Modern world sanitary ware offers its customers only 3 types of bathtubs: cast iron, steel and acrylic. Cast iron implies reliability, durability, but at the same time heavy weight, high cost and installation complexity. A steel bathtub, in turn, boasts light weight, ease of installation, relatively low cost and a large selection of sizes. Except large quantity These baths also have their disadvantages: poor heat retention and low sound insulation. As for acrylic bathtubs, they are practically silent when filling with water, have low thermal conductivity, and their surface is completely non-slippery. Disadvantages: they are very fragile and scratch easily.
However, owners of steel and acrylic bathtubs can eliminate their shortcomings. To do this, you need to know how to foam a bath. For this you will need:
High quality polyurethane foam;
Solvent;
Extreme care and accuracy.
To foam steel bath, you need to turn it over and place it on a flat surface. Position it so that access is provided from either side, since you will need to walk around the bathtub when working with foam.
First you need to wipe the outside of the bathtub with solvent. After this, you need to move on to the foaming itself. You will need about 3 packs of foam. The thickness of the foam layer should be the same around the entire perimeter. The optimal layer width is 2-3 cm. It is best to apply foam in a circle, carefully adhering the layers to each other, avoiding gaps.
It will take about an hour for the foam to set, and 12 hours should pass for it to completely harden. After the foam has become absolutely hard, you can install the overflow drain and siphon. If there is excess foam where they enter the bath, they must be removed.
Many people are interested in the question: how to foam acrylic bath and why do this? And indeed, it is warm and silent. There is one “but” here: the acrylic bathtub is not entirely stable. A strong push can move it, which will not happen, for example, with a cast-iron bathtub.
Therefore, for greater stability, it is customary to make a special substrate under the bottom of the bathtub. Bricks, rubber, boards and much more can be used for this, but why all this complexity if you can use polyurethane foam?! Between the floor and the bottom of the bathtub you can place plastic bottles, filled with water, they will serve as the foundation. They need to be foamed, lifting the layers up to the bottom of the bath. The bathtub must first be filled with water so that the foam cannot rise. After the entire process is completed, let the foam harden. Now you can take a shower in peace and not worry about the bathtub moving out of place.
Knowing how to foam a steel acrylic bathtub, you can independently provide complete comfort at water procedures for the whole family.
It often happens that you really want to update the plumbing in the bathroom, but finances do not allow you to spend money on a good cast-iron or thick-walled acrylic font, or maybe even. In this case, usually, steel bathtubs or inexpensive thin-walled acrylic ones are purchased.
Everything would be fine, but metal products There are 2 very unpleasant ones: high thermal conductivity (water cools quickly) and poor sound insulation (very loud sound from the water jet).
But don’t be upset, during the installation process it’s quite easy to get rid of these disadvantages; there are many ways to insulate and soundproof steel bath, but today we will focus on the simplest and most affordable - heat and sound insulation using polyurethane foam (polyurethane sealant).
In cheap acrylic hot tubs, these shortcomings are expressed, of course, to a much lesser extent, but the insulation of such products will not be superfluous.
Material selection
Is it possible to use polyurethane foam in the bathroom? Yes, but the main condition when choosing it is presence of moisture resistance.
After all, condensation from hot water will gradually accumulate on surfaces, and if the selected sealant is not resistant to moisture, it will quickly shrink and become unusable.
Also, you shouldn’t skimp on the manufacturer, because for work You only need 2 cylinders. If you look for a cheaper sealant, you will only win 100-200 rubles, but there can be many problems with low-quality foam. To the point of needing it complete replacement. It will also be much more convenient to use it with a special pistol.
What tools are needed?
For quality and correct execution work you will need the following list of tools and materials:
- 2 cylinders of polyurethane foam;
- degreaser;
- spray bottle with water (to wet the surface of the bowl);
- knife (for cutting off excess);
- foam gun;
- respirator (foam vapors are volatile, it is better to protect the respiratory tract).
Instructions on how to properly foam a steel hot tub?
Typically, this method is used to soundproof steel bowls, but it can also be used for acrylic bathtubs.
