In recent years, some people prefer to buy not an integral shower cabin, but all the elements separately, which makes it possible to make a shower corner individual. The most important part in a prefabricated shower unit is the tray. A correctly selected pallet can be installed independently in any, even a small room. He will make the bathroom as comfortable as possible and will serve for many years.
Shower Tray Size
One of the most important characteristics is the size of the shower tray. Decide which pallet fits best into your room. Please note that its area will determine the size of the entire cabin.
There are compact, medium and large pallets.
In a standard
bathroom, the average shower tray will look best - 90x90 centimeters. If you equip it with a special seat, you can take a shower not only while standing, but also sitting.
Very compact pallets, for example, 70x70 centimeters, are great for small people and small children. And a person of medium or large build will feel uncomfortable and constrained in him. To avoid discomfort - choose a shower tray 80x80 centimeters.
Large pallets with a width of more than 110 centimeters fit perfectly into the interior of a spacious room. In them you can enjoy all the delights of water procedures.
In any case, manufacturers today offer a huge number of plumbing products, and choosing the right shower tray size will not be difficult.
Shower tray depth
The depth of the shower tray is no less significant characteristic than the size. Not only the place of operation, but also its functionality depends on it. The most common models to date have wall heights from 2 to 25 cm. They can be divided into 3 categories:
- small - the height of their sides is not more than 4 centimeters;
- medium - the sides of which reach 10 centimeters;
- shower trays are deep, their walls are usually 18 high, but may be slightly lower or higher
Flat pallets are attractive in design and easy to operate. But during installation they need to be built into the floor, and in a standard apartment it is quite difficult to do. They are more suitable for residents of private houses and cottages.
Great for families with children deep shower trays. In them, it’s not only convenient to bathe the baby, but also to soak or wash the laundry.
Pallets with middle sides will be ideal for older people. After all, stepping inside a deep shower tray for an aged person is very difficult and even dangerous.
Please note that each pallet is set for a special siphon and therefore it seems to be 10-20 centimeters higher than it actually is.
Shape and surface
The most common are rectangular and square pallets. The price for them, by the way, is the lowest. In the wide
bathrooms they look just great.
Pallets of other shapes are also produced: oval, semicircular, round, triangular and even pentagonal.
Corner shower trays are now very popular, as they save space in a small bathroom. When buying a corner shower tray, measure not only its dimensions, but also the radius of curvature. Otherwise, it may not fit in your bathroom.
Choosing the shape of the pallet, consider not only the area of your room, but also its design. The shower tray should harmoniously fit into the decor of the entire bathroom.
When choosing a shower tray, do not forget to pay attention to its bottom. The smooth surface is always slippery. You can stumble on it, fall and get injured. Buy a pallet with a relief surface - squares, stripes, pimples - or with a special anti-slip coating. And then you will feel confident, not afraid to slip even in soapy water.
Pallet material
The materials from which pallets are made delight and surprise us with its variety. Today shower trays are made of cast iron, steel, ceramics, acrylic and artificial marble. Each of these species has its advantages and disadvantages. Not only ease of use, but also how long it will last you will depend on what raw materials you buy a pallet from.
Cast iron pallets
Remember the cast iron bathtubs and sinks installed earlier in almost every apartment?
A modern cast-iron shower tray is similar in its operational properties. It is also strong and durable.
Cast iron alloy withstands high pressure and practically does not react with water. Although the walls of the cast-iron pallets warm up for a long time, they keep the heat very well, and the water cools in them slowly. They are quite "quiet." You will hardly hear the muffled sound of pouring water. Modern cast iron pallets are enameled, so they can be either glossy or matte. The duration of operation of the pallet depends on the quality of the applied paint. The only significant drawback of cast iron products is their heavy weight, which can reach 100 or more kilograms. Due to its massiveness, the cast-iron shower tray is very inconvenient to install and transport.
