Due to their convenience and versatility, shower cabins are increasingly being installed in domestic bathrooms. They differ in material of manufacture, in configuration and in size. Manufacturers delight with the assortment of the lineup with a variety of functionality.
But how to choose a shower cabin so that it not only turns out to be as comfortable as possible when taking water procedures, but also harmoniously fits into the interior of the bathroom?
How should you choose a shower cubicle?
On the one hand, the shower cabin is designed for performing hygiene procedures, and on the other, it is a piece of furniture in the bathroom. When choosing its model, it is necessary to take into account both purely functional capabilities and the general appearance of this hydrobox.
And first you need to determine the expectations from the acquisition of this plumbing, that is, determine the purpose for which it is being bought. Otherwise, a fancy device with a lot of unnecessary functions or an unpresentable and unnecessary "closet" with one shower head may appear in the bathroom. As a result, this whopper will occupy such a precious place in the bathroom, and there will be no sense from it.
Shower cabin device
A shower cubicle is a sanitary fixture, consisting of water supply and drainage devices, a pallet and a structure for fencing the inner box from the common space of the bathroom.
The main limitation when choosing a shower cabin is the size of the bathroom. The desire to get at your disposal a hydromassage jacuzzi or Turkish steam mini-bath is understandable, but not always feasible. The size of the bathroom is limited; some of the additional functions often have to be abandoned in favor of small size and the minimum required set of features.
Let's find out how to choose the right modern shower cubicle so that it meets the criteria listed below.
Criterion # 1 - pallet material and shape
Some shower cubicles are sold without a pallet at all. However, this option requires the arrangement of a special floor inside the shower box with high-quality waterproofing. If you plan to independently install a shower cabin on your own, then it is better to immediately prefer a product with a mini-bath.
Such a model is easier to assemble, it can be mounted by anyone who can read the instructions and handle a wrench and screwdriver.
If there are children in the house, it is better to give preference to a pallet in the form of a full bath 40-50 cm deep, in which the child can be bathed without any problems
Shower trays are made from:
cast iron - a classic and durable material that heats up for a long time;
steel - durable, but quite noisy option;
acrylic (plastic) - cheap, easy to install and stylish models;
faience - a solid and graceful variation;
artificial marble - durable, quiet and the most expensive option.
Metal trays are not afraid of heavy objects falling. And acrylic, ceramic and marble counterparts in such a situation will immediately crack or split.
And if a small crack in acrylic can still be repaired, then faience and marble will have to be thrown away when buying a new pallet.
And if a small crack in acrylic can still be repaired, then faience and marble will have to be thrown away when buying a new pallet.
On the other hand, enamel on steel and cast iron can darken over time. With plastic, ceramics and marble, such an attack is out of the question.
The shape of the shower stall itself directly depends on the shape of the selected bath. During installation, its enclosing structure is installed directly on the pallet. The most commonplace option is a square or a rectangle.
But wall-to-wall shower cabins are also made in the form of a circle or its halves, and corner models are in the form of a quarter circle or an ellipse.
Rounded shower trays look more elegant and take up less space in the bathroom. The protruding corner is still of little use. But if the bathroom is large, then a classic rectangular bathtub or jacuzzi with closing doors for taking a shower in such an interior will be more preferable.
Pallets are very different in size. Each side can be from 0.6 to 2 meters long. Shallow models are made with a flat bottom without any ledges and stands. They are worth choosing when you just need a shower.
Deep options with high sides of 30 cm or more are already "recumbent" and "seated". In the second case, they are equipped with a small ledge in the corner or on one side of the cab, on which you can sit down. We also suggest that you familiarize yourself with the article, which discusses in more detail the issue of choosing a shower tray.
Criterion # 2 - door opening method
There can be one or two opening doors in the shower stall. If the shower box is small, then a single door will be enough for it. The choice here depends only on the design of the bathroom.
In one interior, a compact shower cubicle with a single opening sash will look perfect, while for another the best option is a spacious model inside with a pair of classic swing doors.
Doors for shower cabins are:
swing or articulated;
sliding;
folding in the form of a "book".
Hinges for swing leaves should only be selected from all-metal. Cheap analogues made of pressed powdery metal or silumin are short-lived. In sliding doors, the main thing is the material of the roller guides. It is not worth saving here.
It is unreasonable to take models with cheap plastic guides. They won't last long. The best option is steel or aluminum "rails".
The material for making doors can be:
Plexiglass.
Glass (tempered or triplex).
Polystyrene.
The safest and most durable is triplex. However, it is often too expensive for a home shower. Polystyrene doors are considered the most budgetary in price. But they have a short lifespan and a cheap look. The classic is tempered glass. Although it is heavy, it looks more advantageous than plastic.
Plexiglas in terms of the totality of characteristics is in the middle of the last two options. However, when choosing it, it is worth remembering about a serious disadvantage of this material: it is easily scratched. And then it is impossible to grind or otherwise eliminate the scratch on it. If damaged, the glass of the shower stall will have to be replaced, and how to do this, read on.
Criterion # 3 - open and closed box types
According to the type of construction and its tightness, all shower cabins are divided into two types: closed and open. The choice according to this criterion is due to the financial capabilities of the buyer and the functionality of the box. For example, the presence of a steam bath is only possible in a closed model.
And here the price of the latter will always be higher than that of an open cabin with a conventional shower and water-spraying nozzles.
Due to the modest set of functional elements (often this is just one shower head) and the minimalism of the design, open cabins are cheaper than closed hydroboxes. The latter have a top cover and are sealed.
