Enamel Vs. Fiberglass Bathtubs
Bathtubs are constructed of several different materials, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. New materials offer good performance at low prices, but traditional materials are still attractive alternatives. Questions of weight, durability, ease of cleaning and expense must be considered when choosing among tubs, and no material is the obvious the best choice for all situations. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Enameled Cast Iron
-
Cast iron coated with a thin layer of porcelain is a traditional material for bathtub construction. Cast-iron tubs are durable and can last for many years. They insulate well, allowing bath water to stay hot longer, and they are quieter than steel tubs when they are being filled. Cast iron is expensive, however, and iron tubs are extremely heavy. They tend to be smaller than tubs made from other materials, and the porcelain coating is susceptible to cracking.
Enameled Steel
-
Steel tubs are much lighter than cast iron tubs, sometimes as little as a quarter the weight of similar iron tub, and steel is less expensive than cast iron. They are easy to clean and corrosion resistant. Steel tubs, however, are often coated with less expensive porcelain, making them even more prone to chipping and other damage. The light weight and thinner walls of steel tubs also make them much noisier than cast-iron tubs.
-
Fiberglass
-
Fiberglass is the least expensive material used in the manufacture of bathtubs. It consists of a fiberglass tub coated with a thin layer of gel-coat to provide color. Fiberglass is lightweight and easier to install than steel or cast-iron tubs. The gel-coat is not as durable as other finish materials, and its color tends to fade over time. Fiberglass is also particularly vulnerable to scratching and can be difficult to clean.
Other Materials
-
Cast acrylic is similar in weight to fiberglass, but it insulates better, is easier to clean and has a more durable finish. However, it is more expensive than fiberglass. Marble bathtubs are luxurious and have a sophisticated look, but they are expensive and heavy, they scratch easily, and they may crack if subjected to sudden changes in water temperature.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
