Any bathroom should be equipped quality plumbing. Shower cabins are increasingly winning the hearts of consumers with their stylish modern appearance, compactness and many functions. There is no interior for which a shower cabin would not be suitable. In this article, we will help you choose the shower stall that is right for you!
Shower cabin design
Shower cabins are produced in various shapes and sizes, so choosing the right model is not a problem even for the bathroom of a small apartment . There are cabins suitable for taking both a shower and a bath, due to the fairly wide and deep trays.
Shower cabins can be open or closed. Most often this determines their price.
Shapes and sizes of shower cabins
The shapes of shower boxes are easy to determine: just compare the available area of the bathroom and design preferences.
The most common:
- Asymmetrical models designed for extravagant individuals who value sophistication and originality of interior solutions.
- Square devices fit perfectly into the corner of the room, near the walls (they hide the curvature of the ceilings).
- Corner boxes, often represented by semicircular products. The designs are safe for adults and children, and are suitable for owners of small spaces. Shower cabins occupy a minimum of space, saving useful space, thanks to installation close to the wall.
- Wall-mounted shower cabins are a good option for installation in a bathroom that has perfectly smooth walls and free space.
- Rectangular cabins are the most popular option among consumers. The modification is offered in a wide selection of shades, materials, and sizes.
- Pentagonal systems. The products are designed for installation in spacious bathrooms. They usually have enormous functionality, but are more difficult to install and are more expensive than the analogues described above.
Types of shower trays
Shower trays come in different sizes and designs, as they are combined with a glass enclosure. If the size of the room allows, you can choose a shower stall with a tray in the form of a small bathtub.
Shower cubicle with full bath
The height of the pallet sides varies from 100 to 600 mm. Depending on whether you plan to take water procedures in a sitting or lying position.
Shower cabin with high tray
There are cabins without a pallet. This design is usually installed in a private home. Good waterproofing is first ensured and water is drained.
Shower cabin with a minimum tray size
Pallets are made from cast iron, steel, acrylic, ceramics or artificial stone. The cost of the product depends on the material. To choose the right pallet material, you need to study its performance characteristics.
Types of shower enclosures
Shower corners differ from each other in many ways: size, shape, material, installation method and equipment. Their design features allow you to choose the most optimal option for any bathroom. Dimensions are selected taking into account the size and layout of the room. And the height and material of this plumbing element must ensure complete safety of taking a shower.
Equipment
A corner that includes a tray and a screen is considered standard. But there is also the option of purchasing these elements separately. In this case, you can choose a screen that does not include a pallet; instead, a drain ladder, a cement pad with heat and waterproofing, and a decorative non-slip surface are specially equipped.
Dimensions
Depending on the size, shower corners can be divided into the following groups:
- small-sized;
- standard;
- large-sized.
Small-sized models allow them to be installed in bathrooms that are limited in space. Such structures often have dimensions of 60x60, 70x70 and 80x80 cm. Sometimes you can find models with dimensions of 70x75 or 80x85 cm. The height of such corners is generally 185 cm.
Installing a small-sized structure can significantly save space, but the main disadvantage is the limited functionality.
The standard sizes of shower enclosures are: 90x90, 90x120, 100x100 cm. The height can be from 185 to 210 cm, sometimes it can be up to 245 cm depending on the height of the ceiling. Models with these dimensions are considered the most popular. Installing the structure quite saves space in the bathroom, but is also maximally functional.
Large-sized structures are considered to have dimensions: 100x120, 120x120, 140x140 and 150x150 cm. Sometimes there are models 70x110, 80x140 and 90x170 cm. Height varies from 185 to 245 cm.
Form
Square shape design
The shape of the shower enclosure depends on the layout of the bathroom; in general, square models and quarter-circle designs are considered the most popular. The peculiarity of the corners of this form is that they are installed in the corner of the room. Often the design can be rectangular, asymmetrical or multifaceted (trapezoidal) in shape. Such models are also installed in the corner of the room or they are mounted only to one wall. This installation is also performed for semicircular models. These options require two fixed structural partitions and a door.
