Short baths: types, unusual models, selection of original solutions

A bath is an essential component of a furnished home, be it a country mansion or a small apartment in a metropolis.It is needed to fully receive hygienic, therapeutic and relaxing procedures.

Just recently, this immense pleasure was not available to everyone. But now short bathtubs are produced in an assortment that does not lag behind traditional containers in terms of the number of offers and design. We will tell you how to choose the best mini plumbing option for you.

Reasons for buying a custom bathtub

Let us immediately note that there is no clear technical definition of which bowl is considered short and which is not. The standard length of an ordinary container, measured from the front to the rear edge, is considered to be 1.5 - 1.7 m. The average length of shortened models is considered to be 1.0 - 1.2 m, although some deviations cannot be excluded.

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

Similar ideas come to those who decide to install a bathing tank in the attic, the ceiling under which is not designed for an impressive load. Short plumbing is needed both by those who want to hide the flaws of an unsuccessful bathroom layout, and by those for whom the space of the room does not allow for convenient placement of the necessary household appliances.

The list of absolute supporters of shortened bowls includes owners of small families and their modern version, studio apartments. These also include buyers of “temporary” plumbing fixtures who decided to exchange it in a couple of years for a huge, expensive Jacuzzi.

Often, purchasing a short version is a necessary measure related to a person’s physical characteristics, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, and simply advanced age. A special category of bathtubs is produced for them, allowing them to take procedures despite serious restrictions.

Naturally, manufacturers of plumbing fixtures of non-standard sizes strive to take into account all types of consumer requests. They offer everyone a wide range of products, providing the opportunity to find a product that is suitable in design, shape, and convenience.

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

Classification as a guideline for choice

The division of shortened types of plumbing fixtures into groups that make selection easier is carried out according to the same principles as the ranking of trade offers standard size bathtubs. The only fundamental differences are in dimensions.

In addition to personal taste priorities, a number of important criteria require taking into account, these are:

• The type and durability of the material from which the bowl is made.
• The shape of the container in plan is closely related to the arrangement of plumbing fixtures in the bathroom.
• A configuration that provides the ability to bathe while sitting or does not provide this benefit.
• The degree of technical equipment, because The line of short models includes both regular and hydromassage sanitary ware.
• Ergonomics plus the availability of tools that guarantee safe and comfortable operation.

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

Most shortened bathtubs, esp. seated models, “elongated” in height so that it can be difficult for a healthy person to dive into the container. The vertical orientation allows the body to be completely washed with water, but forces the installation of a door.

Water is drawn only after it is closed, which is associated with some inconveniences. However, the shortcomings are compensated by the quick filling of a rather small container.

Along with bathtubs equipped with a door, manufacturers supply sanitary ware intended for balneological establishments. Models for servicing users with disabilities are equipped with supportive seats, armrests, headrests and ergonomic handles.

Bowl material is an important aspect

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

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

• Cast iron. It rightfully leads the ranking of plumbing fixtures, which is due to optimal heating technology and maximum service life of products of 20 - 50 years. Cast iron containers maintain the temperature of the water collected for bathing for the longest time. The disadvantages of the material are its heaviness and considerable price.
• Steel. It is not particularly popular due to its high thermal conductivity - water in steel tanks gets cold very quickly. But they are light and easy to install. Operational periods rarely reach 10 years. During the period of water collection, the steel bowl makes a lot of noise, which bothers the owners and neighbors.
• Acrylic. It is attractive due to its ease and convenience of installation; in terms of thermal engineering standards, it lags slightly behind cast iron. These plumbing fixtures are molded from extruded and injection-molded acrylic sheets. The casting type is better and more reliable, but the price is close to cast iron. On average it lasts 5 – 7 years.
• Kvaril. Lighter than cast iron, and in terms of heat engineering it is approximately on the same level. It is more visually pleasing than acrylic and lasts much longer; service life, depending on the brand, is 10–15 years. Installing quaril baths is quite difficult, and you also need to cut the technological holes yourself.

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

Bowls of all kinds of fancy shapes are made from acrylic: in the form of shoes, hammocks, drops, boats, etc. Most corner types of symmetrical and asymmetrical plumbing fixtures are made of this material. It is also used to produce small-sized Jacuzzis with a different set of technical devices.

Sitz baths are made primarily of cast iron, due to the characteristic weight and guaranteed stability of the bowl. The enamel coating of a cast iron bathtub 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.

A number of seated versions include products made from multilayer fiberglass using technology used in shipbuilding. They rest on a durable steel frame. The outer surface of the products is covered with a gel shell, which increases the strength and aesthetic characteristics of the product.

Shape of plumbing in plan

The specific geometry of short models was initially designed to save space in the bathroom, or even more so in a combined bathroom. However, this principle is not of interest to all consumers.

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

Short bowls can be roughly divided into:

• Rectangular. Traditional options, simply made in a shortened form. They are mainly located next to one or two walls, a separate one is possible, i.e. island installation.
• Oval. Outwardly they resemble bowl-shaped fonts used in Orthodox baptismal rites, or wooden bath vats. They are placed without adjoining the walls of the room.
• Angular. Two adjacent sides of the corner bowls converge at 90º, making them extremely convenient to install 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 symmetrical or asymmetrical.

