Comparison AM-PM Spirit 170x70 cm vs Kaldewei Saniform Plus 170x75 cm

The shape of the bath along the upper outer edge. Both the appearance and the features of installation, and in many cases, also use, depend on this. Note that the outlines of the internal space (where water is directly poured) often do not coincide with the declared shape - for example, rectangular bathtubs usually have an oval interior. This is done in order to ensure the comfort of the swimmer.

- Rectangular. Traditional, most common form. It is very versatile, equally suitable for installing a bath separately from the walls, against a wall or even in a corner.

— Rectangular (beveled angles). A type of rectangular bathtub with angles that are not strictly straight, but are made with a characteristic rounding (from 2 cm or more). Beveled angles give a feeling of smoothness and harmony. Note that both the contours of the bathtub in general and its bowls in particular can have a rounded shape.

— Rectangular with an arc. Rectangular bathtubs with one of the sides having an arc (curved) shape. Such a constructive trick can have both aesthetic value and practical advantages. In particular, the arc shape often improves ergonomics, supporting a more comfortable posture when taking a bath.

— Corner versatile. A mandatory feature of any corner bath is the presence of two sides converging at right angles (when...installed, they are closely adjacent to the walls of the room). In this case, these sides have different lengths, hence the name. The outer part, which is not in contact with the angles, can have a different shape, but most often it is rounded.

— Angular symmetrical. A type of corner bathtub in which the sides adjacent to the corner of the room are the same length. Otherwise, such models are completely similar to the angular versatile ones (see above).

— Oval. In oval bathtubs, the shape of the outer edge usually follows the contours of the interior space. The appearance and design of such products can be different - for example, some look like rounded rectangles and can be installed close to the wall, others are closer to the classic oval (without straight lines) and are designed more for free-standing placement.

- Round. As in oval ones (see above), the external and internal shapes of such bathtubs are identical. This shape is convenient for two-seater models; in addition, it is very profitable - a round bathtub requires less material than an oval or rectangular one of the same volume. True, such products are practically not suitable for installation in a corner.

- Square. For a number of reasons, the square shape is found mainly among double baths, and even then very rarely. The internal space in such products can be either round or oval (elongated diagonally to a square); and the square shape of the outer edge is provided for ease of corner installation. Please note that such baths take up quite a lot of space.

- Semicircular. Half-circle bathtubs are usually designed to be installed against a wall, with the flat side facing the wall. This option is found mainly in designer models with two seats.

— Barrel-shaped. Baths shaped like a barrel. Typically, such models have curved sides that form a rounded and smooth shape - like a classic barrel. With their contours, barrel-shaped products create visually pleasing effects and ensure a comfortable fit in the bathtub.

- Non-standard. This category includes baths that do not belong to any of the forms described above. “Non-standard” products are produced in a variety of forms: in the form of a rectangle with a curved front part, an oval with a panel at one end for corner installation, a polygon, a triangle with rounded angles, etc. This option should be paid attention primarily to those for whom, along with functionality, the original appearance of the bathtub is important.

The working volume of the bath is usually indicated by the amount of water that can be poured to the level of overflow.

In general, the larger the volume - the, as a rule, the more comfortable the bath, the higher the likelihood that it will be able to lie down or even dive into the water almost entirely, up to the neck. However, it should be borne in mind that models of the same volume can differ markedly in size and shape (both external and internal). This means that large capacity does not yet guarantee convenience for a particular user. In addition, filling the volume bath will take more time and require more water, which can be critical if there are meters or limited water supply (for example, hot water from the storage boiler).

— Acrylic. Polymer material, very popular in modern baths due to the combination of relatively low cost and good reliability. Another important advantage is the ease of processing, allowing you to create bathtubs of almost any shape, incl. quite bizarre. Pure acrylic is quite wear and durable; true, it is relatively easy to scratch, but such a surface is restored without much difficulty. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that inexpensive bathrooms can use a combination of acrylic with ABS-plastic. This material allows to reduce the cost of the product, but negatively affects its resistance to wear - the bath can quickly lose its commercial appearance.

— Acrylic with glass. This category includes acrylic bathtubs (see above) with transparent glass wall. This solution is solely a design approach. It is worth noting that it looks like "glass" bath really stunning.

