Buyer’s Guide: Tubs

Equal parts meditative and functional, today’s bathroom has been transformed into a spa, a place to unwind and refresh the body. Situated at the heart of this relaxation center is the tub. Once a utilitarian device, the tub has become a glamorous and, in many cases, exciting feature inbathroom design。

这些天，当谈到选择一个浴缸，可能性是几乎无限的。选项包括浸泡师和漩涡;经典的爪脚模型;轮廓形状，椭圆形，正方形和圆形;脖子休息和扶手的浴缸;浴缸设置为平台;和浴缸你踩到甚至走进去。所有这些都以价格出现，因此重要的是要记住，浴缸的总成本将反映所涉及的技术和材料类型。

“曾经是浴缸只是一个浴缸和淋浴组合，主要是淋浴和清洁身体。今天，浴缸通常与淋浴分开，唯一目的是浸泡放松和放松，“美国标准品牌教育总监Gray Uhl说。购买浴缸不再是一个简单的决定，因为浴缸可以是昂贵和永久的购买，在您实际购买之前做这项研究非常重要。

Before shopping for a tub, first ask yourself你喜欢如何洗澡。你更喜欢长次挥之不去的浸泡，还是一种振奋的漩涡按摩？适用于浴缸和您的家人的重要沐浴和其他用途。借此机会在选择浴缸之前评估您的目标和生活方式，这是值得的时间投资。

Bathtub Materials

• Fiberglass:这是一种轻质，可模塑材料。玻璃纤维浴缸是您可以购买的最便宜的类型。不幸的是，它容易刮伤，并且不会穿得很好，持续十几年。玻璃纤维含有丙烯酸饰面将保持更长时间。
• 瓷搪瓷钢：This is a steel-based material covered in porcelain enamel. The result is a low-cost, smooth, glossy, and durable finish that is easy to clean.
• 搪瓷涂层铸铁：This classic material will endure as long as your house stands. Because of its heavy weight, especially when filled with water, it is not recommended for large soaking tubs, and it’s best used on ground floors.
• Acrylic：这是一种塑料，具有良好的光洁度和优异的耐用性。固体丙烯酸是一种比玻璃纤维更耐用的中等价格范围产品。另一个加号：划痕不太明显，因为颜色一直通过。

  Because it is easy to mold into shapes, acrylic is a popular material for uniquely shaped whirlpools with molded armrests and other detailing. It’s also lightweight, an important feature in large tubs that can put damaging stress on structural elements.

  Advertisement

Types of Bathtubs

Standard Bathtubs

The two most common tub sizes are 60 inches long by 30 inches wide and 60 inches long by 32 inches wide. A standard rectangular-shaped tub, however, will have a smaller dimensioned bathing well, measuring 55 inches by 24 inches at the top and narrowing to 45 inches by 22 inches at the very bottom. These are general bathtub dimensions for both cast iron and fiberglass tubs. When you’re shopping, be sure to choose a tub with a drain in the correct location, either left- or right-sided to correspond to your tub faucet and shower placement.

Claw-Footed Tubs

自18世纪以来，爪脚浴缸非常传统。它们通常慷慨地缩放，通常由铸铁制成。这种风格通常是昂贵的，因为涂覆在外部和内表面上的瓷釉。

Freestanding Tubs

Unlike a standard tub, afreestanding tub不被橱柜包围或内置在壁龛中。浴缸可以站在脚上，或用定制的面板和石材，瓷砖或大理石甲板包围或包裹。这种类型的浴缸旨在自支撑，可以作为任何浴室的豪华焦点。

浸泡浴缸

Soaking tubs are usually deeper and wider than conventional tubs; some units are as long as 6.5 feet and sized to accommodate two adults. Soaking tubs can be found in many different styles, from the classic enameled cast iron Victorian style claw-foot to ultramodern acrylic vessels. Models can weigh between 225 to 2,000 pounds, not including the weight of the water, which can be significant—soaking tubs require 50 to 80 gallons of water at 8.3 pounds per gallon. Heating the water can also be an issue. A hot water booster can be installed to augment an existingwater heateror, in some cases, an on-demand heater may be necessary.

Whirlpool Tubs

A popular choice today is the sunken漩涡浴缸, which comes with an array of therapeutic and relaxing options in the form of multiple jets or single jets that are installed in the walls behind the tub. You can also choose from a wide assortment of sizes, shapes, and colors, including models that fit into the standard 5- to 6-foot tub space. Among the more basic types of whirlpool baths is the hydromassage, which uses a pump to recirculate bath water out of several jets strategically located in the tub walls. Another is the therapeutic air massage—or “air bath”—that features an air system that encases the tub, engulfing the bather with thousands of gentle bubbles that pour in from small holes in the bottom and sides of the tub.

Manufacturers like American Standard, Jacuzzi, and Kohler offer luxury systems with a combination of both massaging jets and soothing air bubble systems in one unit, as well as baths equipped with heaters that warm the air before it enters the tub. If you’re in the market for a whirlpool tub, you’ll want to choose one that features a quiet yet powerful pump motor, is UL listed and approved, and has a removable front apron for easy access to internal parts and maintenance.

Walk-in Tubs

For seniors, or anyone with mobility issues, the步入式浴缸提供一种简单的解决方案，将安全性与振兴水疗相结合。步入式浴缸有几种方便的尺寸，甚至可以安装在标准的浴缸空间内。浴缸包括舒适，椅子高度，内置座椅和抓取杆，用于增加安全性。按摩浴缸提供带有专利Pointpro Jet系统的步入式浴缸，具有大容量，低压泵，具有完全平衡的水与空中比例，可轻轻按摩。它们在精确的位置布置，可提供治疗按摩并完全可调节。美国标准的步入式浴缸提供像漩涡，Air Spa和Combo按摩系统等选项。浴缸还配备了一个特殊的快速排水功能，采用强大的泵，可在不到两分钟的时间内去除浴液。