Recently we have shown some options for sanitary ware in bathroom. Another important part of designing the bathroom is to choose the best material options for a bathtub and wash basin. There are so many options available on market nowadays than it's worth to consider what may be the best for you.

Acrylic

Perhaps the most popular and commonly used materials today.



Pros – has a smooth non-porous surface resistant to stains and easy to clean. It is warm to touch and has very good heat-retaining properties so the water will stay warm for a long time. Acrylic baths or basns are lightweight yet strong and come in huge variety of shapes and sizes. Another advantage of this bath is easy restoration: if you accidentally drop something heavy in it, you just need to fill the crack with acrylic and then sand this area. Acrylic is resistant to ultraviolet which allows to use it for outdoor spas.

Cons – acrylic is a relatively soft material and can be scratched. It is not very durable though it can be reinforced with fiberglass (which will make it more expensive). It is not the cheapest option, though some affordable models are available on the market.

Corian




Pros – corian is a very practical material: it is durable, warm to touch and easy to clean. Corian baths or basins come in a variety of shapes and sizes - you can choose whatever shape you like. Wash basin can be fit with a counter so you can get an united surface - very hygienic.

Cons – expensive, has unnatural appearance (it looks like plastic) and scratches easily. Thats why you should rather choose white matt finish. Otherwise you would have to polish it quite often.

Metal/ Stainless Steel




Pros – lightweight, a lot of designs and sizes available. Could be a nice eye- catcher.

Cons – doesn’t retain the heat very well, so if you prefer longer soaks, you should consider another options. One more disadvantage of this material is that it makes a loud noise when the bath is getting filled with water.

Glass


Pros – glass bathtubs are very elegant and will be a wonderful choice for modern style bathrooms. They come in different shapes and sizes and also can be custom-made to become a one-of-a-kind feature.

Cons – require extra care and cleaning as water marks are very visible on this surface. Installation process needs to be done very carefully as these baths can be damaged easily.

Fiberglass


Pros – low cost, light weight, easy installation, warm to touch.

Cons – not very durable, the surface can fade over the time and get covered with scratches and cracks.

Hardwood

Wooden bathtubs always look very impressive – consider this option if you want to make a statement in your bathroom.

Pros – wood is warm and pleasant to touch, some unusual and very interesting designs are available on the market.

Cons – expensive, the surface needs to be treated with very good sealer to become watertight.





Stone




Pros – natural look and beautiful designs of stone baths always create a “wow factor”. It is warm to touch and it retains the heat very long.

Cons – extremely heavy so you need to consider reinforcing the floor before installing it. It is difficult to clean and requires a lot of maintenance to preserve its original beauty. As you can imagine, stone baths are very expensive.

So what would you choose for your perfect bathroom?