Be sure to read articles about other methods and soundproofing of bathtubs.STEP 1. Place the bathtub upside down on the floor. Don’t forget to first place pieces of cardboard underneath it so as not to scratch the enamel surface.
STEP 2. Be sure to thoroughly wipe off dust from the surface on which you are going to apply the foam. Then you need to degrease it; for this you can use a universal degreaser, alcohol or dishwashing detergent.
STEP 3. It is better to prepare the container before use. It needs to be shaken well and heated a little by placing it under running warm water for 5 minutes. It would be enough.
STEP 4. Spray the bath generously with water using a spray bottle. This way the foam will stick to the surface much better. If the bowl dries out during application, repeat the procedure.
STEP 5. Place the can on the gun and get to work. It is better to apply the foam in dense layers using a snake. Start with flat surfaces and gradually work your way up. There are no special recommendations for the sequence of surface coating. It is important not to leave any gaps.
STEP 6. Now you need to leave the font until completely dry for 5-6 hours. After the foam has completely dried, cut off any excess foam at the leg attachment points using a knife.
Useful video
Video instructions for applying polyurethane foam to the font:
conclusions
We have considered very effective method and soundproofing the bath. The main advantage of this method is its simplicity and low price implementation. We hope it will help improve your comfort when using plumbing fixtures.
When choosing a bath for the home, many of us are faced with the choice of material, because... There are three types of bathtubs on our market:
- Cast iron
- Steel
- Acrylic
Steel bathtubs have many advantages (price, durability, feel) and are very easy to transport, because... For example, a cast iron bathtub is not easy to lift and install.
But it also has a minus: it “drums” a lot, i.e. When you fill it with water, it makes a strong drumming sound. Solution found: steel bathtub is foamed polyurethane foam . Foam above will need 4 pcs. 750 ml each.
How it's done:
| 1. Installs a siphon and legs on the bathtub | 2. Lay it on its side and apply a small layer of foam on one side first  |
3. Then after 20-30 minutes you can turn it over and foam the rest.  |
|
4. Wait for the foam to set and harden (2-3 hours).
The result: a pleasant sound of water being drawn into your bathtub and none of the disadvantages that bathtub sellers tell us about.
Redevelopment of apartments is a discrepancy between the space-planning solution of the apartment in kind and the floor plan of the BTI. It not only allows you to increase the area of the rooms, but also make them more comfortable. According to current laws, reconstruction can only be carried out if there is permitting documentation. To obtain it, you need to collect a fairly large package of documents, after which the redevelopment will be agreed upon. Obtaining permission to…
According to statistics, most people do their own apartment renovations. At the same time, the majority are doing some kind of work for the first time in their lives. Unfortunately, the result does not always turn out to be as planned, and the reason for this is lack of experience. Experienced master knows a lot of subtleties and tricks that lie in wait for you when performing finishing works. We will tell you which ones further. Floor…
After all, once we decide to take such an important step as repairing the walls in an apartment, then this is necessarily accompanied by other repair work, which drag out the whole process and it seems that there will never be an end to it. But did you know that such repairs are not always needed on such an extensive scale, because if you work a little with your imagination,...
Behind last years Russian manufacturers ceramic finishing materials have reached such a level and quality of production that they can already adequately compete with market leaders from Italy, Spain, China and other countries. Domestic materials have become no less popular than their imported counterparts among architects, designers and ordinary consumers who want to see their homes decorated beautifully and quality material. High...
The ancient Chinese science of Feng Shui believes that windows are the eyes of our home. Is it possible to look at the world with sick eyes? Can't build happy life in a house where there are problems with windows. Modern experts are of a similar opinion. First of all, these are drafts; often even insulating windows does not help. Secondly: there is constant noise from the street. Yes…
Before answering the question of how to foam metal bath? We would like to answer the question, why is it necessary to foam a metal bathtub?
It's no secret that cast iron bathtubs are more expensive than metal ones. In fact, if you look at it, both of them are metal baths themselves, but with different thicknesses metal, it is this thickness of the metal that is decisive in determining the price of a bathtub and, most importantly in our case, on the influence physical properties baths.