Steel pallets
Steel pallets are not as popular among the population as cast iron. They are believed to be fragile. Indeed, a pallet with thin steel walls can easily deform under load, cracks will appear on the enamel. Steel is not a heat-resistant material, so the water in such pallets cools quickly. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to insulate the outer walls of the pallet.
In addition, unlike cast iron, steel pallets are “noisy”. Under the stream of water, they will rattle violently. But in addition to the negative qualities of steel pallets, there are also positive aspects. They are lightweight, therefore convenient in transportation and installation. Steel is much more ductile than cast iron, and pallets from it are available in various shapes and sizes. Custom steel pallet is much easier to find than cast iron.
Many manufacturers try to solve the problem of deformation and offer more expensive, but thick-walled steel pallets. Enamel on such a shower tray does not crack, does not exfoliate and does not darken, which allows you to use it for more than one year.
Ceramic pallets
Ceramic pallets look impressive and noble. They are very stable, have various shapes and color shades. Their surface is easy to clean, it does not become cloudy and retains its original appearance for a long time. A significant disadvantage of ceramic pallets is their fragility. If you drop something heavy in such a pallet, it may crack and you will have to buy a new one.
Acrylic Pallets
In the last decade, acrylic pallets have been in great demand. Acrylic combines the best qualities of all the above materials.
Products from this raw material are durable, lightweight, warm up quickly and hold heat well. Acrylic pallets can be purchased in any shape and color. They are easy to operate and install. A special paste is produced for acrylic bathtubs and shower trays, which can be used to cover chips and scratches that have appeared on the product over time. It is a pleasure to wash acrylic pallets, as a dirt-repellent coating is applied to their surface.
Today, such pallets are sold with adjustable legs, which is also very convenient. There is no need to level the floor, but just tighten the bolts.
When buying an acrylic shower tray, pay attention to the thickness of the walls of the product. Thin ones will bend under the weight of a large person and may even break. It will be necessary to install a special metal frame. Shower acrylic tray with thick partitions can withstand any weight of a person and will last for many years.
Stone, wood and glass pallets
The composition of stone pallets most often includes marble. Baths from this material were used in antiquity; they adorned the richest houses in Egypt. Over hundreds of years, this material has undergone many changes.
In modern sanitary products, “updated” artificial marble is often used, which is made of gypsum, glue, marble chips with the addition of hardeners, dyes, resins and other components. This marble is also called castable. Pallets from it are considered durable, noiseless and hold heat well. They are easy to care for. They can be cleaned by any plumbing.
Sometimes pallets made of natural stone are made to order.
Natural marble practically does not warm up from the water, and standing on the cold bottom of such a pallet is very unpleasant. That is why products made of natural stone rather fulfill an aesthetic role, giving the interior a touch of luxury and splendor.
Individual orders also produce wooden and glass shower trays. But they are very expensive and not available to every consumer.
Shower Tray Prices
For most people, the most significant factor is the cost of pallets. Currently, you can buy both cheap and expensive models - because the choice is huge. The size of the shower tray, its shape, material and functions directly affect the cost. The larger and deeper the pallet - the more expensive it will cost.
The cheapest are economy class pallets. They are small, have a standard rectangular or square shape, most often made of steel. You can buy such a pallet from 1000 rubles.
The most expensive are considered stone pallets. The price of an ordinary flat cast marble is at least 10,000 rubles.
As for acrylic and cast-iron shower trays, they cost about the same, their cost varies from 7,000 to several tens of thousands of rubles.
In recent years, multifunctional shower trays have appeared, various nozzles are built into their bottom. They are quite expensive. But having bought such a pallet, you can, without leaving your apartment, enjoy hydromassage and air massage at any time.
The popularity of the manufacturer also affects the price. Well-known Western companies, fearing for their reputation, carefully monitor the quality of their products, which accordingly affects the price. Pallets of import firms are approximately 25% more expensive than domestic ones.
But to save on the most important element of the shower design is not worth it. Correctly selected in size, shape and material, the shower tray can replace the bath and decorate any room. He will serve more than one decade, delighting you with his appearance.