Cast Iron Bath Myths
Myth Busting Bath Fables
Cast Iron Baths do not hold the heat as long as Acrylic baths Origin:
This is quite a common myth the origin of which seems to stem back to on sellers of acrylic baths. Facts: Most cast iron baths are 12mm thick including enamel, most plastic baths are 1-1.5mm thick. Logic would suggest that the thicker the product the better the insulation properties are, and indeed this is the case.
Research shows that cast iron baths retain within two degrees an ambient 44 degree fill temperatures for up to 45 minutes, acrylic baths start to drop off in temperature after 7 minutes.
Cast Iron Baths Fall Through Ceilings Origin:
There appear to be three sources to this myth, the first being based on some factual information where by cast iron baths in 1880 used to weigh 500 kgs.
It is fair to say that after the great depression many raw materials were in short supply and houses were built out of necessity to build as opposed to for long term durability, many old baths were still in existence from the early 1900’s and by putting a very heavy cast iron bath into a house build out of necessity would have undoubtedly seen the occasional floor give way under the weight of an old 1880’s cast iron bath.
The second and third origin are in the sense of all good myths manifested out of a desire to make life easier for anyone involved with on selling or installing baths, as it is far easier to carry a plastic bath that weighs 35 kgs than a bath that weighs 100 kgs, therefore the desire to sell an inferior product as it makes the on sellers job easier from a handling point of view is the main cause for this myth still being circulated today.
Facts: New claw foot baths are manufactured with durability and ease of installation in mind.
Today Roll top Baths and Slipper baths weigh approximately 100 -110 kgs, with double ended slipper baths coming in at 170kgs. Most men weigh in excess of 95 kgs now days and do not fall through bathroom floor-boards on a regular basis, so why a bath that has its weight distributed over 4 feet as opposed to two should be any more susceptible to random ascents to earth, we do not know. Advice If you are concerned that you will fall through your bathroom floor do not attempt to install a cast iron bath , and contact your builder/architect immediately. With All Seriousness If you are renovating a 1930’s era house and have any concerns at all as to the structural stability of your flooring in general discuss your concerns with your builder and if necessary strengthen the load bearing capacity of the floor. New houses should not have any problems holding a 100 – 170 kg bath as new houses are built with better materials and building regulations should require an inspection of any work, as such a higher standard of building is now common place.
Once again if you have any concerns in spite of this Myth being largely in factual. please consult your architect/builder.
They do not make new Vitreous Enamel cast iron baths anymore Origin:
Restoration companies
Fact: Reputable manufacturers are in existence, and our business is acting as a portal, bringing many of the classically styled baths along with the contemporary free standing bath styles that are now available in cast iron to the attention of the interested consumer market. Cast iron Baths Enamel Cracks if something is dropped inside. Source: Plastic bath on sellers / Clumsy Plumbers Facts: As with all things if you want to break something you can, for example if a hammer is dropped from height into a vitreous enameled bath it is likely that a chip will occur, this however is not a scenario that occurs on a daily basis and indeed is limited to mishaps that may happen with clumsy plumbers on initial installation , we would also say that in our experience this is also a rarity. Daily mishaps such as metal plugs being dropped do not cause problems with baths vitreous enamel as it is designed to be hard wearing and durable.
Vitreous enamel is one of the hardest wearing protective substances that offer aesthetic qualities which can be applied to a bath or basin, it has been used since early 1900 and whilst application methods have improved over 100 years the basic product format has stayed the same. Vitreous enamel is still used by the mass market manufacturers of baths and basins because it works well, is hard wearing and has proved itself to be the most durable solution over the last hundred years.