What are they like?
Sliding bathroom doors come in a variety of designs. According to the method of opening they are distinguished:
- compartment doors;
- mounted;
- cassette version;
- "book";
- "harmonic".
The mechanism for opening and closing compartment doors to the bathroom is similar to the version in a compartment carriage. When opened, the door leaf goes into a niche, which is located on the outside of the wall.
There are two types of sliding door designs
The main thing when installing such a structure is the possibility of freely positioning the door leaf in the open position. This is sometimes hindered by the toilet located across the wall.
If the adjacent room also has sliding doors, proceed as follows: install 2 boxes one after the other. Then both doors, in the open position, each go into their own niche and are located one after the other.
There is another option. If wall space allows, the doors of the bathroom and toilet are placed on different sides.
In cases where none of the options is suitable, you have to decide whether it is necessary to install sliding doors at all. If an inner voice claims that this is simply necessary, change the location of the doorway in the bathroom.
Hinged doors open according to the same principle as sliding doors. But, unlike the latter, they have only one upper guide. If the structure consists of 2 halves, the sashes move apart in opposite directions when pressed.
Mentioning cassette doors, it is not difficult to guess about their design. The name itself indicates the placement of the door leaf in the open position into a certain cavity.
Wood can also be used to make sliding doors.
The role of the cavity is played by the wall itself. This is where the door hides when opened. Although installing a cassette door is a little complicated and requires some skill, this design is more than convenient to use. The outside of the wall is covered with wallpaper. In the bathroom, a rational solution is to cover it with tiles or plastic panels.
Book doors and accordion doors are a folding structure. Their canvas is not solid, but consists of 2 or more parts. The disadvantage of such doors is that in the closed position the doors remain at the top and bottom of the gap.
These sliding door designs are suitable for isolated bathrooms where there is no hood. Thanks to the existing gaps, air ventilation is ensured.
Landscape design of the site and its influence on the design of the future facility
Construction on an inclined plane has many nuances and difficulties. Forming the correct entrance to the house is one of these rather difficult processes. The foundation of the building must be level in any case. A similar approach leads to the fact that one part of such a building rises above the surface of the earth, while the other is buried in it. The greater the angle of inclination of the surface, the higher the base of the building rises above the ground plane.
Construction of a porch to a brick house.
This arrangement has a significant impact on the appearance of the finished building. Based on this, the design of such a house must contain all the necessary structures to ensure its practicality and conciseness. Depending on the level above the ground, the entrance to the house requires the construction of a staircase or porch, which makes it possible to freely enter the building. For small inclination angles, it will be enough to create only a few steps. Larger sizes of this criterion require the design of a flight of stairs.
All such work must be calculated when designing a house and performed directly during its construction. However, there are cases when similar work is carried out after the construction of the house. Such changes in the design of houses may be associated with various factors. However, the fact is obvious and requires an appropriate response. Making such steps with your own hands is not so difficult. The main thing is to strictly adhere to the structure installation plan and have at least the slightest idea of its direction. We will implement one of these objects that will allow you to create full steps at the entrance to the house, thereby ensuring unhindered access to it.
Features of the door leaf
When discussing what material sliding doors to the bathroom should be constructed from, you should determine their functional features.
They should be:
- quite light;
- close tightly;
- not be transparent;
- be moisture resistant.
Glass sliding doors
An option for sliding doors are wooden products. But before installing them, it is necessary to additionally treat the natural material with special solutions that prevent the wood from getting wet. The finished door must be opened with varnish.
Otherwise, the canvas will rot in places where water accumulates. There is a risk of the product becoming infected with fungus. There is no need to discount the gradual swelling of the canvas, which, if pre-processed unscrupulously, will gradually become saturated with moisture. The increased weight ultimately leads to disruption of the entire structure and jamming of the sliding doors.
Laminated chipboard doors are not the best option. Over time, they may begin to warp and come apart from exposure to steam and condensation. The structure itself may be skewed in one direction or another. But high-quality models serve faithfully until the next bathroom renovation.
A suitable option for installation are sliding plastic doors. They are not subject to deformation when exposed to a humid environment in the bathroom. They can be cleaned with any household mixtures without fear of damaging the surface. We can say that such doors are almost eternal. They are light and comfortable.
But when ordering a plastic version, you should pay attention to the fact that this material does not contain toxic impurities. Otherwise, when exposed to high temperatures, the door leaf will emit harmful toxic substances. In some cases, there may even be an unpleasant foul odor.
Sliding doors are a stylish solution for any apartment
Tinted glass doors are the best option. The material from which the canvas is made does not deform, does not change color and texture when exposed to moisture. The doors are light and look beautiful.
But when purchasing a glass option, you should pay attention to its quality. Ordinary glass installed as sliding sashes is easy to break. It is better to prefer a door leaf made of organic or tempered glass.
Combined doors are one of the best options. They have all the advantages of the materials from which they are made. Possible options include a combination of glass and plastic, wood and glass, veneer and glass or plastic.
Rules of care
When you have already installed sliding structures leading to the bathroom, do not rush to forget about them. No, you don’t have to study the integrity of the product inside and out every day. But there are still certain tips that will allow you to properly care for the door, as well as significantly extend their service life.
