Manufacturing materials
Conventionally, any shower cabin, depending on the material of manufacture, can be divided into the following nodes.
Pallet
Most often it is made of acrylic, like a bath bowl, reinforced from below with fiberglass and binding resins, abs-plastic, polymethyl methacrylate are used from polymeric materials. Less commonly, pallets are made of ceramics, enameled cast iron and steel, natural and artificial stone, quartz - a modern material from a mixture of acrylic and quartz. Some users prefer separately manufactured structures lined with ceramic tiles, mosaics.
Walls
Shower partitions are made of sheet glass or plastic. For the manufacture of durable tempered glass of various colors, resistant to mechanical stress and temperature extremes. Scratches do not remain on the glass, so the surface has an aesthetic appearance throughout the entire service life. The main disadvantage of glass partitions is the high cost.
Plastic is the second most popular material, it is distinguished by a wide range of colors, low weight and ease of installation, less resistant to mechanical stress - over time, scratches appear on its surface, worsening the appearance. Plastic screens come in a wide variety of colors and are affordable, and can be purchased at a much lower cost than glass models.
cab frame
The most commonly used materials for the frame of the cabins are aluminum, less often stainless steel, they hold the glass panels securely. In the most budgetary types, cheap plastic corners are used to fix polymer partitions.
Pallets made of various materials: cast iron, steel, ceramics, acrylic, quartz, natural, artificial stone, ceramic mosaic
Pallet molds
In addition to the materials of manufacture, pallets are distinguished by geometric shape, the following varieties are most common:
- Square. The minimum size of square-shaped pallets for open cabins is 800x800 mm, boxes have large overall parameters.
- Rectangular. Closed shower cubicles of a conventional or combined type with a high tray have a similar shape, their length is from 900 mm and above, popular standard sizes are 900x700 mm, 1700x900 mm.
- Corner semicircular. Often, semicircular showers of various sizes are installed at the corner, occupying a minimum space and most suitable for the combined sanitary facilities of Khrushchev. Their standard wall lengths are 800, 900, 1000 and 1200 mm.
- Rectangular semicircular (asymmetric). The wall length in such models reaches 1700 mm, in the design one or two outer corners are oval.
- Pentahedral. Small-sized models of a similar design are installed in a corner, their advantage over a semicircular shape is the possibility of mounting flat doors made of sheet glass.
Pallets are also divided into the following groups according to height.
Low up to 150 mm
Typically, these trays are included in the configuration of inexpensive open-type showers suitable for small bathrooms. During installation, the sewer sewer pipe is placed in the floor to comply with the required slopes or a special flat siphon is used to connect.
Medium 150 to 350 mm
Pallets with a high side are used in open structures and boxes, they are supplied complete with screens. The advantages of medium height are the ability to connect the cabin to a high-lying sewer pipeline.
With a high side from 350 mm
Trays with this depth are bowls in combined models, with built-in seating or allowing you to take water treatments by analogy with conventional baths.
Basic pallet shapes
Types of shower cabins
Any shower cubicle includes two main nodes - a pallet, which is designed to collect and drain water, and a fence with an entrance group that prevents water from splashing on the floor and walls of the room. To decide which shower enclosure to choose, consider the following options for their design.
open
This category includes the simplest design of cabins with a pallet and two side rails interconnected into a single whole. Since open-type cabins are installed in the corner of the room, it is understood that the side walls of the bathroom, lined with tiles or other waterproof materials, serve as its other two partitions.
Cabins of an open design have only two frontal walls, one of which has a hinged or sliding door, a faucet and shower heads are placed on one of the side walls of the bathroom.
When installing an open cab, first install a pallet on the floor, adjusting it in height and level with screw legs, then assemble the fence, attaching the side glass or plastic panels to the metal profile, screwed to the walls with dowels and screws.
Boxes
Closed
Cabins of this type are called shower boxes, they have four walls and a roof with illumination, representing an autonomous and mobile system that can be placed in any room with appropriate water supply and sewer communications.
The shower box contains plumbing fixtures: a faucet, a regular or rain shower, as well as equipment for the implementation of special water supply modes: a steam generator, hydromassage jets, water mist, aromatherapy, chromotherapy. Often, boxes for ease of use are equipped with interior elements in the form of seats, various shelves, hooks, mirrors. High-tech cabins are equipped with technical means for listening to radio, music, organizing telephone communications, and voice control.
Combined
A shower cabin and a bathtub are the two main types of sanitary equipment for taking water procedures, each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. In the combined blocks, the bathtub (its height is more than 400 mm) and the shower cabin are combined into a single structural unit, so it is most convenient to use them.
A shower compartment with a partition can be located over the entire area of the bowl or occupy a certain area of it, be open or closed with a ceiling at the top. In the bathroom, the function of a jacuzzi is often implemented with the supply of water saturated with air bubbles or a lower hydromassage for the feet.
Combined cabins
What is the best shower in a small bathroom selection criteria
Before buying, in addition to the brand, cost and functionality, they study reviews of shower cabins from Internet sources. To choose the right shower cabin, you should study the advice of professionals, taking into account the following factors:
When buying, you should pay attention to the safety of using the cabin: the pallet should not be slippery (have an anti-slip coating, relief), it is better to purchase doors of a sliding design.
Acrylic and thin steel pallets make noise when water falls, if this causes discomfort, thick rubber is glued to their bottom or an automotive self-adhesive sound absorber based on resins and bitumen components is selected.
Owners of apartments on the highest floors of individual or communal houses should be careful when choosing cabins with hydromassage functions - the pressure in the system may not be sufficient for its full implementation.
It is better if the cabin is assembled without sealant (the side of the pallet has a protrusion around the entire perimeter) - this will prevent moisture from penetrating its perimeter and mold on the seal.