Material
Shower enclosures with a tray use acrylic, cast iron, ceramics or steel.
Acrylic tray is the most common. It has excellent durability. Withstands quite high loads. The advantages include complete correspondence between price and quality.
Cast iron structures also have good strength, but installation of such products is labor-intensive.
Ceramic trays have sufficient strength, but they are susceptible to impacts. Ceramics take a long time to heat up, which is impractical for quickly taking water procedures.
Steel trays are wear-resistant and durable, but they have a disadvantage: when water drops fall, they create a drum effect.
As for the material used for making shower enclosure partitions (screens), polycarbonate or tempered glass are mainly used; the use of plastic is considered less popular.
Door type
The type of door opening directly depends on the shape, size and design of the shower enclosure. Hinged and sliding doors are usually used; less commonly, you can find models with folding, pendulum and radius doors.
Cast iron pan
- Cast iron trays and bathtubs have proven to be reliable, which is why they are still in great demand. Enameled cast iron is also less susceptible to scratches and other damage. A bowl made of this material will last a long time without restoration.
Cast iron pallet
Cast iron pallets are installed on a frame with adjustable legs, which are covered with a decorative screen.
The disadvantage of cast iron pallets is the lack of variety of shapes. They are either rectangular or with one semicircular side. But the depth of the bowl can be chosen.
Acrylic tray
- Acrylic pallets are gaining popularity nowadays. Perhaps thanks to the elegant appearance of the bowls and the variety of tray shapes. In addition, acrylic is pleasant to the touch and has a comfortable temperature for the body.
Acrylic tray
Acrylic trays heat up quickly and retain heat well. Their advantages also include wear resistance. Unlike cast iron, they are more susceptible to scratches, but they are almost invisible and can be masked by treating them with regular sandpaper.
Acrylic pallets must be installed on a special frame. This is necessary in order to prevent deformation of the material when exposed to high temperatures. A disadvantage of acrylic can be considered its comparative fragility, but this factor also depends on the quality of the material and the careful use of the bowl.
Steel pallet
Enameled steel pallets are the most affordable and quite durable. But they have one big drawback - they are very noisy. However, if you cover the outer surface of the pallet with a layer of polyurethane foam or glue an anti-noise kit made of special foam material onto it, you can eliminate this drawback.
A steel pallet is inexpensive. And this covers all its shortcomings.
Artificial stone tray
Artificial stone usually imitates marble or granite. It is made from stone chips and polymers.
Stone pallet
Pallets made of artificial stone have high strength, low thermal conductivity and are pleasant to the touch. In addition, the surface made of artificial stone does not slip. This is very important, especially for children and the elderly. Shallow pallets are usually made from this material, which makes them difficult to use in an apartment. In addition, this material is quite expensive.
How to choose the right shower enclosures with a tray?
To make the right choice, experts recommend paying attention to the following:
- Decide on the tray: deep or low. In the first case, the issue of washing is resolved, the second is more practical for bathing children and the older generation. The bottom is embossed or smooth. The first option is safer.
Pallet material – acrylic, ceramics, enameled steel. Experts recommend acrylic because it warms up faster, does not absorb dirt, does not stain, and does not darken.
- Select the fencing material – glass, plastic, aluminum inserts. First ensure that the walls and floor are level.
- When choosing doors, pay attention to roller models made of glass, as they are considered the most durable. But fences with doors on hooks often slip and break, so it is recommended to avoid this option.
If the design is not selected as a kit, it is important that the elements are from the same manufacturer.
- The presence of a water-repellent coating on the doors will extend the life of the product.
- Give preference to models with an open top if you do not tolerate excess steam well.
When choosing, you also cannot do without taking into account the bathroom area, budget size and personal preferences.
