Freestanding bath – which to choose? Best material, installation methods, popular dimensions

A well-considered purchase of a freestanding bath will make the bathroom feel more luxurious and elegant. Proper installation will give the interior a unique character, and keeping the bath in harmony with the design of the whole room will provide everyone at home with a comfortable bath and blissful relaxation.

Before making the final purchase decision, it’s worth paying attention to the features that favour a given model (e.g. size, shape, extras), as well as the materials (e.g. acrylic) that allow for easy and cost-effective maintenance. So, which freestanding bath should you choose? Here’s our advice!

What to look out for when buying a freestanding bath?

First, you need to decide where to position the bath. This is important, because placing it in the middle of the room requires a minimum of 8–10 m2 of space, though ideally you’d have around 18 m2 available. You’ll also need a plan for the plumbing to come up through the floor, so the base is level and, above all, stable (you can draw up the plan yourself or entrust particular tasks to specialists).

Freestanding bath – most popular sizes

Rectangular freestanding baths are produced from 130 to 220 cm in length and from 75 to 110 cm in width. The dimensions of oval counterparts range from 90 × 175 cm to 100 × 200 cm. It’s worth noting that freestanding baths require floor-mounted taps (for baths standing on feet or legs), rim-mounted taps (for panelled baths) or wall-mounted taps (if the bath touches a wall along its side).

How to install a freestanding bath?

Once the plumbing is prepared and the tiles are laid on the walls and floor, the bath should be carefully levelled. Next, it should be secured to the base with silicone, and the space under the casing filled with it. The final step is to protect the edges with cardboard until the bath is finally installed.

Freestanding bath – which material to choose?

Choosing the right material will help protect the bath against damage and also reduce the costs associated with its maintenance. The most popular raw materials used to make baths include conglomerate, acrylic and steel. Depending on quality, they are characterised by low weight, resistance to scratches or above-average durability. Below is a brief overview of the materials discussed:

Conglomerate

A natural material created by combining stone with polyester resin. It stands out for very high durability, a smooth surface and resistance to mechanical damage. It requires regular maintenance with appropriate products.

Acrylic

A material resistant to discolouration, characterised by low weight, straightforward installation and above-average durability. Furnishings made from acrylic are very functional and elegant.

Steel

A very hard material, easy to care for, resistant to mechanical damage (e.g. scratches). Steel baths lose far more heat than acrylic baths.

Where to buy a freestanding bath? – specific examples

It’s best to buy a freestanding bath from a reputable company known for using high-quality production materials, distinguished by positive opinions on Google and impeccable recommendations from the industry community.

A wide product range is also important, combined with functionality (e.g. easy maintenance) and the aesthetics of the chosen design solutions. A very popular option in recent months is a freestanding bath from the company REA, notable for its remarkable elegance, keen pricing and very simple installation.

Which freestanding bath to choose? Best material, installation methods, popular sizes – summary

The answer to the question “Which freestanding bath to choose?” is not clear-cut, as it depends on several important factors. Starting with the material and its properties, through the preferred dimensions and the available budget, and finally the maintenance methods, which may differ slightly depending on the selected model and the materials used in its manufacture.