Tell me about baths, please

[HighFibreDiet]

Our house designer/project manager person has suggested a cheap bathroom suite from Screwfix - I know she is trying to keep our prices down but I am put off by the acrylic bath as my experience is the side panels falling off (just like the one in the flat we are renting at the moment). According to my dp it's to do with how well it's installed, but I'm still concerned. Any comments?

The side panel has nothing to do with the bath. You can have any side panel you like. The bath tub itself will be acrylic instead of porcelain. It look the same and is warmer but scratches easier. In terms of design it wouldn't make any difference.

I am living in the house with an acrylic bath and absolutely hate it. The one I have it's probably a cheaper version, and when I stand in bath for shower, the bottom sags where I put my feet, although the bath itself is stable. It is uncomfortable feeling to have the bath saging under you feet when you shower. Unless you can get thicker (and more expensive) acrylic bath, I would go with steel bath..

I've got a thick acrylic bath, and it is fine - no distortion at all.

Do you really want a Screwfix bathroom suite though ? They are OK, but not very interesting designs.

And if your shower will be over the bath you need a really sturdy bath

You can get a steel bath for the same sort of price as an acrylic one. Ours has a shower above so we got one with an antislip surface on the bottom. We made the side panel from plywood, but you can buy them ready made. They screw into place so won't fall off.

Thanks all for your comments, very useful.

To be honest I don't really care about it being interesting as long as it is sturdy.

I prefer the idea of a screw-on wooden side panel. I have had those before in rental properties and they were fine.