— Kvaril. Modification of acrylic (see above), combining actual acrylic with quartz sand. Its main advantages are its high strength and reliability, due to which it is possible to give baths any shape (incl. and with many bends), and the probability of damage in impacts is much lower than that of acrylic. In addition, the quartile for a long time retains «commercial appearance». On the other hand, it is somewhat heavier than acrylic, it is more expensive, and in the restoration is quite c...omplex (if a scratch or crack does appear).

— Cast iron. Classic material, quite widely used to this day. Cast iron is characterized by good strength and durability, and its great weight in this case is rather a virtue - it is very difficult to move a similar bath from a place, even if you do it on purpose. In addition, thick cast iron walls have high heat capacity; this should be taken into account when filling (for example, warm the bath in advance), but the heated bath holds heat well and cools slowly. The coating usually uses high-strength enamel, which further increases the reliability and durability of the product. The main disadvantage of cast iron, in addition to the cost, is unsuitable for complex forms, in the end almost all baths of this material are made rectangular. It should also be noted that modern technologies allow to make cast iron walls quite thin - but this reduces not only the price, but also the strength and heat capacity.

— Steel. Steel baths are notable primarily for their high strength and relatively low weight; they are significantly cheaper than cast iron. However, the walls of steel have a small thickness, because of which such products do not keep heat and are quite «noisy», they make a lot of noise when collecting water. In addition, although it is almost impossible to break the bath itself, but the enamel coating is usually not very reliable and durable, and cracks in it lead to rust. In addition, this material is not suitable for complex forms.

— Artificial stone. The material is similar in most respects to natural stone, but obtained synthetically and therefore more accessible and easy to process. However, engineered stone bathtubs are still very expensive and usually belong to products of the «luxury» class, designed for design interiors, expensive spa salons, etc. However, this material has practical advantages, and very significant. So, the stone has a pleasant appearance, and in addition, it practically does not lose it as used. It is durable, not deformed, not prone to the appearance of difficult to remove contaminants, and also resistant to scratches; and even with the appearance of scratches, they are relatively easy to remove. Low thermal conductivity combined with high heat capacity contribute to the retention of heat (however, the bath before filling does not hurt to heat well). In addition, the stone bath is almost silent under the stream of water. The main drawback of this material, besides the price, is a large weight. In addition, from a strong blow, which on cast iron or steel would leave only a dent, the stone can crack (however, the probability of such a «accident» is extremely low).

Wall thickness indicates not only the thermal conductive properties, but also the durability of the product. However, the same parameter affects the price of the device. Accordingly thick-walled baths makes no sense to acquire for rare use. It is enough to make do with 5 mm .

— Hydromassage. Massage performed by means of strong jets of water coming from nozzles at the bottom and walls of the bathroom. Such effects have a tonic effect, normalize metabolism and contribute to the removal of slags and toxins from the body. It should be borne in mind that in this case, it is usually not the presence of a hydromassage system, but the possibility of its installation; the systems are sold separately or installed only in some modifications of the bath. Also note that in some situations (for example, in heart diseases) can be used hydromassage only on the recommendation of a doctor.

— Air massage. Body massage with air bubbles coming from nozzles at the bottom of the bath. Air massage has a relaxing and cleansing effect; its combination with hydromassage (see above) is considered to be particularly effective, so in many bathrooms these functions are combined. Air massage systems in most cases also need to be bought and installed separately.

— Ozonation. Ozone saturation of water - an active gas, capable of destroying bacteria and viruses, and (in small doses) to produce a beneficial effect on the body. Ozone therapy, in particular, helps to normalize metabolism and hormonal balance, increase immunity, and eliminate toxins and slags. At the same time for such an impact there are contraindications, so before using such a bath does not hurt...to consult a doctor.

— Disinfection. This function occurs only in baths with massage systems (see above). It is designed to clean pipelines and nozzles in such systems from micro-organisms, which can not only cause various diseases, but also cause blockage of pipelines and the appearance of an adverse odor. For the disinfection system may need a special cleaning agent.

— Dry motion protection. Special fuse on board hydromassage baths, which does not allow the pump to pump air if there is no water in the bathroom. While idling, the pump units overheat and deform, which can lead to premature equipment failure.

