Acrylic insert in the bath

The bathroom is the abode of cleanliness and order in the house, but it also does not do without repair and replacement of plumbing. Acrylic insert in the bath - one of the ways of cheaper and high-quality repairs, without replacing the bath itself. The problem of reinstalling the plumbing cup often arises from the fact that in Soviet-built apartments the dimensions of the baths do not always correspond to modern standards. But whatever one may say, it does not last forever, and even cast-iron and steel baths age, they lose all their attractiveness. From this article you can find out what an acrylic insert is, how it differs from new baths and a lot of other useful information that will come in handy for anyone who has started repairs in their own bathroom.

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Acrylic liner - what is it?

This bath recovery technology was developed in the middle of the 20th century. Its essence lies in the fact that the new bath is installed on top of the old on a special adhesive composition, which allows you to save considerably on repairs.

The properties of the material from which the acrylic insert is made allow to completely copy the shape of the original, while supplementing it with the following useful properties:

1. Glossy surface and absence of pores, which in turn does not allow dirt to soak into the surface of the bath. As a consequence, the surface is always very hygienic.
2. If the bottom of your bathroom is slightly deformed, which is typical for steel and acrylic bathtubs - this is not an obstacle. The material used for the liners very accurately repeats the shape of the previous surface.
3. Acrylic insert in the bath allows you not to worry about choosing a detergent. It does not require aggressive powders, pastes, care consists in very simple measures for washing the walls with a stream of clean water, sometimes with the use of a disinfectant.

Important! Acrylic inserts in the bath for repair are made necessarily in industrial conditions, on specialized equipment, with observance of all technological standards. A small deviation can already cause a decrease in the mechanical properties of the product and its wear resistance.

Non-observance of the technology in the manufacture of the product may entail expensive repairs after a month of operation of the equipment. Check before installation all the characteristics and parameters of the liner model you have chosen.

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Types of inserts

Acrylic inserts are manufactured using different technologies, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. Consider the basic ones.

Molded liner

Molded manufacturing method is based on the following technology:

1. Take a thick acrylic sheet.
2. Heats up to the required temperature.
3. The vacuum forming method is used to produce the required product, which is as much as possible repeating the form of the original.

Features and benefits:

1. This formation is performed on an aluminum matrix, which provides the gloss of the final product.
2. To reduce the cost of the final product, other, cheaper ones - from a heat-resistant synthetic composite can be used instead of aluminum matrices. Outwardly, it is impossible to distinguish products from different matrices.

Important! In the manufacture of such a product as an acrylic insert in a bath cast method, there is one significant drawback. If the manufacturer uses a thinner than required technology, the acrylic sheet of the wall of the final product may not withstand even the water pressure. Therefore, be careful and specify the thickness of the original material from the manufacturer.

Plastic ABS inserts

This is a cheaper way of manufacturing acrylic inserts in a bath using ABS plastic. The technology is that the base made of plastic is covered with a thin layer of acrylic. The application process itself allows you to create a strong connection that can not be disconnected.

As well as the previous manufacturing method, there are drawbacks:

1. The thickness of the acrylic layer on the final product is no more than 2-3 mm, which causes difficulties if the bathroom needs to be polished.
2. The slightest scratch on the acrylic layer will require major repairs.

Important! These inserts in the bath are much cheaper than those made entirely from acrylic, but their service life decreases in proportion to the price.

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Benefits of using

technology Even with the risks that arise when using such a recovery tool as an acrylic insert, it is gaining in popularity.

The advantages that outweigh all the risks are:

1. The entire assembly cycle takes only 1.5-2.5 hours, and the operation of the bath in the usual mode is possible the next day.
2. Bath with this technology is much stronger than conventional acrylic, the walls of the old design are a strong frame for the new.
3. Acrylic insert in the bath completely retains all the advantages of the above-mentioned acrylic bathtubs.
4. Dismantling old plumbing is not required.
5. The life of such equipment is equal to 20 years.
6. The cost of repair is several times lower than when changing the plumbing.

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Choosing the liner correctly

The whole process of repairing the bathroom begins with the selection of the insert. To make the choice not erroneous, it is necessary to make the correct measurements, according to which the size is determined:

1. The width and length are determined on the inside of the bath.
2. The depth is measured in the area of ​​the drain hole.