If the plumbing pipe goes into the floor, it is not necessary to purchase a pallet - often a drain ladder is installed above the hole, making a slope towards it and covering the floor with anti-slip tiles, and a metal profile is fixed on the walls and a shower enclosure is mounted. This design is more convenient for permanent use than periodically stepping over the side of the pallet.. Shower cabins with hydromassage
Shower cabins with hydromassage
Before buying, it is advisable to check the strength of the pallet or bathroom bowl by standing on them with your feet in the inspection room - they should not sag under the weight of a person.
You should pay attention to the thickness of the glass, the optimal size of which is about 5 mm. It should be mounted in a rigid aluminum frame.
For families with children, it is more practical to choose cabins with a bath, if an elderly person lives in the apartment, the pallet should not be too high.
It is rational to install models with a roof in spacious bathrooms - in this case, it is easier to maintain a comfortable temperature in the shower.
When purchasing a closed box with a ceiling, pay special attention to its height - it should be convenient for the tallest member of the family to take a shower in it.
To simplify care (get rid of streaks), they purchase booths with a fence covered with a special water-repellent layer.
When buying, you should pay attention to the duration of the warranty period - responsible companies indicate the period of compliance with their obligations for repairs and maintenance of at least 5 years.. Multifunctional shower boxes with internal accessories
Multifunctional shower boxes with internal accessories
Shower cabins, thanks to their wide functionality and various designs, allow the user to implement a much wider range of types of water procedures than the most technically equipped bath or jacuzzi
When choosing a shower cabin, they pay attention to its cost, functionality, the brand of the manufacturer, get acquainted with the opinion and recommendations of experts, customer reviews from online sources
Popular manufacturers
When determining which shower cabin would be better to purchase, they consider the product in terms of the optimal price-quality ratio, study ratings and customer reviews. All shower stalls can be divided into the following categories by cost.
Budget
It is clear that the products of domestic and Chinese manufacturers have the lowest price. Among Russian firms, the products of the oldest large enterprises under the brands Radomir, Triton, BAS are popular and famous. They compete with high-quality Aquanet and Aquarelle shower enclosures, Aqua Joy compact boxes and Laniver designer models.
Chinese manufacturers with inexpensive and good quality products are widely represented on the market by the brands Niagara, Parly, Loranto, Eago. A little less common are shower cabins of equally well-known manufacturers of sanitary equipment brands Appollo, Aqualux, AquaStream, Goldman and Optima.
Middle price category
In this price segment, goods of Czech manufacturers of the brands Luxus, Riho, German cabins of Grossman, Edelform, Wasserfalle, CRW, Hueppe, Hyber, Spanish Esbano, Italian Maroni stand out.
Expensive
The Finnish cabins of the brands Timo, Oras, Ido, Nimo, Master Finn and products from Italy under the brands Primo, Valencia, goods of German manufacturers Westerhof, Sturm, Edelform, premium class cabins of Lagard have the highest cost.
It should be noted that there is no clear distinction between the cabins of the middle and high price categories. Their cost depends not so much on the quality of workmanship, which is at the highest level and approximately the same for all European manufacturers, but on the functionality and additional accessories of the presented equipment.
The cost of some models of shower cabins from foreign manufacturers
Additional features and equipment
The choice of a shower cabin suitable for a particular user is primarily influenced by its cost, design, manufacturer's brand, equipment and functionality. High-tech shower cabins are equipped with the following features and accessories:
Tropical shower. It is a large-diameter shower head of a special design (with holes for air intake), from which water is poured out in the form of drops.
Hydromassage. It is implemented by several or one water jet flowing under high pressure from the nozzles; for correct operation, a pressure in the system of 2 - 3 bar is required. Hydromassage nozzles can be placed in the upper shower head, on the side of the cabin walls, in the floor of the foot massage bowl.
Water mist. A special mode in which the water stream is broken into tiny particles to a dusty state.
Combined shower. The multifunctional shower head can simultaneously operate as a regular, tropical, hydromassage and water cloud shower.
Combination shower heads
Cold and hot shower. Automatic alternation of hot and cold water flows from the shower head.
Steam generator. The device creates high-temperature water vapor, thanks to which the shower cabin partially performs the functions of a Russian bath.
Ozonation. The social setting allows you to saturate the air in the shower cabin with active oxygen - this contributes to the destruction of pathogenic bacteria and other types of biological flora.
Saunas. In some high-tech shower cabins, the functions of a Finnish sauna with dry steam, a Turkish bath with an air temperature of up to 60 ° C and a humidity of 90 - 100% are additionally implemented. Sometimes electric heaters with infrared radiation are built into the design of the cabin, which allow you to warm the body with dry hot air.
Aromatherapy. The device works in tandem with a steam generator, the function of saturating the air with various odors is realized by adding flavoring substances to the water for the generator.
Chromotherapy. For a water illumination device, an LED lamp of the corresponding color is added to the shower head assembly and an electric low-voltage power supply is supplied to it.
Ventilation. Built-in fans are used to quickly ventilate and cool showers.
Touch control mixer. High-tech cabins are equipped with thermostatic mixers that allow you to set a constant water temperature. The water flow is controlled electronically using electric mechanisms for opening and closing taps. For the convenience of the user, keys are placed on the walls of the shower cabin (sometimes a remote control is used), with which you can switch the operating modes of the shower head and set the water temperature.
Electrical engineering. In modern shower cabins, you can listen to radio, music, talk on the phone, some types of equipment have a voice control system.
Accessories. For ease of use, shower cabins are equipped with seats, shelves for hygiene items, mirrors, towel racks.
Tropical shower with lighting and its modes
