Short baths: views, unusual models, a selection of original solutions

A bath is a compulsory component of equipped housing, whether it be a country mansion or a small apartment in a metropolis. She is needed for the full reception of hygienic, medical and relaxing procedures.

More recently, this immense pleasure was not accessible to everyone. But now short baths are being produced in an assortment that does not lag behind the number of offers and design from traditional tanks. We will talk about how to choose the best option for you mini plumbing.

Reasons to buy a custom bath

We note right away that there is no clear technical definition of which bowl is considered short and which is not. 1.5 - 1.7 m is recognized as the standard long conventional capacity measured from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The average long shortened models are considered to be 1.0 - 1.2 m, although some deviations are not excluded.

The desire to purchase a bath of non-standard sizes arises not only from the owners of small apartments. The owners of large private houses who plan to organize a separate bathroom for children will be happy to join the ranks of potential buyers.

Similar ideas are visited by those who decided to install a swimming tank in the attic, the ceiling under which is not designed for an impressive load. Short plumbing is also needed for those who want to hide the flaws of an unsuccessful bathroom layout, and those for whom the area of ​​the room does not allow convenient location of the necessary household appliances.

The list of unconditional followers of shortened bowls includes owners of small families and their modern version, studio apartments. These include buyers of "temporary" plumbing, who decided to change it in a couple of years to a huge expensive hot tub.

Often, the purchase of a short option is a necessary measure related to the physical characteristics of a person, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and simply a respectable age. A special category of bathtubs is available for them, which allows you to take procedures, despite serious restrictions.

Naturally, non-standard size plumbing manufacturers seek to accommodate all types of consumer needs. They offer everyone a wide range of products, providing the opportunity to find a product suitable for the idea, form, convenience.

The short bathing containers they produce are divided into types and subspecies that potential buyers should familiarize themselves with.

Classification as a guideline

The division of shortened types of plumbing into groups that facilitate the choice is made according to the same principles as the ranking of trade offers standard size bathtubs. Fundamental differences are only in dimensions.

In addition to personal taste priorities, accounting requires a number of important criteria, these are:

• Type and durability of the material of which the bowl is made.
• The shape of the tank in plan, closely related to the option of the location of the plumbing in the bathroom.
• A configuration that provides the ability to swim while sitting or does not provide this advantage.
• The degree of technical equipment, asin the line of short models there is both conventional and hydromassage plumbing.
• Ergonomics plus the availability of tools that guarantee safe and comfortable operation.

To the list of classification features should also be added the presence of a sealed door. Bathtubs with it occupy a special niche in the market. Such plumbing is intended primarily for people with physical disabilities, but not only for them.

Most cropped bathtubs, especially sedentary patterns, "Extended" in height so that it is difficult for a healthy person to plunge into a container. The vertical orientation allows you to completely wash the body with water, but forces you to install the door.

A set of water is made only after its closure, which is associated with some inconvenience. However, the disadvantages are compensated by the quick filling of a rather small volume tank.

Along with bathtubs equipped with a door, manufacturers supply plumbing designed for balneological establishments. Restricted user models are equipped with support chairs, armrests, head restraints and ergonomic handles.

Bowl material is an important aspect

The cost of the product, its wear resistance and the important thermal characteristics for receiving procedures depend on the material from which the bowl is made.

In the manufacture of short models of plumbing, traditional options are used, most often used:

• Cast iron. It is rightfully in the lead in the ranking of plumbing, which is due to optimal heating equipment and maximum product life of 20-50 years. In cast-iron tanks, the temperature of the water collected for bathing is stored for the longest time. The disadvantages of the material are its heavy weight and considerable price.
• Steel. It is not particularly successful because of its high thermal conductivity - water in steel tanks quickly freezes. But they are light and easy to install. Operational periods rarely reach 10 years. During the period of water intake, the steel bowl makes a lot of noise, which worries the owners with their neighbors.
• Acrylic. It attracts by the ease and convenience of installation; by thermal engineering standards, it lags slightly behind cast iron. This plumbing is molded from extruded and molded sheet acrylic. Injection type is better and more reliable, but at a price close to cast iron. On average, it serves 5 - 7 years.
• Cooked. Lighter than cast iron, and in heating technology it is about the same level with it. Outwardly, acrylic is more pleasant and lasts much longer; the service life, depending on the brand, is 10 - 15 years. Installation of quartz bathtubs is rather difficult, besides technological holes need to be cut by ourselves.