And so a cast-iron bathtub, as you already understood from the hints, is somewhat better than a metal one. So what exactly? To be specific, firstly, because it holds heat better, it has a large heat capacity. It is also tougher. In addition, a cast iron bathtub has a lower resonance frequency, that is, it does not “clank” as much, to put it simply.
Metal bath foaming technology
And so, after we have figured out the goals, as well as the initial data that we have a metal bath, we will proceed directly to the process itself.
First of all, we will need to purchase polyurethane foam. In order to foam a bathtub you need about two cylinders of high-quality foam. It’s best if you also have a specialized gun for polyurethane foam at your disposal, then you need to take the appropriate cylinders, but if not, then no.
Next, you need to turn the bathtub over, place it so as not to spoil the enamel coating, and clean it of stickers and shipping packaging. Now comes the most crucial moment, namely, foaming the back surface of the metal bath. This will require some experience working with foam, since you cannot press too hard on the release valve, in which case too much foam will come out and uniformity will not be achieved. You can start foaming the bath from any place that is convenient for you. The main thing in all this is the uniformity of foaming and the maximum absence of non-foamed surfaces on the surface of the metal bath.
Which surface to foam, only the bottom...
or the whole reverse side...
It will also depend on your desire, of course, it is preferable to foam the entire back surface of the bathtub. During the foaming process, take into account the fact that the foam expands somewhat when it hardens, that is, between the rows of foam, when laying it, you can leave small gaps that close together.
After foaming the bathtub, you must wait until the foam hardens, since if you install the bathtub right away, the uncured foam may peel off from the metal. An exception may be the case when the foam has nowhere to fall. For example, between metal surface bathtub and wall distance is about 3-5 cm.
It is also worth noting that the siphon should be installed on the bathtub before the process of foaming the bathtub. It is necessary to maintain a certain gap between the foam on the surface of the bath and the siphon. This must be done so that you do not have problems replacing it later.
Alternative methods of insulating a bathtub relative to foaming
In addition to foaming the bathtub, there are other alternatives to noise and heat insulation of the bathtub. So, for this you can use polystyrene foam, gluing it with sealant or the same thing. You can use specialized sound insulation for cars, on a self-adhesive basis.
In the end, no one limits you in your own imagination and perhaps you will offer the world something simpler and more effective. But the essence here is the same for all options. Increase the thickness of the bathtub wall, select a layer of sound-heat-absorbing material, and also, if possible, increase the rigidity of the structure of the bathtub itself.
Now that you know everything for sure, you can definitely foam or pick up something similar to make your bath better in its own way. operational properties, with minimal investment.
The bathroom has become an integral part modern apartment. We can no longer imagine life without a comfortable, secluded room where we can relax, pamper ourselves, and unwind. This is why sound insulation is so important. Taking a bath - The best way restoration of vitality after a busy day.
If in earlier times the bathroom was considered only a place for carrying out hygienic procedures, now it is a comfortable place where you can combine business with pleasure. Taking a bath has become a kind of sacrament for many people. That is why the choice of the container itself is important.Advantages and disadvantages of steel containers
: expensive and heavy, replaced steel and. Bathtub container made of steel alloy - best option for replacement old bath. However, many people still do not trust steel bathtubs. This attitude towards this plumbing equipment has developed due to the fact that the sound insulation of a metal bathtub made of steel alloy has low level.
But this is a minimal drawback of a steel bathtub, which can be easily and simply eliminated. A steel bathtub has many advantages, which are a strong argument in favor of choosing it. steel structures.
The advantages of steel bathtubs are:
- Low cost equipment against the background of acrylic and cast iron bathtubs,
- Durable coating of enameled surfaces,
- Rapid heating of metal
- structural stability,
- Easy to deliver, move, install and dismantle,
- Opportunity different fastenings,
- Modern varied design and size.
Some people consider the following to be disadvantages:
- Low sound insulation of a steel bathtub,
- Rapid heat loss.