- Clean the canvas from dirt and dust. There are no specific deadlines or periods. Observe as it becomes dirty and carry out simple cleaning. Most often this is combined with putting things in order in the bathroom.
- The nature and method of care depends largely on the materials from which the “sliding” is made. So, when using plastic or glass, use the appropriate products and apply them according to the instructions. When using wood, you can use polishes. This will make the material look better.
- Remove all dirt from the “rails” and guides. There is nothing complicated here. But if you have chosen a door with a bottom track, then you will have to take care of it more carefully than a structure with a top track.
- Lubricate periodically moving parts, i.e. locks and rollers. They will not jam, make noise, and will also last you longer.
If we take into account all the features, benefits, advantages of sliding doors, then today they can safely be called the optimal solution when searching for a compromise between functionality, practicality and space saving in the house.
Consider installing sliding doors and providing yourself with easy access to the room, saving apartment space, and using it for other purposes that were not possible with swing structures.
Sliding Glass Shower Doors: Key Features
First of all, I would like to talk about the advantages of the shower stall itself. Its compact dimensions often help out the owners of small-sized apartments, where a small space is allocated for a bathroom and, in order to save space, they often resort to installing just such structures instead of standard bathtubs.
Nowadays, shower cabins are equipped with modern plumbing, which allows, in addition to the usual procedures, to enjoy additional options. For example, a hydromassage or on a hot day take a “tropical shower” using the necessary nozzle. Here you can swim in the rapid jets of the waterfall and “get caught in the rain.”
To ensure that such pleasant water treatments are not marred by subsequent cleaning of the bathroom due to spilled water, the cabins are equipped with special doors, which are made from various materials.
Benefits of Sliding Glass Shower Doors
What is the advantage of sliding glass structures? The answer to this question will be their main characteristics, namely:
- sliding glass shower doors can be installed in a room of any size, since they practically do not take up space, which is very convenient for small bathrooms, unlike swing or pendulum structures;
- glass is not susceptible to the harmful effects of moisture and temperature changes, does not deform, is not subject to clouding and retains its aesthetic properties throughout its service life, therefore, it is practical to use;
- glass does not necessarily require the use of special detergents - just wiping it regularly is enough;
- The manufacturing features of glass doors ensure their safety for humans. Glass for shower doors is specially processed and is very durable;
- Sliding glass shower doors visually expand the space, since transparency does not make it heavier;
- this system, with proper careful handling, has a long service life;
- The aesthetic properties of glass are, of course, undeniable - they allow this design to fit into absolutely any interior, regardless of the chosen style. They are especially suitable for modern trends of high-tech, modern, minimalism, etc. Using various finishing materials, as well as engraving or sandblasting techniques, you can easily decorate glass doors.
In the photo selection of the article you can see how beautiful glass systems look in the interiors of bathrooms decorated in modern styles.
Disadvantages of Sliding Glass Shower Doors
In addition to the positive characteristics, sliding glass shower doors also have some disadvantages. They need to be treated with great care. When using doors, you should open and close them with smooth movements so as not to loosen the mechanism and increase its service life. Since dirt will sometimes accumulate in the areas between the profile and the glass, which can lead to the formation of mold, cleaning in these areas must be carried out more thoroughly. These are, perhaps, all the shortcomings that are not so serious as to cover up the numerous advantages.
Bathroom doors made of laminate and laminate
Owners of standard apartments prefer to install inexpensive doors in the bathroom and bathroom. Indeed, in Khrushchev-era apartment buildings, doors made of solid wenge or merbau will look strange. For budget renovations, the most competent choice would be a laminated door, which can be chosen in any design and color. The coating of such products can be made of laminate or laminate. These materials are created from decorated paper impregnated with varnish. The differences are that regular laminate has a thickness of only 0.2 mm and only one protective layer. It is recommended to install a door with this type of coating in rooms with a humidity of no more than 60%. Another drawback is the insufficient resistance of the laminate to mechanical stress. During use, abrasions appear on the thresholds, which will be difficult to disguise.
Laminate has higher strength characteristics, as it consists of several layers of paper and has more advanced protection. Such doors are suitable not only for a bathroom, but also for a bathroom in a Khrushchev or Brezhnevka building. Their cost is slightly higher than models with laminate coating, but their service life is much longer.
Types of bathroom doors
Moisture-resistant bathroom doors can be made from natural and artificial materials. Of course, traditional wooden models are far from the best option. Wood warps from high humidity and temperature changes, it dries out, the geometry changes and urgent repairs are required. An exception may be bathroom doors made of yew or larch. This wood is not afraid of high humidity, but yew is expensive, and larch is heavy. It is not surprising that property owners prefer classic interior bathroom doors made from modern moisture-resistant materials.
The following main types of interior door coverings are available on the market:
- laminate;
- artificial veneer;
- natural veneer;
- laminate
All these types of coating are moisture resistant and have a long service life. In addition, glass doors for the bathroom and models for painting with enamel will cope with the task perfectly. Which bathroom door to choose? Let's consider the advantages of each option.
