How does a Stone-Look Bathtub Compare to Real Stone Bathtubs?

A stone-look bathtub comprises 75-80% natural stone but offers excellent shape with a tolerance range of ±1mm in its dimensions. In comparison, achieving such high accuracy and sleek aesthetics is impossible with real stone bathtubs. Modern contemporary interiors demand durability, repairability, ease of maintenance, and design versatility. The growing popularity of stone-look bathtubs, like solid surface bathtubs and gel-coat stone resin, is undeniable, with 35% of premium bathtub installations utilizing them as the focal point.

This article will compare real stone bathtubs to stone-look bathtubs: solid surface bathtubs and gel-coat stone resin bathtubs. We will dive deeper into the key aspects that make stone-look bathtubs superior to real stone bathtubs in the modern era. Let's start by understanding what a stone-look bathtub is.

I. What is a Stone-look Bathtub?

Stone-look bathtubs provide the aesthetics and feel of a real stone bathtub. They utilize minerals and natural stones (marble, granite, limestone, etc.) and mix them with synthetic materials to generate a freestanding bathtub design that speaks luxury. Stone-look bathtubs can exhibit similar color, texture, and sometimes vein patterns to a real stone bathtub. Here are the two stone-look bathtubs:

➟　Solid Surface Bathtub

Solid-surface bathtubs combine minerals (likely aluminum oxide trihydrate) with acrylics or polyester resin. They are solid throughout the cross-section of the bathtub, making them sturdy like real stone. They can mimic real stone with a smooth surface. Users can choose between matte and glossy finishes. A typical solid-surface bathtub weighs around 150-200kg, making it lighter than real stone but firm enough to provide a spa-like experience.

➟　Gel-Coat Stone Resin

By weight, 75-80% of gel-coat stone resin bathtubs are crushed natural stone. The crushed material is mixed with resin to form the main shape. Like a solid-surface bathtub, the manufacturing requires a mold but differs at the step where a gel coat is applied to the mold for surface protection. In comparison to solid-surface bathtubs and real stone bathtubs, gel-coat stone resin will have visible damage to the gel layer. Repairing also requires expert intervention. However, it can resist scratches and minor abrasions.

II. Features of Stone-Look Bathtubs 

Real-stone bathtubs have natural absorption with a 0.1 to 1% porosity, necessitating proper sealing. In comparison, stone-look bathtubs offer excellent moisture resistance, which is ideal for the bathroom environment. Let's have a look at the features that make stone-look bathtubs a great choice:

♦ Durability and Resistance

In the bathroom, objects like abrasive scrubbers, razor blades, nail polish removers, and heavy soap dispensers can cause scratches, stains, and impacts. The user must avoid them, but stone-look bathtubs can withstand them in small numbers. The bathtub can handle warm water and offer excellent resistance to mild soaps and non-abrasive cleaners. It can also handle impacts caused by standard and heavy bathroom objects.

Moreover, stone-look bathtubs, especially solid-surface bathtubs, have an inherent non-porous surface that prevents mold formation. This makes stone-like bathtubs hygienic and resistant to stains.

♦ Maintenance and Cleaning

Stone-look bathtubs do not require frequent sealing like real stone bathtubs. They are inherently non-porous, making them moisture resistant. Stone-look bathtubs maintain their dimensional integrity in warm water and a high-humidity environment. They are also incredibly easy to clean and maintain.

The presence of soap scums and water marks are easily cleaned with the help of warm water and clean cloth. Moreover, cleaning with a dry cloth after usage is ideal to avoid watermarks. Mild abrasive cream and pH-neutral cleaners, avoiding bleach or ammonia-based products, are suitable for cleaning and maintaining stone resin bathtubs.

It is common to add UV stabilizers and pigments to prevent the stone-look bathtub material from yellowing. These additives provide excellent stability in sunlight and longevity in aesthetics.

♦ Expansive Shape Selection

This includes classic oval, egg, round, square, and rectangular forms, along with unique shapes like boat-shaped or Japanese soaking tubs. The molding manufacturing process allows designers to unleash their imagination and offer unique, impossible designs with real-stone bathtubs. Manufacturers such as KKR (Kingkonree) can make a custom mold for consumers who want uniqueness.

♦ Customizable Sizing

Available in standard lengths (e.g., 1.5m to 1.9m) and widths (e.g., 0.7m to 0.9m), with material allowing for custom dimensions to fit any bathroom layout precisely (e.g., +/- 3mm accuracy). Depths typically range from 0.58m to 0.9m.

♦ Diverse Styles & Finishes

Users can choose from contemporary looks to rustic designs, whichever suits their interior design. They can also choose between matte and glossy surface finishes. Acrylic solid surface bathtubs allow simple sanding and buffing operations to adjust the surface finish as required.

III. Real Stone Bathtubs: A Closer Look

We know that natural stone bathtubs can last a century. Carving a bathtub out of real stone was a common practice in the past. It was the most feasible bathtub formation. Today, bathtubs are still manufactured and sold for ultra-luxury residences and hospitals. Let's have a closer look at the key aspects of real stone bathtubs:

• Materials

The raw material used for the formation of real stone is usually marble, granite, or limestone. The final form of the material is driven by the millions of years of formation beneath the Earth's surface. These are either extracted from the earth using the mining process or, in some cases, reach the earth's surface through the geological uplift or tectonic forces.

• Aesthetics

Using real stones to carve out a real stone bathtub gives it a unique aspect. No two real stone bathtubs are alike. A material such as marble will offer its unique veining and color signature, ensuring that your bathtub is one of a kind.

• Weight

The downside of using a high-density material for bathtubs is their weight. A typical real stone bathtub weighs around 500-800kg, with some reaching up to 1000kg. This makes logistics challenging, and the setup will require sophisticated supports to avoid damage to the bathroom floor.