Sound insulation and insulation of a steel bathtub
However, many do not think about the fact that there are many possibilities and ways to easily, simply and quickly eliminate these shortcomings with your own hands when installing a container. A number of measures to eliminate noise and heat loss can be applied in advance of installation. And this will make the steel bathtub quite competitive, not inferior in its performance data to other structures of this type made of acrylic and cast iron.
Soundproofing a steel bathtub with your own hands is a simple manipulation, inexpensive, accessible and does not require special skills.
When purchasing imported equipment of this type, many paid attention to the presence of rubber or rubberized pieces of special material glued to the bottom of the bathtub. It is this material that is able to retain heat and absorb noise and splashes of water.
The process that makes the insulation of a steel bathtub complete is based on this principle of sound absorption.
So there are several simple ways to eliminate hum and retain heat.
Vibroizol
Vibroizol
In shops and supermarkets, in markets specializing in the sale of auto parts. This is where you can find the Vibroizol material. This is a specially developed material with a unique composition, which is intended for use in the automotive industry. With its help, many car enthusiasts restore the sound insulation of their car. Vibroizol is based on bitumen and a rubberized base. One side of this material has a durable adhesive composition.
Note!
This composition adheres tightly to any smooth surface at any air temperature.
If Vibroizol perfectly eliminates noise in the car interior, then it will perfectly cope with its task in the bathroom - it will eliminate unnecessary sounds. To do this, the outer part of the bathroom is covered with this unique material. It is possible to treat with Vibroizol only the areas where water falls into the container from the tap and the area where the human body comes into contact with the bottom and some of the side walls of the bathroom. This will reduce the hum and noise of the water jet and help retain the heat of the container walls.
Polyurethane foam
The question often arises - how to thoroughly insulate an iron bathtub. The answer is quite simple - you need to use ordinary construction foam. Exactly the foam that is used to seal windows and doors.
The bathtub container is turned over and a layer of polyurethane foam is slowly applied. The foam is applied to a previously degreased surface. To do this, treat the outer part of the bathroom with an alcohol-containing composition. For convenience, the bathtub is turned over from its legs onto the sides of the container, placing it on a soft surface to prevent accidental scratches. The polyurethane foam is applied evenly, in a continuous layer, without gaps. To prevent the foam from draining, the layer is applied slowly, and the bath is turned from one side to the other as it is covered with foam. But only after the foam has dried.
To enhance the sound absorption effect, you can additionally use polyethylene film. It is best to use polyethylene, which is intended for forming greenhouses. It is dense, elastic, inexpensive. After applying the foam, a previously prepared piece of film is applied to its surface. He presses his hands against the foam, forming a “crust” on the area, similar to a shell. This will be additional insulation.
Noise insulation with polyurethane foam
When treating the outside of the bathroom with polyurethane foam, you should follow some rules:
- Foam should be used indoors.
- Foam for use in summer is more practical, as it is resistant to high temperatures, swells better.
- In order for the layer to be uniform, without sharp bumps, gaps and stacks, it is necessary to use special nozzle for applying foam. Usually a special “ ” is used.
- In order for the foam output to be as large as possible and at the same time economical, you should heat the foam container under running hot water and shake it thoroughly.
- The place where the siphon is installed and the part adjacent to it should not be covered with a layer of foam. Since this place must be accessible when changing the siphon.
- The overflow area should be left free.
- It is imperative to pay attention to the period of use of polyurethane foam, as this product loses its performance upon expiration date.
Eat different ways soundproofing
Other ways
There are some other ways to insulate a steel bathtub. Often a steel bathtub is installed on a pedestal and then covered with slabs or bricks. Then lay tiles on top. This method of installing a bathtub helps improve sound insulation, but also provides the opportunity to fully retain heat. But if you cover the bathtub with an additional layer from the inside of the wall, you will be able to correct the situation.
There is a method of increasing thermal insulation using technical cork. This method is more expensive, but the most environmentally friendly.
Note!
With this method, the fire safety and moisture resistance of the structure are high.
The technical plug is applied according to the instructions.
See inaccuracies, incomplete or incorrect information? Do you know how to make an article better?
Would you like to suggest photos on the topic for publication?
Please help us make the site better! Leave a message and your contacts in the comments - we will contact you and together we will make the publication better!