Note that in the production of short models, mainly acrylic is used. Its plasticity allows you to give the bowl any shape. Technological holes are easily cut through at the points required for overflow drainage, nozzles, plumbing fixtures and fittings.

Bowls of all kinds of fantasy shapes are made of acrylic: in the form of shoes, hammocks, drops, boats, etc. Most angular types of symmetrical and asymmetric plumbing are made of this material. Small-sized jacuzzis with a different set of technical devices are produced from it.

Seated baths are made mainly of cast iron, which is due to the characteristic weight and guaranteed stability of the bowl. The enamel coating of the cast-iron bath can be restored without problems if necessary. Cast iron plumbing is rarely equipped with a large number of nozzles required for hydromassage, but it will work the longest.

In a number of sedentary versions there are products from multilayer fiberglass according to the technology used in shipbuilding. They rely on a solid steel frame. The outer surface of the products is covered with a gel shell, which increases the strength and aesthetic characteristics of the products.

Plumbing form in plan

The specific geometry of short models was originally designed to save free space in the bathroom, or even less in the combined bathroom. However, this principle is not interesting to all consumers.

For example, those who want to install a small capacity in the attic of a country mansion practically do not think about saving space.

It is possible to conditionally divide short bowls into:

• Rectangular Traditional options, simply made in shortened form. They are located mainly next to one or two walls, a separate one is possible, i.e. island setting.
• Oval. Outwardly, they resemble cup-shaped fonts used in Orthodox baptismal rites, or wooden bathtubs. They are located without adjoining the walls of the room.
• Corner The two adjacent sides of the corner bowls converge at 90º, making it extremely convenient to install them in any suitable corner of the room. The outer line of the container can be absolutely straight or semicircular. The triangle formed by the sides of the bowl can be either symmetric or asymmetric.

An independent segment in the assortment of short models stands out design solutions. They are difficult to attribute to a specific geometric variety.

The original short plumbing, of course, does not save space and is quite expensive. True, this consumer whim manufacturers are trying to satisfy with interest.

Small hydromassage bathtubs

In assortment of short jacuzzi There are sedentary options and models that allow you to sit in a tank only with legs bent at the knees. They are mainly made from acrylic, as the most technologically advanced material, which allows to realize any enchanting fantasies of designers and complex ideas of engineers.

The number of nozzles in the mini-jacuzzi is naturally limited, as a small plane area does not make it possible to cut through, for example, 64 pieces without losing the strength characteristics of the product. The holes for supplying water jets are on average from 2 to 18, they are located mainly in the region of the lower back, upper back and feet.

Hot tubs are equipped with a different set of functions. On sale there are containers designed exclusively for hydromassage.

There are options with a compressor for turbo procedures, with cascading mixers, waterfalls, blocks for watching videos and listening to audio materials. To form a relaxing color background, the bathtubs are complemented with backlight.

The principle of sitting bathtubs

We have already noted that most sitz baths are equipped with a door, which is necessary for the convenient use of plumbing. A self-healing seal is laid along the edge of the door, assuming the original dimensions and shape after multiple opening / closing cycles.

The lever locking the door, connected to a self-centering locking device, is located on the outside of the bathtub, which eliminates accidental spillage of water. The width of the doorway is designed for free movement of a person with difficulties in movement, it can be opened to 180º.

For older people, they make sitz baths with a non-slip coating arranged on the floor, with hygienic recesses on the seat to simplify the care of the genitals, with handrails and heated seats. Installation and connection of seating plumbing is made according to all familiar technologies.

