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Original poster

A steel or acrylic bath - which is nicer???

11 replies

Ellaroo · 05/07/2006 11:38

I'm trying to choose a new bath and can't decide whether to go for steel or acrylic. We have a shower over the bath, so I know in theory this means we should go for steel (does it? or does any one know anything to the contrary), but wondered about ease of cleaning, weight on the floor joists, slipperiness, speed with which it's ruined - any opinons would be greatly appreciated. What do you have and why do like/dislike it?

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 05/07/2006 11:41

wouldn't steel be cold?

moondog · 05/07/2006 11:41

I'vegot an acrylic one (here when i bought my new house) and although wouldn't have chosen it myself,it's very nice indeed.

moondog · 05/07/2006 11:41

Now with hot water in Expat.

BadHair · 05/07/2006 11:46

Used to have an acrylic bath and hated it. Perhaps it was just a cheap one, but I swear I could feel it bending when I stepped in, and I'm not that overweight. It just felt very plasticky and I didn't like that.

Steel/enamel baths just feel more solid, somehow. They are heavier than acrylic, so if you have weak floorboards that might be a problem. And you have to make sure they're earthed, in case lightening hits you in the bath (or something). But they're just nicer somehow.

moondog · 05/07/2006 11:47

Oh my acrylic number has held me,dh and ds and dd and never winced under the strain.

JackieNo · 05/07/2006 11:51

And I think that Expat's right - the steel/enamel ones do absorb some of the heat from the water, so the water can cool down more quickly - guess you just have to make it a bit hotter to start with.

expatinscotland · 05/07/2006 11:57

that's what i was getting at, jackie.

a friend of mine has a copper bath and HATES it b/c she says the water cools too quickly and she's stuck in chilly bath pretty soon after.

whereas i was still toasty in our acrylic an hour after stepping in.

Sugarpop · 05/07/2006 12:01

I hated my old enamel bath, it looked great though! Now have bog standard acrylic one and love it!

expatinscotland · 05/07/2006 12:02

they are toasty, eh, sugar?

i was overwarm in mine the other night - had to open the door.

great for the girls, too, a nice warm bath - especially here in Scotland.

Ledodgyherring · 05/07/2006 12:02

I prefer enamel baths although we have acrylic here. Enamel baths will hurt if you bang your head on them which could be a consideration if kids are young.

tracyk · 05/07/2006 12:11

Is there an in between option? a more expensive acrylic?

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