Based on these parameters, a suitable acrylic insert is selected.

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Installing the

liner Now proceed to installing the selected product. Here we will consider the answers to such questions as: can you install the liner yourself and how will it cope with it.

Stand-alone installation of

If you are self-confident and have made the selection correctly, you can try to perform the installation yourself without recourse to a specialist. For this it is important to know the technology and it is necessary to perform the preparatory operations:

1. Clear the sides of the bath to the required width and height.
2. Clean the enamel of all contaminants: grease stains, limestone deposits and rust.

Important! After installation, do not forget that the acrylic insert in the bath should be filled to the required level with water. This is done in order to distribute the glue evenly until it dries completely.

Assembly steps

Installation of the acrylic insert in the bath can be divided into several stages:

1. Preparing for installation.
2. Insert installation.
3. Drying and use.

Sequence of works

Installing the liner in the bathroom requires not so much the cost of time as the knowledge of small things, in which everything goes smoothly. Consider a more detailed standard instruction:

1. We release the old tub from the drain siphon and the tiles adjacent to it.
2. Then comes the preparation for installation, namely: cleaning with abrasive material, for example sandpaper. This is done in order to give the surface roughness.
3. After stripping the bathroom is completely cleared of dust and degreased.
4. Attach the liner, if necessary, fit the edge of the bathtub.
5. Cut out the drain and overflow opening. You can do it this way: make holes in the bathroom with a simple pencil, then make an impression of the marks on the tab so that the intended elements are imprinted on it. Cut them out - this is done with a special crown.
6. Now re-degrease the bathroom and liner.
7. Apply the mounting foam. On the inner surface of the bathroom it is applied as follows: around the drain and overflow holes completely in a circle, on the bottom with strips with a gap of 4-5 cm and vertically along the sides of the bathtub from the bottom up to the very edges of the side.
8. Insert the liner and press it into the bathroom. While foam is polymerized, we collect the siphon. The space between the liner and the bathroom at the installation site of the siphon is sealed with silicone.
9. Fill the tub with water 2 fingers below the overflow opening.
10. Wait for the time specified in the instructions and the bathroom can be used.

Important! Do not forget to restore the tightness of the seams in places where the bathroom is adjacent to the walls.

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Removing the acrylic insert

There are times when you simply need to remove the acrylic insert. How to do it:

1. Remove the siphon.
2. Cut the liner with a bolgar along and across the tub - you need to do this carefully so as not to damage the base on which it is held.
3. We remove in parts an insert.
4. We clean the bath of the remaining foam with a metal spatula and a drill with an abrasive nozzle.

This completes the dismantling and now the bathroom is ready for a new installation or other activities that you have planned.

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Advantages and disadvantages of acrylic inserts

Acrylic insert in a bath is one of the ways to restore your old bath. Like any option, it has its advantages and disadvantages, which you need to consider when choosing what is right for you.

Advantages:

1. The sturdy frame, connected to the acrylic coating, increases the advantages of both types of plumbing fixtures, while reducing their drawbacks.
2. Acrylic insert in the color scheme is not limited to one tone, which allows you to bring your own creative solution in the design.
3. This technology significantly reduces the thermal conductivity of the bath. This, in turn, makes it possible to extend the time of water procedures without the addition of hot water. As a result, water resources are saved.
4. Affordable price - this method of bath restoration will be much cheaper than its complete replacement.
5. The duration of use of such a bathroom is comparable with the use of a replaced bath.

Disadvantages of

With such advantages, the liner for the bathroom completely covers its shortcomings. They are included in the following:

1. Low resistance of the insert to mechanical damage - if it is an insert of ABS plastic.
2. If the mounting technology is not observed, the acrylic insert can come unstuck from the main bathroom.
3. Cleaning with aggressive chemical fluids can damage the appearance of the liner.

Acrylic insert in a bath - it's a simple and inexpensive way to bring to life the long-lost old luster of your old bathroom without replacing it. If you want to make repairs in your bathroom, without spending a lot of money, this option is ideal for you.