Hydromassage in the shower cabin
- Hydromassage produced using jets of water under pressure. This is one of the most popular features. The number of nozzles that deliver jets of water can be from 1 to 20. The intensity of the hydromassage depends on this indicator.
You can choose a cabin with rotating nozzles and adjust the direction of the water jets.
- An air massage (also built into a wall-mounted panel) supplies pressurized air into the water. This creates bubbles that produce the massage.
- The combined option combines both aeromassage and hydromassage. The nozzles supplying air and water are located at different levels, which allows you to massage individual areas of the body.
The intensity of the air and water jets varies depending on which part of the body is affected. At the level of the lumbar zone the jets are more intense, and in the area of the calves and neck the pressure is a little softer.
Cabins with a hydromassage function are an excellent way to relieve fatigue, normalize blood circulation and relax muscles. If it is possible to install a model of a shower cabin with hydromassage, you should definitely use it.
What does a simple shower look like?
A beginner cannot identify the characteristic features of the simplest shower stall. Everything seems the same to him. This is what sellers use to sell what they need (stay).
Option 1: Shower corner
It’s better not to buy anything at all than to buy it by mistake and start putting a corner in the bathroom instead of a stall. The reason here may be simple - the price is lower. You won’t get an expert with this, but the people are coming. The price is due to the fact that the pallet is missing. And it’s good if the right one is found in the same store. In this case, the electronic catalog contains small print under the product description that reads: “The pallet is sold separately - article number such and such.”
If you do not see this inscription and do not specify anything when ordering, then the corner will arrive without a pallet. These are four bare walls with sockets for installing a mixer and four legs (or without them). And there is no bathtub in the middle: the buyer, stand on the bare floor tiles and water from a watering can. Just have time to collect water. By this point, everything unnecessary is usually removed from the bathroom. Consequently, there is absolutely no place to wash. And then the question arises (usually closer to night) - where to get a suitable pallet?
And, I must say, Shakespeare is just relaxing here. His simple charade to take or not to take cannot be compared with our problem - to get a suitable pallet in the middle of the night. The problem is that the form factors are not yet completely standardized. That is, you can find a pallet, but only at the prompt of the store, or by manually measuring a dozen or two of nominally suitable dimensions. Here the curvature will not be as it should be, and the corner will not stand up. Therefore, stores usually push into the limited offers section those items that do not sell well in pairs.
Shower corner in the room
That is, there was a whole shower stall. Nobody paid attention to her. So the managers began to think - how to direct the buyer’s choice of a shower cabin in the right direction? The answer is simple - divide and conquer! So they divide the cabin into two parts, after which someone is bound to be attracted by the low price due to inexperience. And then you can snag everything else. Why not put it all together? Because no one would buy it. Perhaps the installation style is inconvenient: there are no legs, the bottom of the tray is not flat, the siphon did not suit it (or there was no siphon at all). And so on.
But the most important thing is that a shower corner usually comes without a mixer. That is, a watering can for self-watering will need to be taken from existing ones. And then you add up the price: tray + corner + faucet + siphon, and you realize that now you are just like Othello. But where is your Iago? That is why it is recommended to take the tray, corner, siphon and mixer separately only for those who understand this. You will also need liners for hot and cold water!
Option 2: Simple shower stall
A high-quality shower cabin is inexpensive. This is not a box with a Turkish bath and tropical rain pouring from the ceiling. The tray fits easily into the bathroom. Today it comes in two standard sizes, but countless form factors. Here's what it looks like in an example:
- Dimensions:
- 80x80 cm.
- 90x90 cm.
- Pallet shape:
- Square.
- Rounded.
Simple bathroom stall
More expensive brands of cabins, called boxes, can have a tray of any shape and larger in size. But simple ones - only those indicated. There are usually no problems with a square, but the roundness can be of different radii. Accordingly, it is better to try it on seven times. However, the pallet is always included, so problems usually do not arise. Here are the key features of a simple (inexpensive) bathroom stall:
- No ceiling. There is a floor inside the cabin, but on top there is only emptiness. It is assumed that this does not interfere with washing. Just like in a regular bathtub with a partition.
