How nice it can be after a busy and busy day to soak in a bath with warm water. A good quality bath will help turn a fairly simple hygiene procedure into a ritual of rest and relaxation. Additional charm and sophistication will be given to this event by appropriately arranging the appearance of the bathroom and installing a free-standing bathtub in it.
Such models of bathtubs make the decoration of the room literally royal, while being one of the components that is suitable for any more or less spacious bathroom. Such bathtubs are very easy to clean and use; you can approach them from any direction.
They are purchased with the aim of bringing an element of luxury and elegance to the interior, as well as giving it individuality and originality.
Features of freestanding clawfoot bathtubs
Until recently, a freestanding bathtub with legs could only be used in select apartments that had spacious bathrooms. Nowadays, the demand for such models has increased several times.
Experienced designers attribute the appeal of such products to the increased desire of consumers to create a chic environment in their home. With the help of luxurious bathrooms, home owners express their uniqueness, show good taste and, by visually expanding the bathroom, give it a feeling of spaciousness and comfort.
Clawfoot bathtub with attached mixer tap
Modern technologies make it possible to expand the length, depth and other dimensions of bathtubs to suit almost every taste. If the bathtub is chosen correctly, it will not only bring a lot of pleasure to all family members, but will also be convenient and practical for both small children and the elderly.
The density of the materials from which free-standing bathtubs are made is usually quite large, so the finished products have considerable weight. Taking this into account, before purchasing, you should calculate whether the floor in the bathroom can support the selected bathtub model. It is important to remember that cast iron freestanding bathtubs are usually much heavier than built-in models and products made from other materials, and yet the weight increases further when water is added to the bathtub. Installing the product in the right place is usually quite easy, but to avoid problems during operation due to its weight, it is better to calculate everything in advance.
Typically, freestanding bathtubs cost significantly more than standard built-in models, but most of those who prefer a luxurious interior find that their aesthetic pleasure is worth paying a premium.
In the event that the renovation budget does not allow you to purchase a free-standing bathroom, you can choose a built-in model from the variety of design ideas presented on the modern construction market, experimenting with accessories and design: among modern bathrooms there are quite a lot of quite worthy models for decorating any bathroom, which will bring their owners many pleasant sensations.
Bathtub with claw feet
Materials
- Cast iron. Surprisingly, oval cast iron bathtubs are in fashion. The reason for this is that antique and retro styles are now gaining popularity. For decades, cast iron bathtubs have been a model of reliability and durability. They also perfectly insulate sound and take a long time to heat up and cool down. The main disadvantage of cast iron bathtubs has not gone away - they are very massive and of considerable size.
- Steel. Bathtubs made of steel are the most budget option of the lowest quality. Therefore, it is chosen only by those who cannot afford anything else. They are not inferior in design to any other bathtubs, but they are much less convenient to use. A steel bathtub has a slippery and brittle coating and extremely high thermal conductivity, which is why it heats up and cools down very quickly. Another disadvantage is that when water is collected, this process is accompanied by a loud and unpleasant noise.
- Acrylic. Acrylic is a modern synthetic material. It has all the advantages of analogues created by Mother Nature. This material is light and flexible, like steel, retains heat and absorbs sound no worse than cast iron, and also looks no worse than marble. Its only drawback is its fragility, which is why the bathtub will have to be replaced soon after purchase.
- Marble. More expensive than the others are probably marble bathtubs. The only exceptions are products made from rare wood species, but those are made to order. Bathtubs are made from natural or artificial (cast) marble. Moreover, it is more profitable to take a bathtub made of artificial marble: it looks great, and its cost is noticeably lower. Also, caring for an item made from cast marble requires much less effort than something made from natural raw materials.
How to choose the right legs
When planning to buy a spectacular bathtub equipped with shaped legs, it is best to purchase all the components in the same place, so that even before the final purchase you can make sure of the reliability and durability of all its decorative and fastening parts, as well as select the most suitable fittings and accessories.