Their device eliminates the escape of steam into the bathroom when taking a shower. But the cost of such models is two to four times higher than open alternatives.
When deciding which one to choose - an open or closed shower cabin, it should be understood that the bathroom for the first type model must have high-quality waterproofing. There is a lot of steam from hot water during operation, the humidity in the bathroom will be high. The cost of interior furnishings and more moisture-resistant furniture often outweighs the savings from opting for a cheap open shower enclosure.
Criterion # 4 - additional functionality
A watering can on a hose is the minimum that a shower cabin cannot do without. However, most models also have a side panel with spray-adjustable nozzles and a spray nozzle on top, as well as a backlight and a fan.
As an additional function, the shower cabin may contain:
Radio and telephone - for those who like to sing along in the shower and who are waiting for an important call.
Hydromassage for legs - water jets, adjustable according to the pressure, which tone the skin and relax the muscles.
Illumination is a must for a closed shower cabin.
Ventilation - to circulate air inside the booth and to extract excess steam from it.
A rain shower is a special water dispersion system that creates the effect of rain in the tropics inside.
Turkish bath for steam - implies the presence of a steam generator.
Contrast shower - automatic regulating water jets, which alternates very hot and as cold water as possible in accordance with the set time intervals.
The aromatherapy system is an addition to the steam generator that allows the addition of aromatic oils to the generated steam.
Thermal mixers - devices that maintain the water temperature in the specified parameters, regardless of pressure drops in the water supply.
The choice of each of these elements, as far as it is needed, depends only on the preferences of the buyer. But the more of them there are in the chosen shower-cabin model, the wider the functionality of the shower box and the higher its price. And each additional function is an inevitable increase in the size of the booth.
Tips for choosing shower cubicles
If the water from the pipes in an apartment or a private house flows hard, then it is better to refuse the "tropical shower", otherwise its sprinklers with small holes will quickly become clogged with deposits and it will simply stop working correctly.
When choosing the model you like, be sure to check the performance of the doors: how they open and close. The doors should move / swing open smoothly, quietly and effortlessly, and when closed, they should be airtight.
They are an obstacle to splashing water, so they must have a magnetic tape along their entire length from top to bottom in the place of contact with each other.
If the cabin is needed exclusively for taking a shower in the morning and in the evening, then the model should be chosen without all kinds of hydromassages, steam generators and radios. A simple box with a low pallet and one watering can will be enough, and this option will not cost much. There is no sense in purchasing expensive plumbing, the functionality of which will not be used in full.
Before you go to the store to choose a shower stall, you need to correctly and objectively evaluate the space available in the bathroom and take a closer look at the dimensions of the showers available for sale. Too large a box in a tiny bathroom will take up the entire floor area and leave no room for other plumbing. Moreover, when drawing up a plan for the placement of plumbing devices, one should not forget about the piping and electricity.
With electrical wires, everything is quite simple, they can be thrown under the decor anywhere in the bathroom. With sewage, everything is somewhat more complicated. As a rule, the drain in the pallet is located in one of its corners. And with this corner, the shower cubicle should be attached to the wall with a sewer pipe. The shorter the drainage from the shower box to the riser, the less likely it is to clog.
If the family has children, then it is better to select a shower cabin with a deep tray. Such a box with open doors easily turns from a shower into a bathtub for bathing a child. Also in this bath you can wash your laundry by hand or soak it before washing.
Rating of the largest manufacturers
In the domestic sanitary ware market, shower cabins are presented both in Russian and foreign assembly. Moreover, their cost strongly depends on the manufacturer. For the same functionality, you can overpay two to three times more. In fact, it is a payment for the brand.
For the equipment of the famous company "Jacuzzi", which has become a household name, the shops ask for a lot. But the quality of sanitary ware from this Italian manufacturer is certainly high.
Among domestic manufacturers, it is worth highlighting "Radomir" and "BAS". They are the oldest and largest firms on the market. Quite good shower cabins with an acrylic tray are offered by Aquanet and Aquarelle.
When looking for a compact box, you should pay attention to the company "Aqua Joy", which specializes in plumbing for large bathrooms. And if you need a designer model, then it is better to stop your choice on shower cabins from "Laniver".
The low-cost segment of imports is represented by a worldwide factory - China. At the same time, there is a purely Chinese product of controversial quality, and there are shower cabins produced in the Celestial Empire at factories controlled by Europeans.
The latter have quite a decent performance, without defects and made of high-quality materials. Here you can choose among the brands "Appolo", "Aqualux", "AquaStream", "Goldman" and "Optima".
Germans (Edelform, Wasserfalle, Westerhof), Czechs (Luxus and Riho), Finns (Oras, Ido, Nimo, Master Finn ") and Italians (" Primo "," Valencia "). All of their products are of high quality workmanship and a wide range of various additional functions. And the more the latter, the higher the price of the equipment.
Virtually all European manufacturers of the mid-priced segment offer shower cabins of the same quality. Here, when choosing, you need to pay more attention not to the brand, but to the proposed functionality and design.
You can find important recommendations on the selection, technical characteristics and operation of shower cabins in the following videos.
Everything about the characteristics and filling of shower stalls:
It is quite difficult to choose a suitable shower enclosure among the variety on the market. But if you try, then the ideal price-quality ratio will certainly be found. You just need to immediately decide which functions and "gadgets" are needed, and which can be abandoned.
In terms of functionality and filling of shower cabins, a variety of options are now offered, so there is always an opportunity to search and find the model that is optimal in terms of characteristics and cost.