- Inside there are only holes for installing the mixer, or the mixer is already installed (on the display case).
- There is a pallet.
One could have guessed about these three signs earlier, even in the introduction. The difference between even an inexpensive cabin is that the structure is already assembled. But to install it as quickly as possible, you need to avoid pallets without legs. In this case, you will have to make a foundation, and this is not always easy or quick. And not everyone can do it. For the fastest possible installation, choose a tray with legs. Then you will only need to adjust the horizontal position, connect the water supply and sewerage.
Regarding the latter, we must firmly remember that the reorganization must be formalized through government agencies. To avoid red tape, the shower stall drain should be located in approximately the same place as it previously was near the bathtub. If necessary, purchase a siphon if the complete one does not allow you to fulfill this requirement due to the design features of the sewer system. It is possible to use a flexible sleeve, which can be wound in almost all cases.
Relocating a sink also cannot be called a renovation unless the sewer system is affected. A flexible siphon will help in this case too. Please note that companies specializing in the legalization of completed installation work charge considerable sums for their services. Most pans have a drain in the far corner, so that the doors face the bathroom. But not always. An example of a non-standard tray would be OBI Jurua acrylic 90 x 90 cm. Please note that its drain is located on the side. Therefore, the siphon installation is non-standard.
Steam generator
The steam generator is designed to maintain steam at varying degrees of heating. It’s as if you’re in a sauna—at maximum humidity, the cabin maintains a high temperature. This feature significantly increases the cost of the cabin.
Its mechanism is located behind the shower counter. It heats the water, turning it into steam at a temperature of 45÷50˚С. Steam is supplied to the cabin through a special window. This steam temperature is optimal for heating the body, cleansing the skin and the entire body of antioxidants and excess fluid.
If you decide to choose a cabin with a steam generator, opt for glass doors. Heating plastic results in the release of toxic substances.
A ventilation system is installed in conjunction with the steam generator, which provides intensive air circulation and removes waste steam. These devices can only be installed in a closed shower stall model.
Cabins equipped with a steam generator are most often equipped with seating.
If you're worried about the size of this cabin, you shouldn't be. The optimal size for it is only 900 mm - such a space warms up faster with low energy consumption.
Cabins with a steam generator have a very high price. Therefore, the steam generator is often purchased and installed separately.
Advanced cabins and boxes
A box is usually called a cabin, the size of which is slightly larger than the standard 80x80 and 90x90 cm. You can distinguish a more expensive design by the features indicated above (ceiling, hydromassage, deep tray). What does this look like in practice?
- The deep tray is a bit like a bathtub. The height is clearly greater than the minimum fifteen centimeters. Nobody forces you to wash in it, which is problematic, but the protection against water spreading is a little better. Due to the depth.
- The ceiling is hard to miss, but the price is usually charged not for it directly, but for built-in units:
- Tropical rain (rain, shower). So named because the falling drops are warm. There is no heater inside, but there is a mixer for adding air to the flow. The resulting effect really resembles summer rain.
- The fan in the dome allows you to ventilate the cabin after taking bath procedures. This significantly speeds up drying. Humid air is released directly into the room.
- Lighting. If there is a roof, outside light does not pass in well. It's dark to wash. That's why low-voltage light bulbs are placed on the ceiling.
- A steam generator is a very expensive option, called a hammam or Turkish bath in dealer slang. A small 220 V boiler with a power of several kilowatts heats the water and discharges it through the bypass valve. Usually not sold without the hydromassage option. All together costs from 50 thousand rubles.
Shower box with steam generator
- Ozonation. Not sold without roof. Ozone molecules produced at the high-voltage electrode of the cabin enter through a special hole. Some people advise breathing this, but it has recently been proven that excess of this gas is harmful to health. Ozone is most suitable for disinfecting the cabin and eliminating unpleasant odors.
