Bathroom shower enclosures are currently being used in a variety of interiors. And for a small bathroom, installing a shower cabin, the size of which is small, allows you to save space in the best way. Booths come in different shapes, can be installed in different places in the room, equipped with dozens of modern features. They will be discussed in the article.
There aren't really many apartments, even in newer buildings, that have large bathrooms. If you have moved to a small house or plan to update such a room, choose compact plumbing, which includes a shower cabin.
Open shower enclosures
There are two types of showers - open and closed. To open can be attributed to the cabin without a top. It has a tray where water flows, side walls and a door. Recently, cabins are sold in a complete set, which includes a faucet with a shower and all types of mounting and fixing the cabin.
You can go to inexpensiveinclude a standard corner shower cabin, the dimensions of which allow it to be installed in any free corner of the bathroom. It will fit even on the smallest area, when combining a bathroom with a bathroom and replacing a bath with a shower. We see this option in the photo above. The shower cabin has sliding doors made of impact-resistant glass and a high tray. There are various configurations of open-view cabins, both with a shower panel and a mixer, and without them. Common sizes of showers, photos of which can be seen in the article, have a width of 75-90 centimeters with a height of 170 centimeters.
Disadvantages of an open shower cabin
The disadvantages, first of all, include moisture on the walls of the bathroom, which leads to the formation of fungus. In this regard, it is necessary to treat the rear walls with special waterproofing materials. Water and splashes enter outside the shower enclosure and settle on the surfaces of furniture in the bathroom. There are so-called partially open showers, where the back panels of the cabin save the walls behind them from moisture.
Closed shower enclosures
The version of the hydromassage shower cabin is in great demand. Unlike open options, it has a lid that closes the cabin from above. It provides a complex electric filling, with the help of which various nozzles with healing water jets function to perform a massage or a contrast shower. These cabins may be equipped with an infraredradiation to warm the body. When planning its installation, you need to choose the shape and dimensions of the shower enclosure for the size of your bathroom.
There are different types of installation of hydromassage cabins. It can be mounted both to one wall and to two, having a rectangular shape, the dimensions of which vary: 90 x 120 x 215; 80 x 120 x 220; 85 x 150 x 215; 128 x 128 x 240. There are large closed corner cabs installed in the corner. The freestanding cabin is usually installed in a large bathroom and matches its design layout.
As an option, there are combined showers, which are very comfortable to take a bath and use the shower. This option is suitable for people who cannot decide what to install - a shower or bath.
Shapes of shower enclosures
To choose the right shape of the shower cabin, you need to focus on the largest family members, both in height and volume. A person should not stand at attention in the cab, he should be able to move his arms and bend down. The minimum cabin size of 80-100 centimeters in width or length will be optimal. You can choose the size of the shower cabin, both rectangular and in the form of an ellipse or a quarter angle. In such a cabin it is convenient to move while taking a shower. In any case, the choice of the shape and size of the shower cabin depends on the taste and capabilities of the buyer.
Trays in showers
It is more difficult to choose pallets for booths. By appearance, they can be divided into shallow, deepand very deep. Small trays are usually installed in showers where you only need to take a shower. In the deep ones, you can take a sitz bath, and in the very deep ones, in addition to taking a bath, you can bathe children.
You have to lift your legs to get into the shower, which means that deep and very deep trays are not suitable for families with elderly people. In principle, it is possible to install a cabin with a not very deep sump, but in this case it is necessary to ensure safe lifting and entering the cabin. This can be a stationary reinforced step and handrails so that an elderly person can easily get in and out.
Types of pallets
If we talk about shower trays, shapes and sizes, there are many varieties. However, the most important parameter when choosing a pallet is not so much its size and shape, but the material from which it is made. The most popular at present is acrylic. Acrylic baths have replaced cast iron and steel. Are made of acrylic and pallets.
The advantages of using pallets made of this material include the fact that it is not slippery and can be polished, but it also has important disadvantages. Pallets made of this material can be easily scratched, and they also sag under the weight of a person. And given that the dimensions of shower trays can be large, you need to set supports not only around the perimeter, but also in the central part to prevent deflection and breakage of the tray.
Can be installeda pallet made of another material, for example, steel. A steel pallet, even if it bends under the heavy weight of a person in the soul, it will not burst. The only drawback of such a pallet is a strong noise when the jets hit the bottom. But this can be eliminated by blowing mounting foam between the bottom of the pallet and the floor, or by placing a foam mat on the bottom of the pallet.
There are also pallets made of marble, granite or ceramics. This is an expensive option, this is its minus, but the beauty, strength of the material and silence are undoubtedly a plus. The dimensions of the shower cabins in this case are selected according to the laid out stone pallet.
"Pitfalls" of shower cabins
Before buying a shower cabin, especially the most equipped with all kinds of amenities, you should ask what water pressure is in the system in your house or apartment, and what is the throughput of the sewer system. Water pressure depends on the number of storeys of the house, and may be minimal on the upper floors. If the average shower cabin is content with a pressure of 1.5 bar, then a multifunctional "masterpiece" at this pressure can only please with rain from the shower. All other functions work with 2-3 bar water pressure in the system.
How to choose the right shower cabin
If you decide to purchase a shower cabin, you need to see it in person and test it "for strength". Of course, one should take into account, first of all, the "pitfalls" listed above. Next, you should check the pallet, for whichyou need to go into the cockpit and walk around it. It should not vibrate and creak. The next step is to check the convenience of the booth. To do this, you need to make a series of movements that you intend to perform while washing in the shower. If you have not experienced any inconvenience, then the dimensions of the shower cabin are suitable for you.
Another important point is the attachment of the pallet to the frame. It must be welded from a steel profile. This is the most ideal option. Shut-off and control valves should move smoothly along the guides and be clearly fixed. If the cab is with a seat, it should also be checked for strength and to make sure it is suitable for your height.
An example of installing a shower cabin with your own hands
You can install a shower cabin with your own hands. When buying, you have a complete instruction, which indicates the assembly steps and attached all the necessary fasteners. The tray is installed first, which must be leveled and located above the sewer pipes, which are installed at a certain angle, for good water flow.
If it is an acrylic pallet, be sure to reinforce it in the center as recommended in the instructions. The installed pallet must be treated with a sealant along the connection line with the walls. Next up is the cabin. It is shown in detail in the video how the assembly takes place.
It is also necessary to provide for the installation of a moisture-proof socket and automatic power off.
If the assembly is carried out according tothe attached instructions, you can expect reliable and long-term operation of the shower cabin. Thanks to the listed characteristics of the models of bathroom cabinets, you will be able to navigate which one suits you best. The choice is yours.
