December 14, 2006

Fiberglass: An Inexpensive Material For Tubs

Bathtubs can be made from a variety of materials. It is necessary to know the properties of the available materials so that you can choose the right bathtub according to your needs. Here is a look at some features and benefits of fiberglass bathtubs.

Features Of Fiberglass Bathtubs

  • Fiberglass, also known as Gelcoat or FRP, is one of the many materials used to make bathtubs.
  • Fiberglass is the least expensive material that can be used for bathtubs.
  • It is also very lightweight and is readily molded into the desired shape of bathtub required.
  • The surface of fiberglass bath tubs is made by spraying a pigmented polyester resin into the desired shaped mold.
  • The fabrication process of fiberglass tubs needs careful hand spraying and hand rolling of FRP.

Benefits Of Fiberglass Tubs

  • As fiberglass is a very cheap material, fiberglass bathtubs are not very expensive.
  • Higher grade tubs are made of a foam inner core sandwiched between fiberglass sheets. This helps the bathtubs to slow the spread of fire, give heat and sound insulation and also reduce the hollow sound of other bathtubs.
  • Fiberglass bath tubs can also be made with sheets of balsa wood and fiberglass. This usage of balsa wood reduces the air pockets in fiberglass bathtubs and makes them tougher and stronger than other tubs.
  • They can be cleaned very easily by using just water and a mild detergent.
  • A fiber glass bathtub is also very easy to repair. A white water based automotive polishing compound is all you need to remove any surface abrasions and scratches. Apply the solution with a clean dust cloth to the affected area, wipe off the remains, apply a coat of wax and you're done.

Fiberglass Bathtub Resources

Homeclick.com - Large Selection of Fiberglass Bathtubs Homeclick.com has a huge selection of fiberglass bathtubs and acrylic bathtubs with fiberglass backing at great prices. Fiberglass Bathtubs By American Reinforced Plastics ARP is a top manufacturer of fiberglass bathtubs.