- The body hydromassage is called vertical (to distinguish it from the foot massage tray) and is easily recognized by the presence of double holes on the rear side of the cabin. These are nozzles through which a strong stream of water is ejected. Physiologists believe that this is useful, and they have been actively using it for several centuries (!), but if you dig around on the Internet, you will find that there are no links. But the existing ones lead in an unclear direction. All terms are vague and unclear, reducing to ordinary demagoguery. The most detailed article on Wikipedia still does not really give any idea about the issue at hand. However, hydromassage is certainly popular and has a right to exist.
The listed features transfer the cabin to the box class. There is a wide range of additional options. So, as a result, boxing can cost half a million rubles or more. In order for customers to look through the presented assortment with great pleasure, the design is stylishly designed. What advice do you have for choosing?
Deep tray
A deep tray makes the structure heavier by 20 kg or more. If there are no problems with the drain, or you have good plumbing skills, there is no need to give preference to this option. You can float your feet in a bucket, but sitting on the edge of a tray is not possible. It's better to take a flat one and place it higher. If the legs do not allow this, construct a solid foundation. This increases the pressure difference between the sewer and the bottom of the cabin.
Cabin with deep tray
A large pallet, however, has one advantage: it almost always has a frame and legs. Therefore, installation time is greatly reduced.
Hydromassage
The advantage of hydromassage is its low cost. For 30 thousand rubles, a significant proportion of buyers can afford this option. There are usually six nozzles, arranged in pairs on three levels. But in the boxes the number may be higher. This is believed to be better, although there is no direct evidence. Our advice: if you have the finances, try it. But before buying, inspect the back wall for the equipment standing there:
- Shut-off valves, valves.
- Faucets.
- Electronic blocks.
All this can be there together or separately. Some boxes require an electrical connection, and the water supply to the hydromassage section is controlled electronically. This imposes some additional requirements. For example, you will have to get an isolation transformer and a differential circuit breaker. They are not available in every store and are expensive. Don't forget to add them along with the wires to the price of the cabin.
That is why a large percentage of the population prefers to have a shower stall with a fully mechanical hydromassage section in the bathroom, consisting of manually adjustable fittings. This eliminates all the specific disadvantages listed above. There is no need to modify the electrical network of the bathroom.
Hydromassage function in the shower box
Turkish bath
Brands of Turkish bath boxes start at a price level of 50 thousand rubles. The steam generator is quite a powerful thing, and you will have to power it from a 220 V network. This implies the reconstruction of engineering networks, which will have to be formalized accordingly through government agencies. Otherwise, there may be problems with any type of property transaction, even with donation. It is better to worry about such things in advance, because the registration process takes a lot of time.
Before choosing a shower cabin with a Turkish bath, make sure that the home electrical network can handle such a powerful consumer. Finally, read further in the text what a steam generator and hammam are!
Many people will find it best to choose a box with two rooms. One of them is a sauna. This is a real Finnish sauna with a lying bench - a shelf. As a rule, the lower price threshold is above 50 thousand rubles.
What is a steam generator
The eastern hammam is a type of bath with a relatively low temperature, up to 40 degrees Celsius. However, it is much hotter in the steam room; the bar can rise to 55 degrees. When purchasing, immediately check the maximum temperature. If there is no response, the store cannot be sure what exactly it is selling.
Together with such an expensive option as a steam generator, there are usually accessories that are unusual for the bathroom:
- Columns.
- Wi-Fi router or modem.
- Ports for connecting mobile gadgets.
- Headset for negotiations.
Shower cabin care
Don't forget to take care of your shower stall. This will ensure its long service life and presentable appearance. It is better to do this with any detergent after each procedure. But avoid using powders with abrasive elements.
By making your own list of all the necessary qualities and functions, based on the recommendations given, you can easily select a suitable shower stall for yourself.
Let your bathroom become a source of inspiration, and let your shower give you daily joy and relaxation!
We are glad that our article was useful to you!
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