Experienced craftsmen advise following a few simple rules when choosing:
- Regardless of the material from which the bathtub is made, it should be understood that it will have to withstand the load of the combined mass of people and the liquid collected in it, so the legs must have sufficient strength: that is, be made of machined iron, galvanized steel or even real bronze. A product with supporting legs looks great in small rooms, but its mass, additionally raised above the floor to their height, will become noticeably larger, which means that the load on its surface will also increase. Therefore, it is not recommended to install the product on legs on ceramic tiles that have already served their purpose, covered with splits and cracks; it is better to immediately replace it with a new one so that you do not have to reposition the tiles a few days after installing the bathtub.
- Modern bath legs can have different purposes: they can be decorative (intended only for decoration), supporting (supporting the bowl) and additional (that is, complementing the overall structure and reinforcing its support).
- The choice of suitable legs largely depends on the overall style of the plumbing products and the already created image of the room. Legs of laconic, close to classic lines are more suitable for the most comfortable, minimalist rooms, and elements that look like the paws of large predators look better in classic bathrooms or in rooms decorated in baroque or art decor style.
- Sometimes the support legs are attached to the bathtub with a special adhesive tape, but this method, despite its simplicity, is not popular because it is not reliable. Experienced craftsmen consider special fasteners to be durable fasteners: brackets, screws, etc. To attach the support legs to the bathtub, it should be turned upside down or at least laid on its side. After this, the fasteners are inserted into the holes intended for them and screwed in until the very end. Then, using pads and clamps that are placed under the legs so as not to damage the floor covering, the bathtub is installed and, if necessary, moved along the floor.
Acrylic
Equipped with durable legs. It’s better if they are adjustable, you can immediately determine the height of the structure that suits the whole family.
Often, acrylic bathtubs are installed on special stands, in which case the legs perform decorative or auxiliary functions. These are just overlays. They are distinguished by the thinness of the walls.
Frame stands for acrylic products are relevant due to the tendency of the material to deform and crack during use.
The frame takes on the weight of water and body, distributing it evenly across the crossbars under the bottom. The main support holds the frame, the bowl itself rests on it, additional supports support it from below. Such protection is made from round or profile pipes.
Acrylic is a flexible, lightweight type of plastic (see Plastic baths). To prevent him from walking, the number of supports is increased. There can be from 6 to 12. The main ones take on the main load, the additional ones provide stability.
Supports for acrylic bathtubs are attached using:
- brackets, screws, and other fastening materials. A reliable type of fastening that requires skill and practice. It is better to entrust the installation of a bathtub to a specialist;
- duct tape. The method is fast, easy, but not trustworthy.
The European manufacturer carefully considers and distributes loads, works to reduce the weight of products, offering the buyer increasingly lighter and more advanced models.
Apollo 170×80 TS 1705
Free-standing acrylic bathtub from the Chinese company Appollo, founded in 1982. The thicket of the font is made of an oval shape, does not require installation on a frame, the legs (in the form of lion paws) and the font itself are made in a decorative retro style.
- The thickness of the walls of the font is 5 mm.
- Dimensions: 173 x 80 cm (total height including legs 84 cm).
- Additional features are armrests.
- Single.
pros
The bathroom faucet is installed directly on board.
VitrA Dream Oval 190×90 Chrome Legs
The VitrA Dream acrylic bathtub from the Turkish company VitrA, part of the largest Eczacıbaşı holding, will fit into any interior. The bathtub is made in an oval shape, chrome-plated legs are installed in the form of a frame.
- Volume: 220 liters.
- Bowl dimensions: 190 x 90 x 43 (dimensions excluding legs).
- Weight: 33 kg.
- Single.
- There are no additional functions; there is no possibility of installing the mixer directly on the bowl (installation is carried out on the wall or a floor-mounted mixer option is used).