• Cost

With rapid industrialization, the modern age requires lightweight and easy-to-manufacture products. The workmanship required for a real stone bathtub is extensive. A stonemason may take weeks or even months to complete a single tub, which adds to the cost. Moreover, transportation and handling costs are added. A typical real stone bathtub can cost $5,000 to $25,000 or even higher, depending on the workmanship and stone uniqueness.

IV. Stone-Look vs. Real Stone: A Detailed Comparison

It is essential to compare stone-look bathtubs with real stone to show our readers that stone-look bathtubs are the present and the future. They offer similar or even better performance. Let's compare them extensively:

▪ Appearance

The modern bathroom interiors are switching to minimalism and contemporary aesthetics. Stone-look bathtubs are excellent for generating clean, modern, and contemporary looks. In comparison, real stone has a signature look with veins and patterns that may require careful matching with the interiors.

Stone-look bathtubs allow customization in color and texture, and the molding of stone-look bathtubs allows extensive design options. On the other hand, real stone has aesthetic constraints due to the naturally occurring raw material. Moreover, the carving process has inherent design limitations.

▪ Durability, Longevity, and Maintenance

Stone-like bathtubs have a good resistance to scratches and mild chemicals. They also offer stability in warm water. Maintaining a stone-like bathtub is also easy with some workmanship. The real stone bathtub has excellent and unbeatable longevity. There is no chance of yellowing or a color change. The material will also remain intact over centuries. However, they do require regular cleaning, care, and maintenance. The resistance to chemicals for natural stones is lower, as they can react to certain bathroom chemicals. Real stone bathtubs require more care.

▪ Weight

Lets compare the densities of the material to really understand the weight difference:

Real Stone:

Granite: Approx. 2.65−2.75 g/cm³

Marble: Approx. 2.5−2.7 g/cm³

Limestone: Approx. 1.8−2.9 g/cm³  (variable)

Stone-Look Bathtubs:

Solid Surface: Approx. 1.6−1.8 g/cm³

Stone Resin: Approx. 1.8−2.2 g/cm³

Comparing these densities, we can see that a real stone bathtub of similar design and shape will weigh 1.5 to 2 times more than stone-look bathtubs.

▪ Heat Retention

The heat retention of both materials is exceptional compared to other materials like pure acrylics. This is mainly due to the stone material. Stone-look bathtubs also utlize minerals and natural stones as raw material, making them alike in heat retention. Mathematically, we can gauge the heat retention by the materials through the combination of Density (ρ), Specific Heat Capacity (Cp​), Thermal Mass (ρ⋅Cp​), and Thermal Conductivity (k). Here is a table elaborating heat retention for these materials:

▪ Repairability

Solid-surface bathtubs offer the highest repairability. In case of chipping, scratches, or even cracks, the user can fill the gaps and later sand and buff the surface to achieve a seamless repair. On gel-coat stone resin, the reformation of gel may be noticeable. However, any chipping or cracks can be challenging to repair for real stone. Matching color and pattern will require premium craftsmanship, which can be expensive, while the results may not be promising.

V. Which is Better? Stone-Look Bathtub or Real-Stone Bathtub

Declaring one better over the other would be a broad generalization. There is a target audience for both types of bathtub. The market share of stone-look bathtubs is higher than that real stone, but that is largely due to the lower price tag. Picking the ideal bathtub for your needs requires evaluating the features and considering which ones are the most important for your taste. To summarize, here is a table highlighting the key features and providing information on which is better than the other in various aspects:

If you are looking for high-end solid surface bathtubs, consider KKR (Kingkonree). They offer a wide variety of bathtubs that can mimic real stone while exhibiting their superior properties. KKR has a global presence with a strong supply chain network in 100+ countries. KKR also offers OEM/ODM services for brands worldwide. Visit the Kingkonree website to explore all shapes, sizes, textures, and colors of budget-friendly to premium solid surface bathtubs.

FAQs

1. Is a stone-look bathtub easy to clean?

Stone-look bathtubs have a non-porous surface that enables stain-resistant and moisture-resistant properties. It is the primary reason stone-look bathtubs are easy to clean and maintain. It can prevent mold and is easily cleaned using mild cleaners.

2. Are stone-look bathtubs heavier than regular acrylic tubs?

Stone-look bathtubs are heavier than regular acrylic tubs. This is due to the presence of minerals (aluminum oxide trihydrate) mixed with resin. Acrylic tubs have a density of 1.18g/cm3, whereas stone-look bathtubs have a density of 1.18g/cm3, which makes them heavier.

3. Are stone-look bathtubs more expensive than acrylic bathtubs?

Stone-look bathtubs are expensive because of their manufacturing, weight, and transport costs. In contrast, acrylic bathtubs are lighter and offer a lower price tag. Stone-look bathtubs are considered luxurious and enhance user satisfaction. However, their heat retention, ease of maintenance, and design versatility make them expensive.

4. Can a stone-look bathtub be repaired if it gets scratched or chipped?

Compared to most bathtub materials, stone-look bathtubs offer excellent repairability. Scratches, either minor or deep, chipping, or cracks can be repaired using filling, sanding, and buffing. The repair will be seamless and hard to spot.

5. Can a stone-look bathtub retain heat longer than other bathtubs?

Parameters such as Density (ρ), Specific Heat Capacity (Cp​), Thermal Mass (ρ⋅Cp​), and Thermal Conductivity (k) collectively offer better heat retention in stone-look bathtubs. High density and specific heat allow the bathtub to retain heat. The material also acts as an insulator with low heat conduction, further contributing to heat retention.