To help future buyers

Those who have decided on the configuration of the bowl and the material from which it is made, decided which model is best suited, it is worth carefully scrutinizing the details and familiarizing yourself with useful recommendations.

Rating of manufacturers of short plumbing

Rating of manufacturers of short and standard plumbing is led by Italian firms. Plumbing with the logo of Cezares, Jacuzzi, Albatros conquers with grace of form, ergonomics and thoroughly thought out technical solutions.

Neither the appearance nor the reliability leaves doubts for the buyers, but it could not do without the flaws - the price of products to the majority is elementary “beyond their means”.

Therefore, most of the Italian mini-tanks for bathing listed brands on the market are made of acrylic. It is lighter, transportation is cheaper than transportation of cast-iron tanks. Less likely to damage the coating or crack.

In the average price range, Czech products from Ravak and Riho stand out from the competition. Manufacturers offer practical and really convenient products, in which every detail is clearly calculated and a decorative touch.

In the range of products that are average in price, you can find expensive and low-cost types, and the former are not much ahead of the latter in quality.

Acrylic bathtubs molded from the Spanish company Roca, the Polish manufacturer Cersanit, are popular with us. Shortened plumbing is well sold out by the Austrian-Polish concern Alpen and the Slovenian brand Kolpa-San. According to the reviews of the owners, these containers work well longer than the guaranteed period.

Among the proposals from the Russian manufacturer, bathtubs with the Akrilan, Triton, 1MarKa and Radomir logo deserve attention. Plumbing is produced on high-tech equipment, meets the requirements of European standards. Buyers are satisfied with technical equipment, quality, and design.

Convincingly argues buyers the cost of products of Russian companies, not including customs duties and transport surcharges. There are no problems with returning under warranty documents, in addition, technical means can be equipped at will.

Theoretical preparation for installation

Those who wish to acquire non-standard size sanitary ware, correctly install it and use it without problems will be helped by several valuable recommendations.

So that it is not a cheap purchase that does not disappoint in the first hours, you must:

• Carefully consider the location of the short bowl. For a thorough study of the issue, you need to remove the exact dimensions of the bathroom, the furniture and plumbing available in it.
• Draw a diagram or plan. With a plan made in size, you can contact the store. Most markets that respect themselves and the buyer have software that can be used to determine both the choice and the layout of the bathroom.
• To consider options for connecting a short model to the water supply and sewer. To install a spa bath, you must determine the power connection.

If it is not possible to independently think over and design the connection options, it is better to contact the design office ahead of the purchase, which will develop an optimal solution from a technical point of view.

Design Recommendations

In order for mini plumbing to successfully fit into the interior picture of the bathroom, there are several sensible recommendations.

Shortened plumbing will look great if:

• The interior uses transparent shelves and cabinets, which optically gives lightness to the environment.
• There are no bulky items in the bathroom, next to which the compact bowl is simply lost.
• Light colors are used in the decoration, there are no sharp contrasts and excessively bright accents.

A mini bath will look ridiculous against the background of a dimensional sink with a massive countertop. Also, do not emphasize its size by laying large tiles on the walls and floor. It is important to choose a product that is pure white or close to pastel color in order to visually increase the size of the compact model.

In order to visually “crop” a room that is too elongated, it is advisable to place a short bowl near a short wall.In a small square room, it is better to place such a bath in the corner, in a large hygienic room it will look great in the center.

Small bathroom owners will certainly be interested in questions choosing mini washers. They are described in detail in our recommended article.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Video # 1. Presentation of the mini-bath "Lisa":

Video # 2. Compact capacity in Khrushchev:

Video # 3. Recommendations for the use of sitz baths:

Taking into account the nuances with which we tried to acquaint you will help in a difficult choice. Our tips will help you choose the most suitable model. Design recommendations will help you choose the best location.

Tell us about how to choose a short model of plumbing for your own home / cottage. Share: what option did you purchase and why did you stop on this particular bath. Please leave comments in the block below, ask questions on the topic of the article, post comments and photographs.