Design solutions stand out as an independent segment in the range of short models. It is difficult to attribute them to a specific geometric variety.

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

Small hydromassage baths

In an assortment of short jacuzzi There are seated options and models that allow you to sit in the container only with your knees bent. They are produced mainly from acrylic, as the most technologically advanced material, which allows you to realize any enchanting fantasies of designers and complex ideas of engineers.

The number of nozzles in a mini-jacuzzi is naturally limited, because... A small plane simply does not allow cutting through, for example, 64 pieces without losing the strength characteristics of the product. The number of holes for supplying water jets ranges from 2 to 18 on average; they are located mainly in the lumbar region, upper back and feet.

Mini hydromassage baths are equipped with a different set of functions. There are containers on sale that are intended exclusively for hydromassage.

There are options with a compressor for turbo procedures, with cascade mixers, waterfalls, blocks for watching videos and listening to audio materials. To create a relaxing color background, baths are complemented with lighting.

The principle of sitz baths

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

The door-locking lever, 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 door opening is designed for the free movement of a person with difficulty moving; it itself can be opened 180º.

For older people, sitz baths are produced with an anti-slip coating on the floor, with hygienic recesses on the seat to simplify genital care, with handrails and a heated seat.Installation and connection of sedentary plumbing is carried out using familiar technology.

To help future buyers

Those who have decided on the configuration of the bowl and the material from which it is made, have decided which model is best suited, should carefully understand the details and familiarize themselves with useful recommendations.

Rating of manufacturers of short plumbing fixtures

The rating of manufacturers of short and standard plumbing fixtures is headed by Italian companies. Plumbing fixtures with the Cezares, Jacuzzi, Albatros logo captivate with their graceful form, ergonomics and thoroughly thought-out technical solutions.

Neither the appearance nor the reliability leaves buyers in doubt, but it is not without its drawbacks - the price of the product is simply “unaffordable” for most.

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

In the mid-price range, Czech products from Ravak and Riho stand out from their competitors. Manufacturers offer practical and truly convenient products, in which every detail and decorative touch is clearly calculated.

Within the range of average-priced products, you can find expensive and budget types, and the former are not much superior in quality to the latter.

Our popular acrylic bathtubs, molded from injection molding material, are from the Spanish company Roca and the Polish manufacturer Cersanit. Shortened sanitary ware from the Austrian-Polish concern Alpen and the Slovenian brand Kolpa-San are selling well. According to reviews from owners, these containers work perfectly well longer than the guaranteed period.

Among the offers from the Russian manufacturer, bathtubs with the Akrilan, Triton, 1MarKa and Radomir logos deserve attention. The sanitary ware is produced using high-tech equipment and meets the requirements of European standards. Buyers are satisfied with the technical equipment, quality, and design.

Convincingly argues for buyers the cost of products from Russian companies, which does not include customs duties and transport surcharges. There are no problems with returns under warranty documents; in addition, you can complete the technical equipment at your own request.

Theoretical preparation for installation

Those wishing to acquire non-standard-sized plumbing fixtures, install them correctly and use them without problems will be helped by several valuable recommendations.

To ensure that a not-at-all-cheap purchase disappoints you in the very first hours, you must:

• Carefully consider the location of the short bowl. To thoroughly study the issue, you need to take the exact dimensions of the bathroom, the furniture and plumbing in it.
• Draw a diagram or plan. You can contact the store with a size plan. Most markets that respect themselves and the buyer have software that can help you decide both on the choice and layout of the bathroom.
• Consider options for connecting the short model to the water supply and sewer pipe. To install a hot tub, you need to decide on the power supply connection.

If it is not possible to think through and design connection options yourself, it is better to contact a design office well in advance of purchasing, which will develop the optimal solution from a technical point of view.

Design Guidelines

In order for mini sanitary ware to fit successfully into the interior picture of the bathroom, there are several practical recommendations.

Shortened plumbing will look great if:

• The interior uses transparent shelves and cabinets, which optically adds lightness to the atmosphere.
• There are no large items in the bathroom, next to which a compact bowl simply gets lost.
• The decoration uses light colors, there are no sharp contrasts or overly bright accents.

A mini bathtub will look comical against the backdrop of an oversized sink with a massive table top. Also, you should not emphasize its size by laying large tiles on the walls and floor. It is important to choose a product in pure white or a similar pastel color to visually increase the size of the compact model.

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

Owners of small bathrooms will probably be interested in questions selection of mini washing machines. They are described in detail in the article we recommend.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Video #1. Presentation of the mini bath “Lisa”:

Video #2. Compact container in Khrushchev:

Video #3. Recommendations for using sitz baths:

Taking into account the nuances that we tried to familiarize you with will help in making a difficult choice. Our tips will help you choose the most suitable model. Design guidelines will help you choose the best location.

Tell us about how you chose a short model of plumbing fixtures for your own home/dacha. Share: which option did you purchase and why did you choose this particular bathtub? Please leave comments in the block below, ask questions about the topic of the article, post comments and photographs.