— Anti-slip coating. Special coating that makes the bottom of the bath less slippery. Most often provides relief of a special shape, «clinging» to the foot of a person and does not allow her to slip. This minimizes the chance of slipping in the tub and getting injured.

— Antibacterial coating. The presence of a special hygienic coating prevents the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria and helps to maintain the purity of the bath, reducing the likelihood of appearance of plaque and unpleasant odor. In addition, the smooth antibacterial surface also improves the appearance of the product.

— Underwater light. Water illumination in the bathroom; may have different colors, incl. with the possibility of color change. The main possibilities are not affected by underwater light, but it gives the filled bath a pleasant appearance and contributes to a relaxing atmosphere (which is sometimes no less important than the comfortable shape of the surface and the optimal water temperature).

— Perimeter lighting. Decorative illumination of the exterior walls of the bath. For the purpose and features are completely similar to the above underwater light. Note that in some acrylic bathtubs (cf. «Material body») the perimeter illumination can be installed between acrylic and external reinforcement and illuminate not only the outer space, but also water (through translucent acrylic).

— Strengthening (insulation). This feature is indicated for reinforced baths - typically acrylic models using various technologies, for example PU Plus by Ravak, or similar to it - Flight by Jacob Delafon. These technologies allow you to create a denser and heavier material than normal acrylic, which has a positive effect on both the strength of the bath and thermal insulation: such products are more reliable than ordinary acrylic, and water cools down more slowly. However, reinforced models are not cheap.

— Water heating. The bath has its own heating element, allowing to heat water. The power of such an element is usually not very high, it is intended more for maintaining the temperature of hot water than for heating cold. However, this function is very convenient: it allows you to lie in the bath for a long time, without being distracted by draining cold water and adding hot.

— Built-in radio. Radio with speaker (speakers) built directly into the bath. This feature allows you to take water treatments while listening to music or a favorite talk show. Built-in radio is usually designed for the FM range - it is in it broadcast almost all modern music stations.

— Display. The presence of own display in the design of the bath is usually the simplest single color LCD screen, although there are exceptions. The display is used to display service information: the selected mode of operation, hours, settings of the timer and remaining time, notification of faults, etc. This makes the use of the bath more convenient, and the control - simple and visible.

Country of origin, officially declared in the characteristics of the bath. Note that this parameter may not correspond to the actual place of production - the “homeland” of the company selling bathtubs is often indicated as the manufacturer, and the production may be located in another country. This is done for advertising purposes: for example, the products of European and American companies are considered by many to be more reliable and of higher quality than those of Asian firms. However, the actual quality of products today depends not so much on geography, but on the integrity of a particular company; therefore, when choosing, it makes sense to focus not on the country of origin, but first of all on the reputation of the brand. In this niche, in addition to the domestic manufacturer, the most popular manufacturers are Austria, Germany, Spain, Italy, China, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Turkey, France, the Czech Republic, Switzerland.

The warranty period declared by the manufacturer for this bathtub model is the period during which the manufacturer guarantees the quality of the product. Particularly with bathtubs, the guarantee mainly covers the coating and indicates how long, with proper care, the appearance of the bathtub will remain in good condition.

The longer the warranty period (and it can be different, both 5 years and 10 years ; even there are bathtubs with a guarantee of 30 years) - the more reliable the bathtub is, the higher its overall quality, all other things being equal, but the more expensive it will be cost compared to peers.

Size of the bath in length, width and height. When choosing, it should be borne in mind that the length and width are specified on the outer dimensions - this allows you to estimate the place required for the installation of the bath, but its internal dimensions are inevitably obtained less. But as a height it is customary to indicate the depth - the distance from the top edge to the bottom. Here we note that the high altitude allows you to dive deeper into the water, but may cause some people (for example, elderly or suffering from leg diseases) problems when entering the bath.

The depth of the bowl, measured from the sides of the bath to the bottom of the inner space. This can vary widely, ranging from about 30 to 65 cm in increments of 5 cm. Usually is located in the area of 40-45 cm. For bathing in deeper products may need a special podium, step or highchair, which will help to cross the high side of the bath.