I was planning to cast a bathtub in our basement as well as a long bench to place a sink, etc., on. What should I consider when choosing materials and mixtures? I want it to be as smooth and soft as possible. I have considered tadelakt, but it is quite expensive and you probably need a specialist to do it for you.
Isn't it really unhygienic in a bathtub?
From http://www.tadelakt.se/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=54
"You get a surface that is more or less cracked with small cracks that are not visible until you look closely."
I shudder at the thought of what might be hiding in all those little cracks.
//KoW
From http://www.tadelakt.se/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=54
"You get a surface that is more or less cracked with small cracks that are not visible until you look closely."
I shudder at the thought of what might be hiding in all those little cracks.
//KoW
Personally, I would probably build with Lecablock or lightweight concrete blocks and then fill the corners with a homemade mixture, plaster the whole thing, and finally finish with some kind of paint and/or waterproofing. It might not be entirely easy to achieve a good result, though.
There are several pages in English with examples of cast bathtubs, sinks, etc. I'm not a bit worried about the hygiene aspect, nor the design. What I want to know is which material I should use to make it good. I understand that it's important to reinforce, shake so that it becomes compact/settles ... what else? I've seen very nice lacquering/impregnation. Does anyone have experience with different methods, brands, etc.?
I would have built with lecablock.
You can plaster the outside, treat it with tadelakt, or whatever you want.
On the inside, I would have installed a moisture barrier and tiles.
/ Fredrik
You can plaster the outside, treat it with tadelakt, or whatever you want.
On the inside, I would have installed a moisture barrier and tiles.
/ Fredrik
I have now continued to think and can now also imagine a bathtub that is built up and lined with tiles/mosaic on the inside. I have read what I have found here on the forum about lux-panels. Is this a good material to choose or should one build up with leca blocks instead? Advantages and disadvantages of the different methods? Price difference?
Member
· Stockholms län
· 221 posts
you could cast in concrete and surface treat with waterproof epoxy
Or retains the heat once it's warmed upfn76 said:
. It might be possible to cast heating coils into the concrete to keep the bathwater warm for a long time?Something that is very stylish is concrete that has been cast against a smooth surface so it's really glossy. It's sometimes seen in buildings where there's raw concrete done well. However, there are usually some spots they've missed and left with just rough stones visible. Poor vibrating?
So, casting with fine concrete without a lot of coarse aggregate in it and then maybe polishing the surface like you polish concrete floors? It would probably look quite nice. Then a treatment with some oil or varnish on top to avoid water absorption. If you get a perfect curve for the body to sit on, you could splash around there for a long time. Especially with a heated bathtub so the water doesn't get cool. d^_^b
In the same text, it says: Due to the water-resistant properties of tadelakt, it is well-suited for humid environments such as bathrooms and showers, but can also be used for walls, floors, fireplaces, tabletops, staircases, pillars, and other ornaments. Its velvety glossy surface and decorative appearance make it a unique building material that is very beautiful.KnockOnWood said:
Regarding the heat aspect that Cem77 and fn76 mentioned, I'm wondering if it's possible to somehow connect the fireplace (cassette, stove, insert, or whatever is most suitable) to the bathtub? The bathroom is about 4 meters long, and in one corner, the bathtub will be built, and in the other corner is the chimney where we plan to install some form of fireplace. Between these two, there will be a cast slab with a sink. Could you place a pipe under the cast slab/along the floor that leads heated water to the bathtub? I know someone who heats their regular pool with their large wood-fired boiler, so this should work somehow - but how?
The info I have found in Sweden is from www.tadelakt.se and from Stiltje www.stiltje.se, where tadelakt costs 469:-/m2. My experience with Stiltje is that it is expensive, catering to summer visitors from Stockholm with a large wallet. The same products they offer can be found much cheaper if you dig around on the internet (and I mean the same products, not simpler copies).drnavajo said: