textured surface.
• Damage to enamel. If you notice a chip or crack in the enamel coating, you need to urgently carry out restoration. The easiest way is to install an acrylic liner. You can also apply several coats of enamel paint, but this is a complex process and requires specialized knowledge. Here you will need the help of a specialist.

How to clean

If rusty streaks appear on the surface of the bathtub, it is best to remove it with oxalic acid. Before use, carefully read the instructions on how to use this product. To whiten bathtubs, toilet bowl cleaner “Toilet Duck 5 in 1” is often used. It cleans the bathtub well of all dirt, various stains and traces of rust. In addition, this product destroys all bacteria and microorganisms. When cleaning the bathtub, apply the product to the walls of the product. Then put on rubber gloves and use a sponge to thoroughly clean the tub. After this, rinse off the remaining product well with running water. In addition to chemical cleansing agents, you can also use traditional methods that also clean effectively, but are less aggressive.

• Baking soda. Baking soda is best used on white enamel coatings. Apply soda to the dry surface of the bathtub and, using a dry sponge, carefully begin to rub the soda into the surface with rhythmic movements. Then leave for a few minutes and rinse with warm water. The main thing here is that the surface is initially dry and the same sponge.
• Table vinegar. Soak a washcloth or rag in vinegar and apply to problem areas. Leave for 30 minutes and rinse with running water.
• Baking soda, vinegar and bleach. First, rinse the bathtub with warm water and apply about 3 tablespoons of soda to the surface. Leave for 20 minutes. At this time we are preparing the next composition. 45 grams of vinegar and the same amount of any bleach. Then apply a layer of baking soda and leave for one hour. After the time has passed, rinse thoroughly with water.
• Turpentine and salt. Take 100 grams of ordinary salt and 40 ml of turpentine. Mix everything and apply to dirty areas of the surface, spreading with a sponge. Leave for a few minutes and rinse thoroughly with water.
• Carbonated drinks. Many carbonated drinks contain phosphoric acid, which is excellent as a cleaning agent. To do this, you just need to pour the carbonated drink over the surface of the bath and leave it for a while. Then simply rinse with water.
• Washing powder. First, pour water over the bath and sprinkle plenty of washing powder on the dirty areas and begin vigorously rubbing with a sponge for 15 minutes. Then leave for 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
• Lemon acid. Using a soft sponge, apply acid to dirty areas of the surface and leave for about 20 minutes. Then wash the bath thoroughly. If after the first procedure the bath does not become snow-white, then the process can be repeated.

How to paint it yourself

To paint a bathtub at home, first of all you need to choose a special paint for cast iron bathtubs. Since conventional paints have a rather low resistance to moisture and, in addition, have a low degree of adhesion, which causes the paint to peel off the surface a short time after painting. That is why special paint is used to paint cast iron products. This paint consists of a three-component coloring composition. All these components are mixed immediately before applying paint to the surface, which must be prepared in advance for painting. Currently, you can find on sale not only white paint, but also blue and light green paint for cast iron bathtubs.

Preparing the bathtub surface for painting

• First of all, you need to remove fat and lime deposits from the surface. Alkaline detergents can be used for this purpose. Degreasing is also carried out after removing the old paint layer. To check the quality of degreasing, you just need to wet the surface of the bath. If the wetting layer is even and no streams or drops are formed, then the cleaning was successful.
• Then proceed to remove the old enamel. The old enamel can be removed completely, or only the top layer can be removed, resulting in a rough surface. This procedure is performed using special tools that are equipped with abrasive attachments, such as an electric drill or a grinder. Be careful when working with such tools. When working with them, you should follow safety precautions and use goggles, a respirator and gloves.
• If using the tools described above it was not possible to remove the enamel layer, then use a hand tool, such as a wire brush or sandpaper.

Applying paint

When you have cleaned the surface, you need to thoroughly wash off all the dust from it and dry it thoroughly, for which you can use a regular hair dryer. The well-dried surface is primed and a coloring composition is applied. Also during painting, it is necessary to take into account that for 5 hours after the start and end of painting, all doors and windows into the room must be closed in order to prevent dust from entering the painted surface. Some experts believe that this time should be increased to 24 hours, which eliminates the negative consequences of temperature and humidity changes on the paint drying process.

Steel bath cons

Steel, like any other type of material, has its pros and cons. The main disadvantages of steel plumbing are:

1. Instability to deformation. If the thickness of the walls of the structure does not reach 2.5-3 mm, be prepared for the fact that when the container is filled with water and the body is immersed, it may bend. During the operation of a thin-walled structure, under the influence of loads, cracks and chips may appear on the enamel.
2. The need to install the harness. When installing a bathtub, to make the structure stronger, it is necessary to build a base or perform special piping.

   
   Installation of a steel bath

3. Rust formation. Low-quality thin steel, used by some manufacturers for the manufacture of plumbing fixtures, is often covered with a layer of rust during operation, which significantly reduces the service life of the product.
4. Low sound absorption. The ringing loud sound from the water filling the bathtub spreads beyond the structure. So the sound of the jet beating against the bottom of the container will be heard not only by the bathtubs, but also by all the inhabitants of the apartment or house. This problem can be solved by gluing technical cork to the outside or applying polyurethane foam.

To make the sound muffled, foreign manufacturers use rubber noise-absorbing pads.

The high thermal conductivity of the material also has disadvantages, since the water in such a bath cools catastrophically quickly. Therefore, if you want to soak in warm water, you will have to open the hot water tap from time to time to maintain its temperature. Some craftsmen eliminate this drawback by using polyurethane foam during installation.

Steel bathtub lined with tiles Attention! When installing steel baths, it is necessary to provide grounding. If this condition is not met, there is a high risk of receiving an electric shock.