Acrylic bathtub
Plumbing fixtures made of acrylic these days no longer surprise almost anyone, and in specialized stores you can find an acrylic freestanding bathtub of the most unexpected shape, and, if desired, with lighting or hydromassage. Support legs for such a bathtub can become a very interesting decorative element. Legs with height adjustment are very popular, which allow you to determine the desired height of the bath both for the comfort of each family member and for each room separately.
Original bathtub with legs
Acrylic bathtubs are sometimes initially installed on special supports, and the legs are only a design element and complement its appearance. For such legs, the material from which they are made is not a fundamental point.
Advantages
The main advantage is that, unlike built-in models, such a bathtub can be installed anywhere in the room. This allows you to implement any design solutions. The following advantages of baths of this type are noted:
- you can lie down completely, thanks to which the body relaxes as much as possible;
- the presence of such a product gives the room a luxurious look;
- allows you to visually enlarge the room;
- thanks to its large size, you can teach children to swim;
- a wide variety of shapes.
Oval bath
Models made from acrylic have the widest selection of shapes.
Cast iron bath
In order for a cast iron freestanding bathtub to serve reliably, the legs must be made of bronze or high-strength steel so that they can support its weight. A freestanding oval bathtub made of cast iron is often equipped with high sides, so both curly legs in the shape of the paws of predators with decorative overlays and laconic and strict ones, emphasizing the modern design of the bathroom, are well suited to it.
Freestanding clawfoot bathtub
Cast iron bathtubs with “animal” legs can be the most important accent of the entire interior, as a result of which the owners do not need to buy additional decor.
Steel bath
Affordable, lightweight, durable and reliable, steel bathtubs continue to be popular, and when complemented with support legs, they will remain trendy for years to come. Steel freestanding bathtubs can have a classic or oval shape, which further contributes to their popularity.
Contrasting legs look very good with steel bathtubs: black for white bathtubs or shiny steel or white for colored ones.
Colored clawfoot bathtub
Freestanding bathtubs
Modern interior designers are currently celebrating the peak in popularity of free-standing bathtubs designed for use in spacious bathrooms. These plumbing products are sometimes called fonts or bowls. They are installed directly on the floor, but some models have an additional “cushion” for ease of installation.
Such bathtubs most often attract those people who attach great importance to aesthetics and comfort, without stopping at high costs: after all, such a sanitary product must be chosen correctly, certain communications must be altered for it, correctly installed and supplemented with fittings that match the style.
Varied design
It should be mentioned that freestanding bathtubs differ from traditional built-in models, since their manufacturers have managed to erase the boundaries that determine their shape and dimensions. Now, oval, round with convex, barrel-like sides, or rectangular, like in the old days, bathtubs are quite available for personal use, and if you wish, you can buy a square or shaped bathtub of a given size.
Original design of a clawfoot bathtub
Acrylic bathtubs come in all shapes and colors, while the shape of cast iron bathtubs, due to technological features, is often classic. Free-standing bathtubs made from non-traditional materials look most original in interiors: copper, wood, thermally tempered glass or artificial marble.
Faucet selection
To enjoy the beautiful appearance of your home spa, it is important not to miss out on an important element - an appropriately selected faucet that creates a unique effect when combined with the bathtub. There is a huge selection of accessories available in the market. Faucets take different forms:
- geometric;
- profiled in cross section;
- curved arcs of various types.
It is important to choose a stylish freestanding faucet and install it so that the entire installation (pipes) is carried out unnoticed.
For a retro-style bathtub, you should choose retro faucets, for example, made of brass. Often their decorative shape is reminiscent of old telephones. Faucets have the color of gold, silver, copper, brass, they are a unique attribute for creating an interior in a retro spirit, allowing you to create a timeless mood.
Like other details associated with the bathroom equipment, the design of the retro-style faucet is inspired by the natural world, there are:
- floral motifs,
- images of animals,
- fairy tale dragons.
In modern style, the popularity of simple, classic forms is high.
