Bath (Not the town)

[fourstardan]

Has anyone got a bette bath?

Had a fitting today and pricing seemed resonable for what is an oldschool bath.

Salesman apparently said the metals and production methods used are now not as high (cynical) but I think showroom shown price was about 450/500 quid for a 1700x750

I'm not sure how easy it will be to get in the bathroom but thats another problem in itself.

[PhilboSE]

Bette baths are great. Have been my go-to for years. So much nicer than an acrylic bath.

Been about 8 years since I last bought one so I hope the quality hasn’t changed for the worse.

[FBP1]

Seconded - 3 x 25 year old Bette baths in one house that all look as new as the day we got them, and one about two months old in the holiday escape house.

The trick apparently (with any bath) is to built a very solid wooden support structure all around under the top rim and not just rely on the supplied legs.

Told to me by the wise old builder who fitted the older baths and who also taught me the old “fill the bath up with water before you point/silicone it” to reduce future flexing.

[Huntsman]

Worth looking at Kaldewei.

[gareth h]

Don’t metal baths lose their heat very quickly? I had an old claw foot cast iron bath in the old place and it cooled very quickly, just taken a similar looking but resin (I think) one out of the new place and the water stayed toasty, I thought that was progress!

[Brinyan]

That would have been a cast iron bath, which due to the thickness of the metal, would take a lot of the heat out of the water. Bette baths are pressed steel, very rigid & a super finish.
There are much cheaper steel baths, but of far inferior quality.
Kaldewei are also very good.
I’ve fitted quite a few over the years. I have a Bette shower tray in my own house, fitted about 20 years ago & it looks as good as the day it was installed.

[JoshSm]

A cast iron bath is hundreds of kilos of metal, a pressed steel one isn't. You don't lose much heat into the bath itself on a steel one.

My last Kaldewei had deadening fitted to it (the official kit, then extra) to stop it ringing then had insulation added around it to keep it warm.

[fourstardan]

It will be used as a shower so needs to be strong and yes will be well framed. Along with a child using it as a bath an acrylic will bound to be scratched.

Seen Kaladewi but they stock bette where im looking.

God knows how it works but The anti slip tech in them "looks" quite good, so might avoid needing an awful mat.

Also, one wasn't screwed down at the showroom and felt lighter than expected.

[Russet Grange]

A cast iron bath will pull heat from the incoming water, and heat itself up, but ionce you have it full at the temperature you want then it will retain that heat longer.

So they do need more hot water, or hotter water, but then bathing experience is improved for those who like a long soak with no need to top up

[Saleen836]

fourstardan said:

It will be used as a shower so needs to be strong and yes will be well framed. Along with a child using it as a bath an acrylic will bound to be scratched.

Seen Kaladewi but they stock bette where im looking.

God knows how it works but The anti slip tech in them "looks" quite good, so might avoid needing an awful mat.

Also, one wasn't screwed down at the showroom and felt lighter than expected.

I went with a Kaldewei bath due to the internal dimensions as it was also to be used as a shower, damn thing weighs approx 50kgs, no additional frame work for support and the bath has not moved in the 8 years it has been fitted.

[fourstardan]

Saleen836 said:

I went with a Kaldewei bath due to the internal dimensions as it was also to be used as a shower, damn thing weighs approx 50kgs, no additional frame work for support and the bath has not moved in the 8 years it has been fitted.

Could you install it on your own?

[Saleen836]

fourstardan said:

Saleen836 said:

I went with a Kaldewei bath due to the internal dimensions as it was also to be used as a shower, damn thing weighs approx 50kgs, no additional frame work for support and the bath has not moved in the 8 years it has been fitted.

Could you install it on your own?

Didn't attempt it, was on hand to help my nephew (plumber) to carry it upstairs and move it into place